Contents - Faperta

xx Preface
of newer insecticide molecules with different modes of action and for monitoring insect
resistance to insecticides. Molecular marker-assisted selection promises to accelerate
the pace of development of insect-resistant cultivars for integrated pest management.
While there has been a general acceptance of the medicinal products derived through the
application of the tools of biotechnology, the response to food derived from genetically
modifi ed plants has been based on caution. Rapid and cost effective development and
adoption of biotechnology-derived products will depend on developing a full understanding
of the interaction of genes within their genomic environment and with the environment
in which their conferred phenotype must interact in the ecosystem. It is in this context
that this book, Biotechnological Approaches for Pest Management and Ecological Sustainability,
will serve as a useful source of information for students, scientists, administrators, and
research planners.
It would not have been possible to undertake this gigantic task without the inspiration
and encouragement from Dr. W.D. Dar (Director General), Dr. D.A. Hoisington (Deputy
Director General), and Dr. C.L.L. Gowda (Theme Leader, Crop Improvement at ICRISAT).
I am grateful to M.K. Dhillon, G. Pampapathy, Surekha, K.K. Sharma, T.G. Hash, G.V. Ranga
Rao, Rajan Sharma, O.P. Rupela, R. Wadaskar, S. Deshpande, P. Lava Kumar, Farid Waliyar,
T. Napolean, Rajiv Varshney, S. Senthilvel, and D.A. Hoisington for reviewing different
chapters of this book. I also thank S.R. Venkateswarlu for help in the preparation of the
manuscript. I am highly thankful to Mr. V. Venkatesan, for his prompt and timely help
with literature search during the course of preparation of this manuscript. Last, but not
least, for their patience, understanding, and support during the course of the preparation
of this manuscript, I am extremely grateful to my wife, Veena Sharma and our daughters
Anu and Ankita. The help rendered by the editors and the staff of CRC Press, who have
done an excellent job in bringing out this book, is much appreciated.
Hari C. Sharma
Principal Scientist—Entomology
International Crops Research Institute
for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)