Our vegetable entomology lab is focused on seeking and developing novel and sustainable integrated pest management strategies to improve major vegetables in South Georgia, a hub of vegetable production in the US. Our team is currently working on multiple projects associated with major pest problems (whiteflies, diamondback moths, thrips, pepper weevils, etc.) and some of the vector-transmitted diseases, causing huge losses to key vegetables (e.g., cabbage, tomato, collards, onion, pepper, eggplant, etc.) produced in southern Georgia. Our research projects address issues associated with the vegetable industry and provide information and solutions applicable to the vegetable growers and county agents in Georgia.
The Basu lab focuses on multiple research areas:
- Understanding the major pests associated with vegetable crop productions: My team is tirelessly investigating major pest problems associated with vegetable crop production in Southern Georgia and beyond.
- Molecular and chemical ecology of complex ecosystem interactions: Understanding the molecular and chemical ecology of complex species interactions in various vegetable cropping systems. We are also interested in understanding how various abiotic factors (e.g., environmental conditions, climatic changes, landscapes, etc.) affect these interactions.
- IPM of vegetable crop pests and vector-transmitted pathogens: Our Vegetable Entomology Program (VEP) evaluates insecticide resistance and efficacy for major pests of vegetable crops in Southern Georgia. Besides this, our VEP is also interested in incorporating various other fascinating pest control strategies, including biological control, biopesticides, bioactive insecticidal compounds, and host plant resistance, to promote sustainable pest management solutions for vegetable growers in Georgia.
Goal:
The major goal of our VEP is to help growers mitigate major pest issues by providing them sustainable and novel management solutions. Our team is also closely working with other research groups, county agents, and various other groups to come out with robust solutions.