Forest Protection Division
About the Division
Forest Protection (FP) division of institute takes up the work that ensures forest health and protection. Division under takes research on taxonomy, bio-ecology and control of pestiferous insects and infectious fungus and other pathogens. It has taken front role in the pest control, pest out brake reduction and developments of pest management protocol for forestry tree species in forest as well as agroforestry setups. Especially the work on sandalwood tree pest and pathogen control institute has worked widely and has developed bio control programme by using Coccinellides (sap sucking insects) for the management of scales and mealybugs. The institute has undergone studies on some of the major insect pest and diseases associated with woody species like Santalum album, Tectona grandis, Dalbergia latifolia, Melia dubia, Terminalia tomentosa, Acrocarpus fraxinifolius, Grevillea robusta, Bamboo, Mangrove etc., and already developed aptitude in diagnosis, detection and suitable management strategies. Institute has developed suitable capacity in providing technical strategies for health assessment of urban trees and their management.
Work on development of newer eco-friendly wood preservatives as well as efficacy evaluation, dose optimization and treatment method and schedule development studies for solid wood and panel products of newer chemicals developed by industries. The outcome of the natural durability studies and bio-efficacy studies benefits further to revise/strengthen the relevant Indian Standards in accordance to BIS norms. As result of colossal work on wood and wood based insect institute also developed a database on Wood Insects of India, covering details of important timber species and associated wood feeding insects along with their taxonomic status, biological details, host range, etc.
Mandate
Diseases and insect pests of nurseries, plantations and forests and their integrated management
Bioprospecting bioinoculants and beneficial microbes/insects for plant productivity enhancement, industrial use, bioremediation and livelihood generation
Microbial/insect biodiversity and effect of climate change on pathological and entomological problems, including biotechnologies interventions
Biodegradation and bio-deterioration of solid wood and wood based panel products
Natural durability of solid wood and wood based panel products
Provide plant quarantine and other service with respect to forestry species involving pathological and entomological expertise
Research on mangroves and coastal forests
Research Activities
Studies on the species diversity of whiteflies
Entomofauna of mangroves
Diversity of canopy insects
Insect Diversity in selected provenances of Sandal
Diversity of xylophagous insects/fungi in fallen logs in Nilgiri Biosphere reserve
Database on Wood Insect Diversity in India
Enhancement of Forest productivity by pest and disease management
Protection of Wood and Wood Products
Ongoing Researh Programmes
Laboratory testing for the assessment of the durability of timbers against powder post beetles standardization and evaluation.
Studies on the natural resistance of imported woods against insects and decay fungi in Indian environment.
Studies on age related durability of plantation-grown timbers.
Seed infestation by insects among the emergent rainforest canopies at Makutta.
Studies on the insect pest and disease problems of sandal under cultivation and their management.
Insect-plant relationships with special reference to herbivory in the mangroves of South India.
Development, Augmentation of efficacy and improvement of dissemination systems of Metarhizium based mycoinsecticide for the management of major pests in forest plantations and nurseries.
Investigations on Microsporidia affecting major Lepidopteran pests of important forest trees of South India and their prospects as bio-control agents.
IWID-Indian Wood Insect Database-a Database on diversity of indigenous and exotic wood insects/pests in India.
Development of Package of Practices for the management of powderpost beetles in ITC timber yards.
Phosphine as fumigant to control the insect pests in logs, chips and sawn boards.
Development of package of practices for the management of teak heart wood borer, Alcterogystia cadambae (Moore).
Bioecology, damage potential and management of gall formers of pongamia pinnata
Investigations on the fungi and insects associated with fruits and seeds of selected endemic trees of Western ghats.
Improvement of planting stock of forestry species using eco- friendly AM fungi..
Need for conserving forest canopies–assessing the diversity of canopy insects in the Western Ghats.
Completed Research Projects
Investigations on the biology, ecology, frequency and distribution of biodeteriorating agencies under marine conditions.
Natural resistance of timbers against bio-deterioration under marine conditions.
Assessment of efficacy of preservatives in treated timber against biodeterioration (under marine conditions).
Assessment of service life of treated timber structures under marine conditions.
Use of biogenic compounds in control of biodeterioration.
Environmental implications of biodeterioration control measures
Distribution and intensity of bioteriorating organisms under marine conditions
Efficacy of indigenous preservatives and methods for the protection of under water timber structures
Investigations on the ecology, frequency and distribution of biodeteriorating agencies under land conditions.
Natural resistance of timbers against biodeterioration by termites, insects and fungi under terrestrial conditions.
Control of biodeterioration with the help of wood extractives, water borne preservatives other plant derivatives, bioactive substances and biological agencies
Comparative efficacy and economics pf water borne preservatives with susceptible timber species
Studies on prophylactic treatments for susceptible timbers against insect borers, termites and wood decaying fungi
Studies on durability of different timber and timber products against biodeterioration under marine conditions
Studies on biodeterioration of mangrove and coastal vegetation
Studies on insect pests of nurseries, plantations and natural forests and their control.
Studies of insect pest problems of timber in storage,building materials and other structures and its control.
Studies on disease of seedlings in nurseries, plantations and natural forests
Studies on Biofertiliser
Natural durability of different timbers and timber products against decay under terrestrial conditions.
Natural durability of different timbers and timber products against decay under terrestrial conditions.
Development of protocol for rearing wood borer larvae.
Studies on termite problems on trees and timber and development testing facilities.
Conservation and management of Coondapur mangroves, Karnataka
Investigations on the potential of medicinal and aromatic plants as a source of botanical insecticides.
Studies on Entomofauna of mangroves of Karnataka, Goa and Andhra Pradesh.
The role of biofertiliser in ecorestoration of problematic site like mine reject soil in Goa
Control of biodeterioration of wood with the help of eco-friendly preservatives and bioactive substances on staining and decay fungi under terrestrial conditions.
Biosystematic studies on parasitoid complex of sandal coccids and their utilization in biological control .
Studies on teak heartwood borer Alcterogystia (cossus) cadambae Moore and its management.
Impact of disturbance on canopy insect biodiversity: an assessment of forest health.
Studies on the sucking pest complexes of Sandal and their management.
Role of Fungi biodeterioration of timber under marine conditions.
Investigations on resistance of commercially available bamboo species in Karnataka to insect borers, termites and fungi and their protection.
Insect fauna of the mangroves along Goa, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh coast
Studies on the diversity of the Aleyrodid (Aleyrodidae: Homoptera) fauna of south Western Ghats
Bioinvasion, SPS measures and import of wood and wood products into India.
Introspection into the phytosanitary procedures for storage of forest seeds in Karnataka
Studies on field incidence of tea mosquito bug Helopeltis antonii Sign. On neem trees in Karnataka and its management.
Community ecology of a detritus system: Insects and fungi associated with fallen trees in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
Studies on the entomofaunal diversity and their interactions in selected provenances of sandal.
Services Rendered
Sl No
Name of the Tests
Charges*(GST Extra)
1
Efficacy of wood preservatives against decay fungi in laboratory condition and assessing the bio-efficacy of preservatives against borers and termites
Against Fungal/Mold-50,000/-
Against Termite (Accelerated field test)-1,00,000/-
Against Borer-1,00,000/-
2
Advisory consultancy for management of insect pest and diseases associated with plantation and forestry tree species
As described below
3
Health assessment and management of urban trees.
As described below
4
Management of wood and wood based materials against biodeteriorating agents at industrial sites like packaging industries etc.
As described below
5
Project work for UG and PG students.
Consultancies(Advisory)
1
Consultancies for routine matters Scientist Supporting staff
Rs. 5,000/- per day
Rs. 1,000/- per day
Facilities and Equipments
The division has the following facilities and expertise for rendering services to user industry and Government and non-government organisations:
Entomology Laboratory
Fungal Wood Testing Laboratory
Microbiology Laboratory
High End Compound and Stereozoom Microscopes
Research & Support Staff
Sl No
Name
Designation
Smt. N. Mamatha
Senior Technician
Smt. U.R. Nalini
Senior Technician
7
Sri. K. Mahesh
Technician
7
Smt.. T.S. Lalitha
Senior Stenographer
8
Sri. A.N. Manjunath
MTS
Ph.D. Scholars
Sl No
Name
1
Smt. P. Swetha
2
Kum. Mishra Swati Anand
For further information, Please contact:
The Head
Forest and Wood Protection Division
Institute of Wood Science and Technology
P.O. Malleshwaram
Bengaluru-560 003 (India)
E-Mail: wsp_iwst[at]icfre.org
Ph: 08022190154.
