Research

Bioversity International-Rome, Italy funded research Project for Birds & Insects in organic Agriculture Documentation and Indexing.

Bioversity International is funding as well as collaborating with GPSIOAM. Biodiversity of insectivorous birds and pollinators in Agri-ecosystem are being monitored. The role of insectivorous birds in limiting pests is also being investigated. The study is of an unique kind and helps the students to understand the importance of an ecosystem approach for nature conservation in an agro-ecosystems.

Pheromones are chemicals released into environment in small amounts by special abdominal glands in insects. They are compounds used by insects for intra-species communication ie. they are species specific, may stimulate one gender or both genders. Synthetic pheromones are manufactured and used as lures. These lures are used along with traps which are designed based on the nature of flight of particular insect pest. Constant monitoring of insect pests using pheromone traps, can detect an infestation before it occurs which can lessen damage to agriculture.

Advantages of using pheromone traps:

• Environmental friendly
• Can act at long distances and dissipate rapidly
• The risk to human health and environment is also reduced compared to pesticides
• Important component of Integrated Pest Management

The research wing of GPS Institute of Agricultural Management, Bengaluru have developed five pheromone traps for different insect pests which is being marketed as,

Multiplex Akarshan for Cucurbits (9 traps for half acre) - slow release and rain fast trap for fruit fly which attacks all cucurbits

Multipex Tutakarsh (8 traps for half acre) – for Tuta absoluta a major pest on tomato

Multiplex Delta Trap for Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer (Leucinodes orbonalis) – (6 traps for half acre)

Multiplex Aakarshan (6 traps for an acre) – A slow release and rain fast trap for fruit fly which attacks majorly mango, guava, custard apple, plums, etc.

Multiplex Attract – Sticky trap for sucking pests (20 traps for half acre)

Cycle Mounted Battery Boom Sprayer

List of publications
Rashmi, M.A.,Verghese, A, Kamala Jayanthi, P. D., Chakravathy, A. K., Arathi Kiruba and Subhash, B.K. 2016. Molecular diversity of Oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae) in KarnatakaPest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems22 (1): 12-19
Soumya, B. R., Verghese, A.Kamala Jayanthi, P. D. and Jalali, S. K. 2016. Need to strengthen quarantine between Andaman and mainland India. Current Science,111 (11): 1753-1756
Viyolla Pinto, Reddy, M. S., Pratheepa, M. and Verghese, A2016. Incidence of aggressive territoriality between two ant species: Camponotus compressus Fab. And Oecophylla smaragdina Fab. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Current Science, 111(12): 2044-2046
Rakshitha, M., Shivananda, T. N. and Verghese, A 2016. Weather based forecasting models for prediction of leafhopper population Idioscopus nitidulus Walker; (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in mango orchard. Journal of Entomology and Zoology,5(1): 163-168
Rashmi, M.A., Verghese, AShivashankar, S., Chakravarthy, A.K., Sumathi, M. and Subhash, B. K. 2017. Does change in tannin content in mango (Mangifera indica) fruits influence the extent of fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel) herbivory? Journal of Entomology and Zoology, 5(4): 381-385
Viyolla, M., Verghese, Aand Reddy, M.S. 2017. Co-existence among nectar feeding ant specis: A case study on three flowering plants. Journal of Entomology and Zoology, 5(4
Gujjar, N. R., Verghese, A., Suresh, D. T., Mouly, R., & Joshi, S. (2018). Advanced prediction to facilitate biocontrol of the mealybug Rastrococcus iceryoides (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in organic mango (Anacardiaceae) orchards. The Canadian Entomologist, 150 (1), 116-119
Nagalakshmi, G. Selvakumar, G. Verghese, A. Sudhagar, S and Ravi, M. 2017. Characterization and diversity of cultivable gut bacterial communities associated with fruit flies Bactrocera dorsalis and Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae) of Horticultural crops". Phytoparasitica. DOI 10.1007/s12600-017-0604-z
Anitha, A., Soumya, C. B Subramanyam, M., Verghese, A.2017. Pentas lanceolata and Hibiscus rosasinensis as Bee Flora for Urban Conservation of Apis dorsata (Fab.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Management in Horticultural Ecosystems. 23 (2):138-141
Rakshitha, M., Shivananda, T. N. and Verghese, A2018. Effect of temperature on minor invertebrate predator reduvid Isyndusheros (Fab.) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Current Science. Vol. 115 (5), 983-986. Doi:10.18520/cs/v115/i5/983-986
Anitha, A. A., Verghese, A& Subramanyam, M. (2018). Role of colour and volatile in foraging behaviour of honeybee Apis cerana on Jacquemontia pentanthos. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology. 21 (4):1122-1128
Samer Adnan Hani, Selvam Arjunan and Radhakrishnan Senthilkumar, “Detection of salt tolerant rice genotypes at the seedling stage using molecular markers: A genotypic analysis”, International Journal of Current Research in Biosciences and Plant Biology, 4(3), 81-87 (2017

Academic content on microbiological work
Bioversity Bird Documentation
Developing new engineering technologies
Innovations at terrace & vertical gardening

Several PhD students are seeking the Guidance and facilities of GPSIOAM in conducting their research. These Post graduate students belong to Bangalore University, Bharathiar University, Jain University, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS-B), etc.
The students are also involved in Product development process including Branding, Packaging and Retailing.