17-04-2024

भाकृअनुप - भारतीय मक्का अनुसंधान संस्थान

ICAR - Indian Institute of Maize Research

(ISO 9001:2015 certified)

Nurturing Diversity, Resilience, Livelihood & Industrial Inputs

Dr. P. Lakshmi Soujanya

Designation: Senior Scientist (Ag. Entomology)

Qualification: M.Sc. (Ag.) Ph D in Agricultural Entomology, Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh

Address: Senior Scientist, WNC, ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research Rajendranagar Hyderabad 500 030 (INDIA)

Email: pl.soujanaya@icar.gov.in, soujanyak.scientist@gmail.com

Mobile: +91 8008607373

Phone: +91 040 24018457 (O)

Fax: +91 040 24018457

Work experience:

  • Senior Scientist, ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad (India) from April 21, 2018 to till date.
  • Scientist SS, ICAR Indian Institute of Maize Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad (India) from April 21, 2013 to till date.
  • Scientist, ICAR Indian Institute of Maize Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad (India) from May 11, 2010 to April 20, 2013.
  • Scientist, ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (India) from  August 29, 2009 to May 10, 2010.

 Area of interest:

  • Host Plant Resistance, Plant Insect Interactions, and Botanicals for the management of insect pests of maize.

  Most significant achievements (in last five years)

  • Identified promising genotypes against pink stem borer, fall armyworm.
  • Identified cell wall bound hydroxycinnamic acids- p-coumaric acid (p-CA) and ferulic acid present in leaf and stem tissues as biochemical defense mechanisms in maize against pink stem borer.
  • Identified induced defense responses in maize in response to pink stem borer feeding and non-insect interactions.
  • Developed integrated management strategies against storage pest rice weevil.

Publications in last five years

Research papers:

  • Lakshmi Soujanya P, JC Sekhar, CV Ratnavathi,  Chikkappa G Karjagi, E Shobha SB Suby, KR Yathish, N Sunil, S Rakshit. 2021. Induction of cell-wall phenolic monomers as part of direct defense response in maize to pink stem borer (Sesamia inferens) Walker and non-insect interactions. Scientific Reports  11:14770.
  • Lakshmi Soujanya P, Sekhar JC, CV Ratnavathi, E Shobha, Chikkappa G Karjagi, SB Suby, N Sunil, and Sujay Rakshit. 2020. Role of soluble, cell wall-bound phenolics, tannin and flavonoid contents in maize resistance to pink stem borer, Sesamia inferens Maydica 65-M8.
  • Ankita Gupta, Lakshmi Soujanya P, Cornelis Van Achterberg, J.C. Sekhar. 2020.Coccygidium transcaspicum (Kokujev) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitizing larvae of invasive pest Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in India. Zootaxa 4750 : 293-297.
  • Lakshmi Soujanya, P, Sekhar, JC, Chikkappa Karjagi, Suby, SB, Sunil N, Yathish KR, Reddy MLK, Jawala Jindal, Rakshit S. 2019. Field screening of maize inbred lines for resistance to stem borers Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) and Sesamia inferens Maize Journal 8:8-14.
  • Lakshmi Soujanya P, Sekhar JC, Suby SB, Rakshit S, Susmitha GS, Mallavadhani UV. 2018. Biopesticide treated double layered bags: Novel method of application of botanicals for Sitophilus oryzae management in stored maize. MAYDICA, 63:6.
  • Lakshmi Soujanya P, Sekhar,JC, Vidhyadhari,V, Suby, SB,Vinay Mahajan. 2018. Repellent and reproductive inhibitory effects of Strychnos nux vomica and Lepidium sativum against Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Indian J Entomol . 80: 586-589.
  • Lakshmi Soujanya,P, Sekhar,JC, Vidhyadhari,V,Suby,SB, Susmitha, GS and Mallavadhani, UV. 2018. Management of rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae in stored maize using solar heat and plant biopesticides. Indian J Entomol. 80: 1736-1739.
  • Lakshmi Soujanya P, Sekhar JC, Chikkappa G. Karjagi,  Vidhyadhari V, Suby SB, Sunil N,  Sreelatha D, DharamPaul Chaudhary. 2017. Impact of harvesting time on field carry over infestation of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in different maize genotypes, Phytoparasitica 45:485-499.
  • Lakshmi Soujanya P, Sekhar JC, Chikkappa G. Karjagi, Dharam Paul, Kumar P. 2016. Evaluation of biophysical, anatomical and biochemical traits of resistance to Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in stored maize. MAYDICA1 M8.
  • Lakshmi Soujanya P, Sekhar JC, Kumar P. 2016. Efficacy of plant extracts against rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L.) in stored maize. Indian J Entomol. 78:342-345.
  • Lakshmi Soujanya P, Sekhar JC, Chikkappa GK, Kumar P. 2015. Differential resistance  of maize germplasm to rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and angoumois grain moth Sitotroga cerealella (Oliv.)  in stored maize. Indian J Plant Prot. 43 :143-149.
  • Lakshmi Soujanya P, Sekhar JC, Kumar P, Dhanalakshmi V, Sravanthi P, Mallavadhani UV. 2015.  Potentiality of various extracts of Ixora coccinea and its major component tanacetene from rubiaceae family against stored maize pest.  J Insect Sci. 28:252-258.

Review/Popular articles:

  • Suby SB, Soujanya P L, Yadava P, Patil J, Subaharan K, Prasad GS, Babu KS, Jat SL, Yathish KR, Vadassery J, Kalia VK, Bakthavatsalam N, Shekhar JC, Rakshit S. 2020. Invasion of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in India: nature, distribution, management and potential impact. Current Science 119(1):44-51.
  • Sekhar JC, Soujanya PL, Suby SB,Jawala Jindal, MahaSingh Jaglan, Reddy MLK and Sujay Rakshit 2019. Current status of insect pests of maize and their management. Krishi Chetana 2: 33-37.(Hindi)
  • L.K.Reddy , J. C. Sekhar, Lakshmi Soujanya P, B.Mallaiah and V.Narasimha Reddy 2018. Mokka Jonnanu aasinchina kattera purugu (Fall Army Worm) nivaaranaku teesukovalasina samagra Yaajamanyam.(Integrated approaches for the management of Fall Army Worm in maize)   Vyavasayam, 4 (9):18-23
  • Soujanya PL, Sekhar JC, Suby SB and Rakshit S. 2018. Ecofriendly approaches for management of insect pests of maize in small scale storage. Indian Farmer, 5(10): 1338-1346.
  • Lakshmi Soujanya P, S. B. Suby, J. C. Sekhar, Jawala Jindal, MahaSingh Jaglan, M.L.K.Reddy and Sujay Rakshit 2018. Makka phasal ke mukhya keet avam unka prabhandhan. (Management of  insect pests of maize)  Krishi Chetna 1:65-72. Hindi.
  • Lakshmi Soujanya P, J. C. Sekhar, S. B. Suby, Jawala Jindal, MahaSingh Jaglan and Sujay Rakshit 2018. Laghu sthar par Bhandarith makka ke keton ka paryavaran hiteishi prabhandan. (Management of storage pests of maize) Krishi Chetna 1: 73-79. Hindi.
  • Lakshmi Soujanya P,C. Sekhar, P. Kumar, N.Sunil, Ch.VaraPrasad and   U.V. Mallavadhani.2016.  Potentiality of botanical agents for the management of post harvest insects of maize: a review. J Food Sci Technol 53: 2169-2184.
  • Lakshmi Soujanya P, J. C. Sekhar, Sangit Kumar, P. Kumar, K.S.Hooda and Meena Shekhar 2014 Management of post harvest losses in maize. Indian Farming 64 (4) : 37 – 43
  • Pradyumn Kumar, J. C. Sekhar, Lakshmi Soujanya P and Jaswinder Kaur 2014 Management of insect pests of maize. Indian Farming 64 (4) : 30 – 36

Book chapters:

  • Suby SB, Lakshmi Soujanya P, Jat SL, Sekhar JC, Rakshit S. 2019. Status of fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda ( Smith) in India and its management. in M A Ansari, S L Jat, S Saha, S Babu, G S Yadav, Anup Das, L K Baishya, R Singh, Ampee Tasung, L Bomit, Suby SB, J C Sekhar, S K Sharma, N Prakash, and S Rakshit (eds.) 2019. Highlighted achievement on fall armyworm under promoting improved technology of maize production in NEH region. 110 Pages, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Meghalaya, India. ISBN NO. 978-93-5391-283-3.
  • Pradyumn Kumar, Jaswinder Kaur, S.B. Suby, J.C. Sekhar and Lakshmi Soujanya P.2018.Pests of Maize.Pp 51-79. In: Pests and their management. (Eds.) Omkar, Springer (Singapore). ISBN 978-981-10-8687-8.
  • Kumar, J. C. Sekhar, Soujanya P. Lakshmi, B. Suby. 2017. Mass production of biocontrol agents of insect pests. Pp 451-465. In: Industrial Entomology. (Eds.) Omkar, Springer. ISBN 978-981-10-3304-9.
  • Chikkappa G. Karjagi, Jaswinder Kaur, J. C. Sekhar, Soujanya P. Lakshmi, S. B. Suby, Jaswinder Kaur, M. G. Mallikarjuna and Pradyumn Kumar. 2017. Breeding for resistance to insect pests in maize. Pp 201-229. In: Breeding Insect Resistant Crops for Sustainable Agriculture. (Eds.) Ramesh Arora and Surinder Sandhu, Springer (Singapore). ISBN 978-981-10-6056-4.
  • Lakshmi Soujanya P, J. C. Sekhar and P. Kumar. 2015. Medicinal Plants: Promising tool for the management of post-harvest insect pests of maize. In book: Sahayaraj and Selvaraj (editors) first edition Bio pesticides: Innovations and Practices, Smith and Franklin pp 88-97.

Technical Bulletins:

  • Lakshmi Soujanya P, Suby SB, Sekhar JC, Vasudeva Rao V, Sujay Rakshit. 2020. Major insect pests of maize and their management. ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, PAU Campus, Ludhiana, Punjab141004 pp 62.
  • Rakshit S., Ballal CR, Prasad YG, Sekhar JC, Soujanya PL, Suby SB, Jat SL, Sivakumar G. and Prasad JV. 2019. Fight against Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith). ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana, pp. 52.
  • Lakshmi Soujanya P, S.B. Suby, J. C. Sekhar, Pradyumn Kumar, Jawala Jindal, M.L.K. Reddy and Vinay Mahajan. 2016. Identification and management of insect pests of maize. Indian Institute of Maize Research, New Delhi.

 Significant recognition:

  • Scientist award 2021 by Vasantharaj David Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
  • Best Institute Scientist award 2019- ICAR-IIMR, Ludhiana, Punjab.
  • Best Young Scientist award 2019 during 6th Biopesticide International Conference.
  • Received travel grant from Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi to attend 25th International Congress of Entomology at Orlando, Florida, USA.

Project Associations:

Externally Funded

  • Development of sustainable management tools for the invasive pest, Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) in maize.(ICAR-NASF)
  • Artificial intelligence based mobile app for identification and advisory of maize diseases and insect pests.(ICAR-NASF)

Institutional/In-House

  • Management of maize stem borers through host plant resistance