Conference Background
Fungi are of major significance as mutualistic symbionts and parasites of plants, so their study is an important part of plant sciences and plant pathology. Being an important component of microbial community, fungi are increasingly being considered for their roles in microbiology, molecular biology, ecology, biotechnology, biochemistry, genetics, nanobiotechnology and related sciences. The role of yeast, filamentous fungi including fungal endophytes is now well elucidated in brewing, food preparation and processing, biodeterioration, fermentation and biofuel production etc.
Degradation of soil, forests, air, water quality and other natural resources is posing serious threat for the functioning of ecosystem. Careful planning is needed to maintain the balance of microorganisms in ecosystems using novel strategies and technologies to increase the food productivity and to maintain the sustainability, without destroying the natural environment.
The plant disease management technologies are greatly influenced by environmental pollution, deleterious effects of chemicals on non-target organisms, resurgence of pesticide resistance among pathogens, outbreak of secondary pathogens. There is urgent call for increased crop production to cater the need of growing/or hunger population. In order to reconcile with the need of intensive agriculture with maintenance of the ecosystem, pest control strategies employed in the future must be environmentally compatible and selective to target pests. Many exciting eco-friendly frontier areas exist for control of plant diseases. Search for natural antagonistic microbes or genetic manipulation of a target specific microbe, strategies for selection, collection, manipulation, handling, mechanism and commercial evaluation of such microorganisms is the need of time. Advances in biotechnology have provided alternative pest control strategies that are based on natural biological processes. Tissue culture and genetic engineering are important powerful tools in biotechnology that have been extensively used, either by taking advantage of naturally occurring defense mechanisms which confer disease resistance of avoidance or by modifying plant genome to develop pest resistance. Molecular techniques have opened exciting opportunities in plant protection with prolonged benefit in sustainable agriculture with high degree of safety. Such strategies will be a part of second green revolution. The conference, therefore, offers an opportunity to microbiologist, plant pathologists, entomologists, biochemists, molecular biologists, scientists of biotechnological companies and government officers to share their views at a common platform to deliberate on various issues which will be the focus of attention for future research.
Conference themes
- Plant-Microbes Interactions
- Mycosystematics and Microbial Diversity
- Medical Mycology
- Fungal Endophytes and Mycorrhizae
- Biocontrol and Soil Microbiology
- Biodeterioration and Post-harvest Technology
- Molecular Plant Protection
- Microbial Biotechnology
- Microbial Metabolomics
- Microbial Nanobiotechnology
- Microbes and Environment
Varanasi
Varanasi, the eternal city, is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in India and also a place for tourist attraction. Situated at the bank of scared river Ganges, Varanasi has been a centre of learning for Indian culture, music, science, as well as technology. Lord Buddha first preached his sermons of enlightment at Sarnath situated only at a distance of 15 km from Varanasi.The city is a symbol of Hindu renaissance and has a special role in the development of Hindi language as Tulsi Das, wrote the Hindi version of Ramayana known as Ram Charit Manas in this city.
Varanasi is also known as Kashi and Benaras, but its present name is a restoration of an ancient name meaning the city between two rivers- the Varuna and Assi. For the pious Hindu’s, the city has always been a special place.
Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya founded BHU in 1916 at the bank of the holy river Ganga. This national institute epitomizes a synthesis of ancient wisdom and modern scientific temper. Spread over 5000 acres (Main campus and south campus, Barkachha), BHU is among the world’s largest universities, comprising 4 institutes, 16 faculties, 138 departments, 4 centres of advanced studies, 4 interdisciplinary schools with over 1800 faculty members. Subjects taught range from Vedanta to Computer Science on one hand and Botany to Cardiology on the other hand.
The university has nearly 32,011 students on rolls, 62 hostels, 800 bed teaching hospital, dairy farm, flying club, swimming pool, central and departmental libraries, a huge Shiva temple and an exclusive undergraduate college for girls. BHU is a central university and is fully supported by the Government of India.
The Botany Department
The department was established in 1916 and became the second oldest department in the country to start the post-graduate teaching in Botany since 1919. Among the noteworthy botanists who have been associated with the department are: Birbal Sahni, FRS, Y Bhardwaj, R Misra, FNA, R N Singh and R Y Roy. The Department is internationally known for its contribution in several areas of Botany such as Ecology, Phycology, Mycology and Plant Pathology. The Department has excellent teaching programs with modern laboratory facilities.
In recognition to its outstanding contribution, the department was chosen under Special Assistance Programme of U G C in 1972, Centre of Advanced Study (CAS) in 1980 and recognized as “Centre of Excellence” in 1984 under COSIST programme. At present the Department has 13 Professors, 05 Associate Professors, 07 Assistant Professors and 05 Emeritus Professors. The total strength of students in undergraduate is about 450 and 122 at post-graduate level besides more than 111 Ph. D students and 3 post-docs.
Conference Participation and Abstract Submission
Conference is open to all involved in R & D, teaching, consultancy, planning etc., in area of symposium theme. Interested participants are invited to contribute their papers for oral/or poster presentation. Abstracts should be prepared (about 250 words) using MS-Word and sent to the Organizing Secretary, icmpb2012@gmail.com as file attachment before 30 November, 2011. The name of presenting author should be asterisked or underlined. Those who will be invited for delivering Keynotes, and special lectures should submit 1-2 page comprehensive summary of their lecture.Awards
Awards to be presented during the conference are:- Young scientist award for participants below the age of 35.
- Women’s scientist award
- Best poster presentation award on each focal theme
(Poster size=0.75mX1.0m).
Memorial Lecture
A special memorial lecture in honour of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug will be organized.
Language
English will be official language of the conference.
Souvenir & Proceeding
The abstracts of the conference will be published in form of souvenir. Conference proceedings will be published in form of an edited book.
Social Programme
A cultural programme will be organized during conference.