Chandish Ballal - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Chandish Ballal

Vantage: Journal of Thematic Analysis

Globally, several success stories have been documented on classical, augmentative and conservatio... more Globally, several success stories have been documented on classical, augmentative and conservation biological control strategies for managing insect pests and weeds. India too has had its share of successes in the field of biological control. Some examples include the management of the papaya mealy bug through classical biological control, suppression of the sugarcane woolly aphid through conservation biological control, and management of rice pests through augmentation biological control. However, it is a sad state of affairs that biocontrol practices have not been either universally accepted or optimally utilised as per the expectations. There are several hurdles to the uptake of biological control, which include unwieldy regulatory procedures to be followed for international exchange of biocontrol agents and registration of microbial biopesticides; hesitation amongst the commercial units to take up production of biocontrol agents (macrobials and microbials) and lack of active int...

Journal of Biological Control, Jun 15, 2005

The post-shipment quality of parasitized egg cards of Trichogramma chilonis Ishii obtained from n... more The post-shipment quality of parasitized egg cards of Trichogramma chilonis Ishii obtained from nine production units in Soutb India was evaluated. Evaluations included the number of parasitized eggs per card, per ~ent parasitism, per cent adult emergence, sexratio and parasitizing efficiency on the target host. Tbere was a lot of variation in the card size and the number of eggs per card. The parasitism was more than 90 per cent in the trichocards supplied by two units. The adult emergence and sex-ratio was as per the quality standards. Considering the recommendation of 1,50,000 parasitized eggs per hectare of cotton, only three units could reach the quality standards. The parasitizing efficiency of T. chilonis supplied by two units was less than 50 per cent and parasitism ranged between 60 and 73 per cent in the others. There is a need for regulatory agencies to periodically evaluate the quality of Trichogrammatids produced by insectaries based on simple and reliable methods. Trichogramma producers should reach a consensus with respect to the method of produciug Tricho-cards and recommendations to be given to farmers. This would ensure the proper utility of Trichogrammatids in biocontrol programmes.

Journal of Biological Control, 2015

Corcyra cephalonica is a laboratory host used for multiplication of parasitoids, predators and en... more Corcyra cephalonica is a laboratory host used for multiplication of parasitoids, predators and entomopathogens. The present study is aimed to understand the effect of seasons and inoculum dosages of Corcyra eggs on the production efficiency. Egg production ranged from 3.1 to 5.8 cc per box during the different seasons and minimum production being recorded during dry months. The dosages tested were 0.5, 0.25 and 0.125 cc of Corcyra eggs / rearing box. Maximum per cent moth emergence (83.5%), shorter developmental duration (40.4 days) and higher fecundity (467 no.) of emerged moths were recorded in the boxes with 0.125 cc (2000 eggs) inoculum. Validation of experiments indicated that compared to the boxes with 0.5 cc inoculum, a 2.15, 1.44, 1.35 and 1.49 times increase in average production per box from 0.125cc infested boxes more during monsoon, post monsoon, dry and summer months, respectively. The data generated can be utilized for improving the protocol for mass rearing of Corcyra cephalonica.

The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Five culturable gut bacteria associated with single leafhopper [A. biguttula biguttula (Ishida)] ... more Five culturable gut bacteria associated with single leafhopper [A. biguttula biguttula (Ishida)] (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) of Guntur field population were characterized through morphological and 16S rDNA sequences. The characterized gut bacteria were Staphylococcus pasteuri, Enterococcus silesiacus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Enterobacter asburiae and Bacillus pumilus. Among these, Bacillus pumilus was chosen for studying its role on host nutrition and defense. The role of the gut bacterium B. pumilus on insect defense against entomofungal pathogens and nutrition was studied under in vitro condition by dual culture technique and other bioassays. The gut bacterium B. pumilus inhibited the mycelial growth of all four major entomofungal pathogens. Maximum growth inhibition (2.0cm) was recorded on Beauveria bassiana followed by Metarhizium anisopliae (1.7cm), Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (1.6cm) and Lecanicillium lecanii (1.5cm) as compared to control. In vitro experiments proved the prod...

Current Science, 2021

The indigenous phytoseiid predatory mite Neoseiulus indicus (Narayanan and Kaur) was recorded by ... more The indigenous phytoseiid predatory mite Neoseiulus indicus (Narayanan and Kaur) was recorded by several Indian researchers as a predator of different species of phytophagous mites including Oligonychus indicus, Tetranychus urticae, T. neocaledonicus, T. ludeni, T. macfarleni, Polyphagotarsonemus latus and the astigmatid mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae. For the first time in the country, a simple protocol has been developed for mass rearing of N. indicus in closed units on the astigmatid mite T. putrescentiae, which in turn could be maintained on a wheat bran medium. Neoseiulus indicus has been successfully and continuously mass reared for more than four years at the ICAR-NBAIR, Bengaluru, India. A simple release methodology has also been developed for the mass reared predatory mites. This rearing protocol can be adopted by commercial units and also by farmers/polyhouse growers as an on-farm production system.

Entomophaga, 1988

... 68 SK JALALI, SP SINGH, PRADYUMN KUMAR & CHANDISH R. BALLAL ... Authors are thankful to D... more ... 68 SK JALALI, SP SINGH, PRADYUMN KUMAR & CHANDISH R. BALLAL ... Authors are thankful to Dr. KP Carl, Entomologist-in-Charge of CAB International Insti-tute of Biological Control, Switzerland for supplying nucleus culture of the parasite and to Dr. TR Subramanian ...

Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, 1996

Journal of Biological Control, 2017

Recently, in India severe incidence by the invasive insect pest, the South American tomato pinwor... more Recently, in India severe incidence by the invasive insect pest, the South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) was reported for the first time infesting tomato crop in Pune, Maharashtra. Later infestation was reported in the other states of India. In T. absoluta infested tomato field, zoophytophagous mirid, Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) was observed to be associated with tomato pinworm. A net house experiment was conducted to evaluate N. tenuis on T. absoluta infested tomato plants. The aim was to ascertain, if releases of N. tenuis could reduce T. absoluta infestation or due to its phytophagous nature it could lead to damage of tomato plants. The treatments comprised of a) release of N. tenuis on T. absoluta infested plants, b) releases of N. tenuis on uninfested plants and c) T. absoluta infested plants were maintained as control. Results indicated that in treatment with N. tenuis, number of T. absoluta eggs and the % mined area were lesser by 83.25% and 89%, respectively. Overall number of necrotic rings per plant during all 10 weeks caused by N. tenuis was significantly lesser in T. absoluta infested plants treated with N. tenuis (0.74±0.18) compared to treatment with N. tenuis alone (2.16±0.35). Flower abortion was also not observed at this density (total release of 6 adults/plant). When mean number of T. absoluta eggs were high in 3rd week (9.54 eggs/plant) number of necrotic rings were negligible though average number of N. tenuis was 4.1/plant during the same week. During 5th week when number of N. tenuis was on peak (11.2/plant), the average numbers of T. absoluta eggs and necrotic rings were 3.61eggs/plant and 0.46/ plant, respectively. It shows that number of necrotic rings per plant increased with decreasing T. absoluta population. Further studies are needed to investigate the precise role of N. tenuis as a natural mortality factor of T. absoluta in field situations and its damage potential after a long interaction with plant in pest scarcity and when it occurs at high density.

Current Science, 2016

The South American tomato moth Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is a devastating pest of tomato. In the pr... more The South American tomato moth Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is a devastating pest of tomato. In the present study Tuta-adapted strains of Trichogramma were evaluated. Amongst the three species, Trichogramma achaeae Nagaraja and Nagarkatti, Trichogramma pretiosum Riley and Trichogrammatoidea bactrae Nagaraja could parasitise T. absoluta eggs and the parasitism rates were 5.0%, 51.1% and 68.2% respectively. Adults emerged from the parasitized T. absoluta eggs (4.8%, 97.5% and 90.0% adult emergence respectively). The F1 generation adults of T. pretiosum could parasitise 29% of Corcyra cephalonica Stainton eggs, while the other two species were not successful in parasitizing. In addition, four 'hymenopteran' parasitoids, viz. T. achaeae, Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood), Habrobracon sp. and Goniozus sp. were also observed to be associated with T. absoluta in the fields during the surveys undertaken in southern India.

Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae, 2018

The present paper provides a checklist of the flower bug families Anthocoridae and Lasiochilidae ... more The present paper provides a checklist of the flower bug families Anthocoridae and Lasiochilidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of India based on literature and newly collected specimens including eleven new records. The Indian fauna of flower bugs is represented by 73 species belonging to 26 genera under eight tribes of two families. Generic transfers of Blaptostethus pluto (Distant, 1910) comb. nov. (from Triphleps pluto Distant, 1910) and Dilasia indica (Muraleedharan, 1978) comb. nov. (from Lasiochilus indica Muraleedharan, 1978) are provided. A lectotype is designated for Blaptostethus pluto. Previous, as well as new, distributional data and bibliographical references for each taxon are included. The following 11 species are recorded from India for the first time: Amphiareus ruficollaris Yamada & Hirowatari, 2003 (Tamil Nadu); Anthocoris dimorphus Zheng, 1984 (Himachal Pradesh); Bilia burma Yasunaga & Yamada, 2016 (Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka); Cardiastethus kathmandu Yamada, 2016 (U...

Intensive agricultural practices employing increased chemical insecticide and fertilizer applicat... more Intensive agricultural practices employing increased chemical insecticide and fertilizer applications, tillage and irrigation and heavy mechanisation (all leading to decline in the biodiversity of natural enemies) are being followed to cater to the needs of rapidly increasing human population. However, studies have clearly indicated that food can be produced in a sustainable manner by conserving biodiversity. Though majority of the studies point out that natural enemy richness enhances prey suppression, some of the studies do indicate that natural enemy diversity can even lead to weakened prey suppression due to factors like intraguild predation, behavioral interference and negative selection effects. Research conducted at ICAR-NBAIR has pointed out the benefits of conserving the diversity of natural enemies and also the effects of combinations of natural enemies on pest suppression. A classic example of biological control is that of the suppression of the sugarcane woolly aphid, Ce...

Biological Control, 2016

Abstract Trichogrammatids (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) are the most important egg parasitoids... more Abstract Trichogrammatids (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) are the most important egg parasitoids widely used in different biocontrol programs worldwide. Since there are several species, strains, and ecotypes available, correct identification is the first step for successful biological control programs. Morphological identification remains complex due to subtle difference in male genetalia, therefore alternative molecular techniques were employed for rapid and reliable identification of this group of parasitoids. Furthermore, many of the field collected specimens are females, which are not identifiable using morphological keys. This study was carried out to unravel the discrimination success in the two molecular marker loci cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and internal transcribed spacer-2 (ITS-2) region of trichogrammatids. In achieving these objectives, the single specimen of 22 trichogrammatids belonging to 19 species were subjected to DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing. Additionally, we obtained homologous sequences from GenBank and sequences in BOLD database to understand internal relationships between the trichogrammatids. Bayesian inference phylogenetic analysis conducted with 84 and 76 sequences of COI and ITS-2 loci respectively and studied discrimination among the different species. Based on trees in comparison, we observed that there was a total of 10 and 6 out of 19 species correctly discriminate with COI and ITS-2 respectively. Our result revealed that the ITS-2 gene was less divergent than the COI gene in the majority of species and failed to differentiate all terminal clades. Therefore, we recommend that COI is suitable as the primary DNA barcode locus in trichogrammatids. Overall, we suggest that COI gene has higher discrimination power and can be considered as an appropriate molecular marker for species identification in trichogrammatids.

Current Science

Spatio-temporal analysis of land use-land cover changes in Delhi using remote sensing and GIS tec... more Spatio-temporal analysis of land use-land cover changes in Delhi using remote sensing and GIS techniques.

Journal of Biological Control, 2007

Journal of entomological research, 1999

Biotie potential of three coccinellid predators, viz., Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus, C. tra... more Biotie potential of three coccinellid predators, viz., Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus, C. transversalis Fabricius and Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) was studied on six species of aphids, viz., Aphis craccivora Koch, A. gossypii Glover, A. nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach), Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) and Uroleucon compositae (Theobald). These three coccinellid predators accepted all the hosts, but U. compositae was the least preferred resulting in no egg production in C. septempunctata and C. transversalis. Developmental period on different aphid hosts, viz., C. septempuncata and C. transversalis varied from 16.5 to 21.4 and 15.2 to 18.0 days, respectively. C sexmaculata voraciously predated and bred well on all these hosts including U. compositae, indicating its wide host range. But, it developed faster on A. nerii (12.2 days) than other hosts and was more fecund on A. craccivora and A. nerii. A. craccivora was the most preferred host for all the c...