Key Topics
- Economic threshold levels
- Pest surveillance & scouting
- IPM modules for Vidarbha
- Decision support systems
- Pesticide reduction strategies
Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) forms the cornerstone of Dr. Mane's research philosophy. His work focuses on developing location-specific IPM modules for major oilseed crops in Vidarbha, integrating pest surveillance, economic threshold levels, and a judicious combination of biological, cultural, and minimal chemical inputs to reduce pesticide dependency while maintaining crop productivity.
Key Topics
- Insect pest identification
- Population dynamics
- Seasonal incidence patterns
- Weather-pest correlation
- Crop damage assessment
Agricultural Entomology
With deep expertise in insect taxonomy and ecology, Dr. Mane has documented the insect pest complex of kharif and rabi oilseed crops in Vidarbha. His research covers population dynamics, seasonal incidence patterns, and the influence of weather parameters on pest build-up, providing foundational knowledge for timely and effective management decisions.
Key Topics
- Entomopathogenic fungi
- Bacillus thuringiensis formulations
- Botanical insecticides
- Trichogramma biocontrol
- Neem-based pesticides
Biopesticides & Biological Control
Dr. Mane's biopesticide research encompasses entomopathogenic fungi, bacteria, and botanical extracts as alternatives to synthetic insecticides. He has evaluated the efficacy of Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Bacillus thuringiensis, and neem-based formulations against key pests of oilseed crops. His work also extends to Trichogramma-based biological control of lepidopteran pests.
Key Topics
- Soybean pest management
- Sunflower head borer control
- Groundnut pest complex
- Sesame crop protection
- Vidarbha agro-ecology
Oilseed Crop Protection
Oilseed crop protection is a specialized domain requiring knowledge of crop-specific pests, phenology, and management windows. Dr. Mane has conducted extensive field trials on the management of key pests such as Helicoverpa armigera, Spodoptera litura, Aphis gossypii, and Thrips palmi across soybean, sunflower, groundnut, and sesame crops cultivated in the Vidarbha agro-climatic zone.
Key Topics
- Chitinase enzyme activity
- Trichoderma species screening
- Bacillus species characterization
- Insect cuticle degradation
- Enzyme-based biocontrol
Chitinase-based Biopesticides
A notable area of Dr. Mane's research is the application of chitinase-producing microorganisms in pest control. Chitin, a principal structural component of insect exoskeletons, is targeted by these biocontrol agents, offering a highly specific and environmentally safe mechanism of pest suppression. His studies have characterized chitinase activity in Trichoderma and Bacillus species and assessed their potential against sucking and chewing pests.
Key Topics
- Nano-encapsulation methods
- Controlled-release formulations
- Bioavailability enhancement
- Biopesticide stability
- Field efficacy trials
Nanotechnology in Pest Control
Recognizing the limitations of conventional biopesticide formulations—such as UV degradation, poor shelf-life, and variable field efficacy—Dr. Mane has explored nanotechnology as a delivery platform. His recent work investigates nano-encapsulation of botanical and microbial biopesticides to improve bioavailability, targeted delivery, and residual activity.
Find publications related to these research areas in the publications section.