Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. Role of insects and their taxonomy in agrobiodiversity--retrospect and prospects/V.V. Ramamurthy. 2. Insect biodiversity/R.M. Nachiappan and V. Selvanarayanan. 3. Biodiversity of green lacewing, a potential predator/M. Swamiappan, V. Balasubramani, B. Geetha, D. Mohana and H.L. Chandrakumar. 4. Dimensions of biodiversity in whiteflies (Aleyrodidae : Hemiptera)/R.W. Alexander Jesudasan. 5. Biodiversity of woolly Aphid and natural enemies in sugarcane ecosystem in Tamil Nadu/A. Thirumurugan, T.L. Baskaran and K. Koodalingam. 6. Coccid diversity in India/S. Suresh. 7. Plant and insect diversity patterns in Cardamom plantations vis-a-vis natural forests: an assessment in the Nelliyampathy Hills, Kerala, India/George Mathew. 8. Lac insects diversity/Bangali Baboo. 9. Insect biodiversity in coastal agro ecosystem in Karaikal region/L. Nadarajan. 10. Biodiversity of natural enemies of insect pests of spice crops/S. Devasahayam. 11. Biodiversity of plant parasitic nematodes associated with Banana in India/P. Sundararaju. 12. Diversity of parasitic nematodes and their antagonists in spices/Santhosh J. Eapen. 13. Diversity in nematodes/M. Sivakumar, M.P. Mani and R. Umamaheswari. 14. Diversity and role of neem as biopesticide/S. Raguraman and M. Swamiappan. 15. Biodiversity of pseudomonas and plant production/R. Samiyappan, D. Saravanakumar, L. Rajendran, S. Nakkeeran, T. Raguchander and G. Karthikeyan. 16. Plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria of crop plants and their application in crop improvement and disease control/B.S. Dileep Kumar, S. Dutta and A.K. Mishra. 17. Pathogenic diversity in Phytophthora affecting horticultural crops/M. Anandaraj. 18. Integrated management of pre-post harvest diseases of mango/S.P. Raut and A.D. Gawande. 19. Integrated disease management in Vanilla/B.B. Suryawanshi and S.P. Raut.
"Considering the Agro-biodiversity as one of the richest national resource in country's economy, strategic attempt for conforming unforeseen vagaries of climate and building block for developing varieties of plants and animal species with multi-utility dimensions, it is much needed option for developing a suitable knowledge base. It is estimated that about three quarters of genetics diversity of agricultural crops was lost in the preceding century. Out of 6300 animal species, 1350 are considered endangered and in extinction. Forest dwellers, fishermen, herders and farmers and maintaining the diversity by selecting plants and animals to meet the current environmental conditions and food requirements. Under these premises, National Biodiversity Authority, Chennai organized a National Conference on Agro-Biodiversity in Chennai from February 12-17, 2006. Researchers, academicians, policy planners, and administrators presented their view point on current status and future prospects of taking advantage of this resource. This vicarious knowledge resource will have high exploitation value for protecting and conserving the dwindling wealth, the country can boost of. The proceedings of this conference are brought out in three distinct volumes.
Volume III deals with retrospect and prospects of taxonomy of insects and predators, dimensions of biodiversity in insect and pest in crop ecosystems, plantations and forests besides other similar articles of varied interests."
