Scientist Profile

Dr. M. Punithavalli

Dr. M. Punithavalli

Senior Scientist (Agrl. Entomology)
Crop Protection Division Sugarcane Breeding Institute Coimbatore

Host plant  resistance and Sugarcane IPM

  • Screening sugarcane genotypes for resistance to borer pests.
  • Exploration and validation of novel plant defensive metabolites conferring resistance to sugarcane borer pests.
  • National outreach programme titled Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA).
  • Recognition as Life member of Professional Society of Sugarcane Research and Development, Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore.
  • Recognition as Life member of Plant Protection Association of India (IJPP), ICAR-NBPGR, Regional Station, Hyderabad.
  • Recognition as Life member of Agro Environmental Development Society (AEDES), Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
  • Life member of Indian Society of Agriculture Science and Technology Research (ISASTR), Noida, India.
  • Identification and characterization of proteinase inhibitors influencing resistance against shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus (Snellen) and internode borer, Chilo sacchariphagus indicus (Kapur) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in sugarcane (2016-2018) from the Department of Science and Technology (DST)-Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Govt. of India.
  • Bio-efficacy of Thiacloprid 240 SC (Alanto 240 SC) against girdle beetle and sucking pests on soybean (Co. PI) funded by Bayer of Crop Science Ltd. (2009-2010).
  • Bioefficacy of Beta-Cyfluthrin 9% + Imidacloprid 21% – 300 OD (Solomon 300 OD) against girdle beetle on soybean (Co.PI) funded by Bayer of Crop Science Ltd.(2009-2010).
  • Received “Best Scientist Award in Plant Protection” for outstanding contribution in the field of plant protection on the occasion of 10th International Conference on “Recent Advances in Agriculture, Engineering, Applied and life Sciences for Environmental Sustainability, from October 23 to 25, 2024 at Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India.
  • Received Young Woman Scientist Award for outstanding contribution in the field of Agricultural Entomology on the occasion of International Conference “Current Innovations and Technological Advances in Agriculture and Allied Sciences, from August 29 to 31, 2024.
  • Served as a contributor to a patent on the design of a “Parasitoid Release Station”, specifically developed for deploying the larval parasitoid Cotesia flavipes in the management of the sugarcane internode borer, Chilo sacchariphagus indicus.
  • Best paper award for the work titled “கரும்பு நுனிகுருத்துப் புழுவிற்கு (Chilo infuscatellus, Crambidae, Lepidoptera) எதிர்ப்புத் திறன் கொண்ட முஞ்சி வகை கரும்பு (எரியந்தஸ் அருண்டினேசியஸ்). 5th National Conference on Agricultural Scientific Tamil at TNAU Coimbatore, October 9-10, 2020.
  • Received Cash Prize Award at SBI for obtaining highest marks in Hindi Prabodh course.
  • Received a project “Identification and characterization of proteinase inhibitors influencing resistance against shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus (Snellen) and internode borer, Chilo sacchariphagus indicus (Kapur) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in sugarcane” (2016-2018) from the Department of Science and Technology (DST)-Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Govt. of India.
  • Awarded best oral presentation for the paper titled “Profiling of proteinase inhibitors (PIs) from Erianthus arundinaceus and their evaluation against gut proteinases of Chilo infuscatellus (Snellen) and Chilo sacchariphagus indicus (Kapur) in sugarcane in the International Conference and Expo on Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences: Research and Technology, 2017, Hyderabad, India.
  • Awarded best poster presentation award (First Prize) in the National conference on Plant Protection in Agriculture through Ecofriendly Techniques and Traditional Farming Practices organized by Entomological Research Association, Department of Entomology at Agricultural Research Station, Durgapura, February 18-20, 2010 at Jaipur.
  • Received National fellowship by United Grant Commission for Ph.D research work during 2005-2007.
  • Punithavalli, M., Govindaraj, P. and M. Balaji Rajkumar. 2025. Resistance mechanism of energy canes developed from Saccharum spontaenum and Erianthus arundinaceus against sugarcane borer pests. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology, 28: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aspen.2025.102408
  • Senthil Kumar, C.M., Samyuktha, M. Balaji Rajkumar, Punithavalli, M. Sharon D’Silva. Geethu, C. Ahalya, P. Jacob, T.K. Devasahayam, S. and A.I. Bhat. 2025. Physiological host range and virulence of Metarhizium pingshaense against three key Chilo species, and temporal expression of virulence genes during infection of its original host, Conogethes punctiferalis. Scientific Reports, 15: 18506, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03643-y.
  • Punithavalli, M., Mohanraj, K. and K.P. Salin. 2025. Laboratory cum screening methods for the evaluation of sugarcane varieties against borer Pests. Indian Journal of Plant Protection, 53(1): 33-37.
  • Punithavalli, M., Mohanraj, K. Rajula Shanthy, T. and Yuvan Sankar Pandian, M. 2024. Mechanism of Biochemical Resistance in Sugarcane Varieties Derived from Saccharum and Erianthus Against Borer Pests. Sugar Tech, 27(3): 667-680. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-024-01521-x
  • Punithavalli, M., Jebamalaimary, A. and K.P. Salin. 2024. Defensive responses of Erianthus arundinaceus against sugarcane shoot borer Chilo infuscatellus (Snellen) (Crambidae: Lepidoptera). International Journal of Pest Management. DoI No:. 10.1080/09670874.2021.1980243
  • Punithavalli, M. 2023. Spatial distribution of proteinase inhibitors among diverse groups of sugarcane and their interaction with sugarcane borers. Indian Journal of Entomology, 84(3). 693-696. DoI No:. 10.5958/0974-8172.2021.00101.2.
  • Srikanth, J., Geetha, N., Punithavalli, M., Mahesh, P., Saravanan, L., Singaravelu, B., Salin, K.P. and Yogambal, C. 2022. A reappraisal of internode borer (Chilo sacchariphagus indicus) impact on sugarcane. Journal of Sugarcane Research, 12: 92-102.
  • Punithavalli, M.,P. Salin., Jebamalaimary, A. and. Saravanan, L. 2022. Field reaction of red fleshed Saccharum robustum against sugarcane borers and termites. Indian Journal of Plant Protection, 50(1): 1-5.
  • Srikanth, J., Salin, K.P., Punithavalli, M., Mahesh, P., Jayanthi, R. and Subadra Bai. 2020. A field – release device and protocol for dispensing cocoons of Cotesia flavipes against sugarcane borers. Phytoparasitica, 47(1): 785-800.
  • Punithavalli, Mand A. Jebamalaimary. 2019. Inhibitory activities of proteinase inhibitors on developmental characteristics of sugarcane Chilo infuscatellus (Snellen). Phytoparasitica, 47(1): 43-53. DOI: 10.1007/s12600-018-00710-1.
  • Punithavalli, M. and Salin, K.P. 2019. Biological effects of Trypsin inhibitor (TI) on the sugarcane shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus (Snellen). Journal of Entomological Research, 43(1): 1-7. DOI: 10.5958/0974-4576.2019.00002.1
  • Punithavalli, M. Light trap as a monitoring tool for common cutworm Spodoptera litura (F.) in soybean. Indian Journal of Entomology, 80(2): 356-360. DOI: 10.5958/0974-8172.218.00071.8.
  • Punithavalli, M. and Salin, K.P. Field reaction of selected sugarcane hybrids and Erianthus genotypes against shoot borer Chilo infuscatellus (Snellen). Annals of Plant Protection Sciences, 26(2): 296-300. DOI: 10.5958/0974-0163.2018.00067.8.
  • Punithavalli, M and Sharma A.N. Β-cyfluthrin and Imidacloprid ready mix formulation against major insects pests of soybean. Indian Journal of Plant Protection, 45(2): 139-143.
  • Punithavalli, M, Sharma A.N and M. Balaji Rajkumar. 2014. Seasonal occurrence pattern of common cutworm Spodoptera litura (Fab.) on soybean ecosystem. Phytoparasitica, 42: 213 – 222. DOI 10.1007/s12600-013-0354-5.
  • Punithavalli, M, Muthukrishnan, N. M and M. Balaji Rajkumar. 2013. Defensive responses of rice genotypes for resistance against rice leaffolder Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee). Rice science, 20(5): 363-370.
  • Punithavalli, M, Muthukrishnan, N. M and M. Balaji Rajkumar. 2013. Influence of rice genotypes on the folding and spinning behaviour of leaffolder Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee) (Lepidoptera: Pyraustidae) and its interaction with leaf damage. Rice science, 20(6): 442-450.
  • Punithavalli, M, Raguraman, S. and M. Balaji Rajkumar. Evaluation of talc based bio formulation of Pseudomonas fluorescens for the management rice leaffolder Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guen.) on rice. Annals Plant Protection Sciences, 12: 114-118.
  • Punithavalli, M, Muthukrishnan, N. M and M. Balaji Rajkumar. Impact of Rice Genotypes on the Folding Characteristics of Rice Leaf Folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guen.). Indian Journal of Plant Protection, 39: 93-99.
  • Punithavalli, M, Raguraman, S. and M. Balaji Rajkumar. 2010. Field Evaluation of botanical insecticides and in combination with microbial insecticides against leaffolder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guen.) and their effects on natural enemies in rice. Annals Plant Protection Sciences, 19: 221-222.

Book Chapters:

  • Balaji Rajkumar, M., Dnyaneshwar Namdeo, B., Berliner, J., Punithavalli, M. and Srivastava, K.L. 2025. In pursuit of modern control strategy: Entomopathogens as potent crusader against White Grub pests. Published by Today and Tomorrow’s Printers and Publishers, New Delhi. ISBN: 9789348596161
  • Punithavalli, M. Erianthus arundinaceus: A Source of Resistance to Sugarcane Borer Pests: Insights and Prospects” under the theme of Host-Plant Resistance for ICUCF-2024.
  • Deepak Rai, Balaji Rajkumar M. and Punithavalli. 2015. Insect Pest of Mango and their Management In: Insect Pests Management of Fruit Crops, Eds. A.K. Pandey and Pramod Mall, Biotech books, New Delhi. p19-33.
  • Deepak Rai, Balaji Rajkumar M. and Punithavalli. 2015. Insect Pest of guava and their Management In: Insect Pests Management of Fruit Crops Eds. A.K. Pandey and Pramod Mall, Biotech books, New Delhi. p71-82.
  • Saravanan, L., Punithavalli, M and M. Balaji Rajkumar. 2018. Integrated pest management in chilli and curry leaf. In: Spices of Islands: Potentials and way forward for profitability, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair.p 237-242. ISBN No.: 978-93-85418-38-9