MIDH grants Rs 24 lakh to PAU for citrus disease research

Ludhiana: The Biocontrol Laboratory of the Department of Plant Pathology at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has received Rs 24 lakh from the Government of Punjab under the MIDH (Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture) Horticulture Mission Project. It is being considered a major step in the promotion of controlling plant diseases through natural ways.

The three-year project, titled “Front line demonstration for management of foot rot/gummosis of citrus using biocontrol agent Trichoderma asperellum”, has a goal to develop eco-friendly methods to curb citrus diseases. Experts have been focusing on using the fungus Trichoderma asperellum as a biocontrol agent for the protection of citrus plants from diseases like foot rot and gummosis.

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Top brass of the PAU are working on this project, like principal investigator Dr Daljeet Singh Buttar, along with Dr Amarjit Singh, Dr (Mrs) Amrinder Kaur, Dr Ajay Chaudhary, and Dr Jagdish Arora. Their persistent research has made the university proud of their excellent work in the plant disease research.

PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal said, “This project is evidence of the superb research abilities and commitment that are demonstrated by PAU’s scientific community.” This initiative will boost research in biocontrol methods. It will help farmers to manage citrus diseases easily and reduce their dependence on chemical treatments, boosting research in biocontrol methods.