The project will be useful for the formulation of effective IPM strategies for this pest

The Department of Entomology, PAU, Ludhiana, has bagged a research project entitled ’Ecological implications of abundance of pink stem borer, Sesamia inferens (Walker) in rice-wheat cropping system in Punjab’ from the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, worth Rs 38.45 lakhs.

According to Dr PPS Pannu, Head, Department of Entomology, a time management strategy for pink stem borer in rice-wheat cropping system in Punjab will be useful for the formulation of effective IPM strategies for this pest.

Principal investigator, Dr Naveen Aggarwal said this project is aimed at generating information on the incidence/damage of pink stem borer in wheat under different tillage conditions in the rice-wheat cropping system, identifying the most preferred stage of PSB in rice and its potential risk of establishment and survival which can be best utilised for devising effective management of the pest in the rice-wheat cropping system.

The other investigators in the project are Dr Preetinder Singh, Dr Beant Singh and Dr Jawala Jindal from the department of Plant Breeding & Genetics. The PAU Vice-Chancellor Mr Anirudh Tewari, IAS, Director of Research Dr Navtej Singh Bains and Additional Director of Research (Natural Resource and Plant Health Management) Dr Pannu congratulated the scientists for the achievement.