Scientist Profile

Dr. P Mahesh

Dr. P Mahesh

Senior Scientist, Section of Entomology
ICAR Sugarcane Breeding Institute Coimbatore 641007 Tamil Nadu Mobile: 8056389125 Whatsapp: 8056389125 Email agrimahesh@gmail.com P.Mahesh@icar.org.in
  •  Biological control (Parasitoids) and Bt biopesticide formulation
  • Society for Sugarcane Research and Development, ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore, India   
  • Society for Biocontrol Advancement, NBAIR, Bengaluru, India
  • Society for Advancement of Human and Nature (SADHNA), Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India,
  • Professor MS Swaminathan Best Scientist Award (Bose Science Society (TNSRO), Tamil Nadu, India)
  • Best Entomologist Award
  • FBSS Fellowship
  • Scientist Award-2020
  • Kanwar Virender Singh Memorial All India Publication Award
  • FSBA Fellowship

Other awards:

  • ICAR-IARI Senior Fellowship for Ph.D.
  • ICAR-Junior Fellowship for Master degree
  • Best poster/paper awards: 5
  • Best Oral Presentation: 5      
  • Mahesh., J. Srikanth B. Singaravelu B. Mahendran B. Iswarya. 2025. A method to screen sugarcane hybrids against Chilo sacchariphagus indicus using artificial diet. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-025-01426-6
  • Mahesh, P., Srikanth, J., Appunu, C., Singaravelu, B., Puthira Prathap, D., Alfred Danie, J., Mahendran, B., Mohanraj, K., Gopi, R., and  Nirmala, R. 2024. Spotted Stem Borer Chilo partellus: Occurrence, Biology and Relative Resistance in Erianthus arundinaceus. Sugar Tech, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-024-01516-8
  • Mahesh P, Singaravelu B, Srikanth J, Salin KP, Chandran K, and Nirmala R. 2024. Resistance of sugarcane hybrids to internode borer Chilo sacchariphagus indicus (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Experimental Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.1017/S001447972400002
  • Mahendran, B., Mahesh, P., Gopi, R., Madhu, T.N., Pandey, S.K., Nisha., M., Keerthana., Sony Jayaraman., Savio Jacob Saji 2025. Biological control of the sugarcane planthopper, Pyrilla perpusilla by the introduction and colonization of ectoparasitoid moth, Epiricania (= Fulgoraecia) melanoleuca in a sugarcane crop island ecosystem. BioControl. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-025-10342-0
  • Mahesh, P., Srikanth, J., K.P. Salin, B. Singaravelu, Chandran, K., Mahendran, B. 2019. Phenology of sugarcane leaf hopper Pyrilla perpusilla (Walker) (Homoptera: Lophopidae) and its natural enemies in a crop island scenario. Crop Protection, 120:151-162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2019.02.020
  • Mahesh, P., Srikanth, J., Mahendran B., Chandran, K., Singaravelu, B. and Salin K.P. 2021. Occurrence of the exotic mite Schizotetranychus krungthepensis (Acarina: Tetranychidae) in sugarcane germplasm in India. Crop Protection 144:105556.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2021.105556
  • Mahesh, P, Gautam, R.D, Sudhida Gautam and Maruthadurai, R.2012. Kairomones of Earias vitella (F.) and their influence on the parasitic potential of Trichogramma spp. (Trichogrammatidae: Hymenoptera). Indian Journal of Entomology 74(1): 47-53.
  • Mahesh, P. and Men, U.B. 2007. Bio-efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner against Leucinodes orbonalis Guen. Indian Journal of Entomology 69(3): 234-237.
  • Mahesh, P. and Men, U.B. 2008. Effect of Bt formulations on Yield of Brinjal by Managing Leucinodes orbonalis. Annals Plant Protection Science 16(2):490-491.

  • Maruthadurai, R, Gautam, R.D, and Mahesh, P. 2011. Kairomonal effect of host body washing on the egg parasitoid Trichogramma brasiliensis (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Journal of Biological Control 25 (4):298–304.
  • Srikanth, J, Mahesh, P,Salin, K.P and Poorani, J. 2015. Occurrence of hispa Asamangulia cuspidata and its parasitoids in South India. Current science 109(12):2288-2295.
  • Mahendran, B., Gopi, R., Mahesh, P., Chandran, K, and Nisha, M. 2024. Field Dynamics of Entomopathogenic Fungi Attacking Sugarcane Planthopper, Pyrilla Perpusilla (Lophopidae: Hemiptera) in a Managed Agro-Ecosystem Comprising Sugarcane Germplasm. Sugar Tech. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-024-01410-3
  • Mahesh P, Singaravelu B, Srikanth J, Salin KP, Chandran K, and Nirmala R. 2024. Resistance of sugarcane hybrids to internode borer Chilo sacchariphagus indicus (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Experimental Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479724000024
  • Srikanth, J., Singaravelu, B., Crickmore, N. Mahesh, P., Sankaranarayanan, C., Suresha, G. S., Appunu, C., Nirmala, R., Om Prakash, M., and Athira K. M. 2023. Laboratory evaluation of a scarabid-specific isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis against white grub Holotrichia serrata. Bio Control 69(1):1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-023-10220-7
  • Mahesh, P., Srikanth, J., Chandran, K. and Nisha, M. 2015. Damage pattern and status of the leaf miner Aphanisticus aeneus Kerremans (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in Saccharum spp. International Journal of Pest Management 61(1):36-46. DOI: 10.1080/09670874.2014.986561
  • Naveenarani, M., Suresha, G.S., Srikanth, J., Hari, K., Sankaranarayanan, C., Mahesh, P., Nirmala, R. Swathik, C.P., Crickmore, N., BakshiRam, Appunu, C., Singaravelu, B. 2021 Whole genome analysis and functional characterization of a novel Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt 62) isolate against sugarcane white grub Holotrichia serrata (F). Genomics 114:185–195
  • Srikanth, J., Salin, K.P., Punithavalli, M., Mahesh, P., Jayanthi, R. and Subadra Bai, K. 2020. A field-release station and release protocol for dispensing cocoons of Cotesia flavipes against sugarcane borers. Phytoparasitica https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-020-00827-2
  • Mahesh, P., Srikanth, J., Mahendran, B., Chandran, K., Singaravelu, B. and Salin, K.P. 2020. Scale insect Melanaspis glomerata (Green) (Homoptera: Diaspididae) in world collection of Saccharum spontaneum L. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 40, 933–941. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-020-00151-6.
  • Mahesh, P., Srikanth, J., Chandran, K., Singaravelu, B., Salin, K.P., Jayabose, C. and Balan, S. 2019. Occurrence, damage pattern and status of the rice leaf folder Cnaphalocrocis ruralis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Erianthus spp. In India. Experimental Agriculture, 55(3):471-483. doi:10.1017/S0014479716000697
  • Mahesh, P., Srikanth, J., Chandran, K. and Singaravelu, B. 2018. Resistance of Saccharum spp. against Chilo sacchariphagus indicus (Kapur) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in India. Experimental Agriculture 54(1):83-95.
  • Mahesh, P, Srikanth, J, Chandran, K and Nisha, M. 2015.Preliminary screening of Saccharum spp. germplasm against pink borer Sesamia inferens Walker. International Sugar Journal CXVII (1395):212-216.
  • Mahesh P, Srikanth J and Chandran K. 2014. Pattern of pink stem borer Sesamia inferens (Walker) incidence in different crop seasons and Saccharum spp. Journal of Sugarcane Research, 4 (1): 91-95.
  • Mahesh, P, Chandran, K, Srikanth, J, Nisha, M and Manjunatha, T. 2013. Natural Incidence of Sesamia inferens Walker, in Sugarcane Germplasm. Sugar Tech 15(4): 384–389. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-013-0212-2
  • Mahesh, P, Chandran, K, Manjunatha, T and Balan, S. 2013. Natural incidence of leaf miner aphanisticus aeneus (coleoptera: buprestidae), in sugarcane germplasm. Sugar Tech 15(1): 94–97 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-012-0176-7
  • Mahesh, P. and Men, U.B. 2007. Seasonal Incidence of Leucinodes orbonalis on Brinjal. Annals Plant Protection Science 15 (2):498-499.
  • Balasubramaniyan, M., Mahesh, P., Srikanth, J., Singaravelu, B. Puthira Prathap, D. and Pothiraja, N. 2020. Infestation levels of sugarcane shoot borer in Cauvery delta zone of Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of Sugarcane Research 10 (1):94-99.
  • Singaravelu, B., Suresha, G.S.,Srikanth, J., Appunu, C., Sankaranarayanan, C., Mahesh, P., Nirmala, R. and Rajeshkumar, M. 2020. Prospecting in Western ghats of Karnataka for indigenous Bacillus thuringiensis isolates harbouring novel crystal toxin genes for sugarcane pest management. Journal of Sugarcane Research 10(2):113-120.
  • Srikanth, J., Geetha, N., Mahesh, P., Saravanan, L., Singaravelu, B. and Salin, K.P. 2019. Status of fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) in sugarcane in Tamil Nadu State, India, a year after its first occurrence. Journal of Sugarcane Research 9(2):176-183. https://doi.org/10.37580/JSR.2019.2.9.176-183.
  • Manjunatha T,Chandran K, Mahesh P, Mohanraj K and Appunu. 2018. Characterization of Saccharum spontaneum accessions from North-Eastern India. Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, 9(1): 38-50. DOI: 10.5958/0975-928X.2018.00005.4
  • Srikanth, J., Geetha, N., Singaravelu, B., Ramasubramanian, T., Mahesh, P., Saravanan, L., Salin, K.P., Chitra, N. and Muthukumar, M. 2018. First report of occurrence of fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda in sugarcane from Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of Sugarcane Research 8(2): 195-202.
  • Singaravelu, B., Appunu, C., Suresha, G.S., Srikanth, J., Sankaranarayanan, C., Mahesh, P., Nirmala, R., Rajeshkumar, M. and Naveenarani, M. 2017. Screening of indigenous Bacillus thuringiensis isolates for novel cry1 crystal toxin gene for use against lepidopteran sugarcane borers. Journal of Sugarcane Research 7(2):121-125.
  • Chandran, K., Nisha, M, Mahesh, P and Arunkumar R. 2017. Saccharum edule Hassk. an Under-exploited Germplasm Resource of Sugarcane. Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resource 30(1):72-76.
  • Singaravelu, B, Mahesh,P, Srikanth, J and Nirmala, R. 2016. First report of occurrence of Brahmina mysoreensis frey (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae) in Sugarcane. Journal of Sugarcane Research 5 (2): 87 – 90.
  • Chandran, P. Mahesh and M. Nisha. 2012. Multiple buds and adventitious shoot formation in sugarcane. Journal of Sugarcane Research 2(1):46-49.
  • Srikanth, J.; Mahesh, P.; Manimekalai, R.; Suresha, G. S.; Singaravelu, B.; Salin, K. P. 2022. Web mite Schizotetranychus krungthepensis on sugarcane in India: molecular evidence for occurrence and the way forward. Current Science 123(8):1038-1049. DOI: 10.18520/cs/v123/i8/1038-1049
  • Srikanth, J., Geetha, N., Punithavalli, M., Mahesh, P., Saravanan, L., Singaravelu, B., Salin, K.P and Yogambal C. 2023. A reappraisal of internode borer (Chilo sacchariphagus indicus) impact on sugarcane. Journal of Sugarcane Research 12: 92-102. https://doi.org/10.37580/JSR.2022.3.12.92-102
  • Chandran, K., Nisha, M., Gopi, R., Mahendran, B., Dilsha Chandran., Mahesh P., Arun Kumar, R., Krishnapriya, V.,  Gomathi, R., Malathi, P.,  Viswanathan, R. and Hemaprabha, G. 2023. Sugarcane Genetic Resources for Challenged Agriculture. Sugar Tech. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-023-01313-9
  • Srikanth, J., Mahendran B., Singaravelu, B., Mahesh, P., Salin K.P. and Chandran, K. 2021. Status of woolly aphid Ceratovacuna lanigera and establishment of the parasitoid Encarsia flavoscutellum in sugarcane germplasm. Journal of Sugarcane Research 11(1):74-82