Dr.Mujeebur Rahman Khan, Reader, Department of Plant Protection, Aligarh
Muslim University was honored for his research on molecular characterization and
evaluation for efficacy of indigenous strains/isolates of various natural biocontrol agents
against plant diseases caused by fungi and nematodes, and for developing their
biopesticides at a National Conference on Ecofriendly Approaches in Sustainable
Agriculture and Horticulture held at the Amity University, Lucknow. He was conferred
with the Outstanding Scientist Award in Biopesticides, and was presented with a
memento-citation, certificate and a shawl in the inaugural function of the conference. His
researches have revealed that Aspergillus niger, pochonia chlamydosporia, Trichoderma
virens and Pseudomonas fluorescens can successfully control root-knot, root-rot and wilt
diseases of vegetable, pulse and ornamental crops. The DNA study of these
isolates/strains has also ascertained disease suppressing potential of the biocontrol agents.
Dr. Khan has invented a new and low cost biotechnology to produce biopesticides that
involve mass production of the bioagents on sawdust-soil-molasses mixture and
immobilization on a flyash-based carrier. The invented formulation is about 10 times less
expensive than the contemporaries available in the market. Patents on the invented
technology and products have been filed in USA (granted US 2006/0292124 A1) and
India (1621/DEL/2005). Filed trials of these biopesticides in different districts under a
DBT program have shown that seed treatment with 2 g biopesticide/ kg seeds
significantly controlled wilt, damping-off, root-knot and wilt disease complex leading to
yield enhancement of 3-5 q and 2-3 q and 6-8 q/ha in pulses. These biopesticides have
also proved growth promoter and can be used as biofertilizers.
Dr. Khan obtained Ph.D. in Plant Nematology in 1988 and thereafter worked as a
post Doc. at the North Carolina State University and the California Department of Food
and Agriculture, U.S.A. in 1988 and 1989 respectively. He has worked in the
commonwealth Institute of Parasitology, U.K.
