The division initiated its scientific activities as an Entomology Division with main objective to minimize crop losses due to ravages of insect pests, diseases, weeds, nematodes, and rodents. In 2009, it was renamed as Plant Protection Division in which plant pathology section was included. The main focus of this division is to promote eco-friendly management with combination of nuclear techniques to manage insect pests and diseases of major crops and fruits. Its major achievements are, 1) perfected male annihilation technique to manage fruit flies in guava and mango orchards. 2) developed biological control against sugar cane bores and cotton pests, 3) extended the biological control technique with the coordination of 10 private sugar mills in 8 districts of Sind. Now a days female attracting system for fruit flies and management of diseases of wheat, rice sugarcane and cotton are in progress.
Established 9 bio-control laboratories at private sector and all the laboratories are working satisfactorily
Treated 245,000 acres of sugarcane successfully with bio control technology during 2009-10
Enhanced the resistance in T. chilonis against insecticides with the help of low doses of irradiation
Increased initial survival of T. chilonis in sugarcane field with the provision of supplemental host
Reduced immunity in 3rd, 4th and 5th instars larvae of sugarcane borers with irradiation
Developed artificial larval diet for the rearing of Chrysoperla carnea
Eco-friendly management of fruit flies Bactrocera spp
Applied successfully MAT in conjunction with bio-control agents for the control of fruit flies
Integration of MAT with biological control proved more effective than separate the treatment particularly on small scale.
Determined a three component based lure for the attraction of female fruit flies, however the female’s attraction was comparatively less than the males on methyl eugenol
Mass rearing of three fruit fly specie Bactrocera zonata, Bactrocera cucurbitae and Bactrocera dorsalis on artificial diets.
Collected two species of parasites parasitizing larvae and pupae of Bactrocera zonata in mango and guava.
Continue the mass rearing of B. zonata on artificial diet for the colony maintenance of the two parasitoids
Continue the mass rearing of two fruit fly parasitoids, Dirhinus giffardii and Trybliographa daci on natural host.
Providing MAT traps to the orchard growers on cash payment basis.
Eco-Friendly Management of Insect Pests of Cotton
Determined protein hydrolysate as the most suitable food material for the conservation of the natural enemies in the field
The irradiation dose of 100GY was the most suitable to induce F1 sterility in the Pink bollworm moths
F1 sterility was used as an effective tool of integrated pest management programme for cotton bollworms
Biological control in conjunction with behavioural control proved more effective for the management of cotton bollworms as compared to the separate treatments
Combination of Bt cotton with bio-control agents proved significantly effective for management of the insect pests.
Determined upper and middle plant canopy as the most suitable place for releases of the bio-control agents
Integrated Management of Sugarcane Borers (Coordinated project with Sugar Industries since 1989 – continue)
Development of Biological Control for Cotton Pest Management Using Nuclear Techniques (IAEA TCP No. PAK/5/043 from January 2005 – 2009).
Use of Gamma Irradiation for Quality Production of Beneficial Insects and Their Integration with Eco-friendly Tactics to Manage the Cotton Pests (IAEA Coordinated Project No. PAK-13434 from Sept. 2005 to 2010).
Exploitation of Nuclear Techniques for the Development of Biological Control to Manage the Fruit Flies, Bactrocera spp. (IAEA Coordinated Project No. PAK-13913 from Oct. 2006 to 2009).
Augmentation of Parasitoids for Area-wide Management of Sugarcane Borers Using Nuclear Techniques (IAEA Coordinated Project No. PAK-13940 from Oct. 2006 to 2010).
Sharing Regional Knowledge on the Use of the Sterile Insect Technique within Integrated Area-Wide Fruit Fly Pest Management Programme (IAEA RAS/5/052 from 2009 to 2011).