The Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) is an autonomous organization acting as a nodal agency for basic, strategic, anticipatory and applied research on various aspects of horticulture such as fruits, vegetable, ornamental, medicinal and aromatic plants and mushrooms in India. The institute has its headquarters in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India and is a subsidiary of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, under the Ministry of Agriculture, India.
Globally, papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) poses a serious threat to sustainable papaya cultivation, but little is known about the molecular underpinnings of innate resistance against this virus. Two different Carica papaya genotypes, namely PRSV-tolerant “Pusa Selection 3” (PS3) and PRSV-susceptible “Pusa Majesty” (PM) were compared for their transcriptional profiles to identify their unique molecular reactions to viral challenge. The PRSV susceptible papaya cultivar Pusa Majesty showed a significant, albeit ineffective, transcriptional disruption involving 912 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), characterised by delayed activation of important defense responses and reduced expression of photosynthesis-related pathways. On the other hand, the papaya cultivar PS3 displayed a more sophisticated defense mechanism, characterized by a highly targeted transcriptional response where only 10 genes were uniquely regulated with a restricted but well-coordinated transcriptional shift involving just 178 DEGs in total. Notably, PS3 showed higher expression of genes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis, activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways, and regulation of redox-associated networks, all of which point to a targeted antiviral response. According to functional enrichment analysis and RT-PCR confirmation, PS3 showed relatively higher expression of selected genes, including terpene synthase 21 and enzymes associated with oxidoreductase activity (GO:0016491) while maintaining cellular metabolic balance. In contrast, broader gene expression changes, altered primary metabolism, and activation of generic pathogenesis-related genes were associated with PM’s vulnerability to PRSV. These findings challenge the widely held belief that extensive transcriptional reprogramming is required for disease resistance and highlight the significance of defense priming and selective pathway engagement conferring viral tolerance. The knowledge acquired here offers a useful starting point for molecular breeding initiatives meant to create papaya cultivars resistant to PRSV.
The aphid lion, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (CZS) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is an important predator of several agricultural pests, and its successful augmentative use depends on a cost-effective mass-rearing system. The quality of factitious prey is central to predator performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of different factitious prey, including sterilized and unsterilized eggs and neonates of Corcyra cephalonica and larvae of Tribolium castaneum, for the economical mass rearing of CZS under controlled laboratory conditions (25 ± 5 °C, 65 ± 5
Plant diseases caused by viruses, viroids and phytoplasma are very challenging to manage using conventional and chemical methods particularly in vegetatively propagated plants. Shoot tip cryotherapy, involving the exposure of shoot apices to liquid nitrogen, is emerging as a powerful technique for producing pathogen-free plants. This method can complement or even replace the traditional meristem tip culture. When combined with thermo and chemo therapy, this method can help in eradication of pathogens with higher efficacy and also been demonstrated in elimination of multiple pathogens in plant species. This review summarizes various cryotherapy protocols and factors influencing the success of cryotherapy and evidences reported so far in eliminating plant pathogens using cryotherapy.
The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), is an exceptionally polyphagous pest that inflicts serious economic losses on fruit production across the globe. The custard apple, Annona squamosa L., ranks among its favorite host plants; however, detailed information about its developmental biology, phylogenetic placement and demographic characteristics on this fruit remains scarce. The present research explored the species life‑history traits, verified its identity at the molecular level and estimated its capacity for population expansion when reared on custard apple under controlled laboratory conditions (25 ± 1 °C, 70 ± 5
The guava fruit borer, Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is a serious polyphagous pest attacking guava and several other fruit crops in northern India. During field surveys conducted in guava orchards of Punjab, India, between 2020 and 2025, a larval parasitoid, Trathala sp. nr. flavo-orbitalis Cameron (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), was recorded parasitising larvae of C. punctiferalis. Based on available literature, this appears to be the first field-based report documenting the association of Trathala sp. nr. flavo-orbitalis with C. punctiferalis on guava in Punjab, India, thereby extending its known host-crop and geographical range. Diagnostic characters of the parasitoid, along with its host association and distribution, were documented. Parasitization studies conducted at three locations revealed considerable natural parasitism, ranging from 5.3 to 44.7
