Plant Protection Development in Tea Plantations of South India in the Last Five Decades

The excessive use of chemicals in agriculture has resulted in several environmental problems like ozone layer depletion, poor soil health, due to the decline in natural microflora and acidification of water. To overcome these problems, application of biocontrol agents and biofertilizers has been found to be effective. Generally, these are beneficial microorganisms involved in the breakdown of organic matter, nitrogen fixation and secretion of growth promoting substances. They also supply nutrients to the plants, control diseases and maintain the soil structure in cultivable fields. Intensive research has been done to find out the usefulness of this aspect in the tea plantations. Certain groups of bacteria and fungi are considered as efficient biofertilizers and biocontrol agents in tea which are freely available in top soil, usually associated with plants with symbiotic relationship. These organisms receive nutrients from plant tissues and in turn supply the required nitrogen and phosphorus to the plants. In the present review article, the performance of Plant Pathology and Microbiology Division during the last five decade and the challenges ahead have been discussed.