Kanya Maha Vidyalaya (Autonomous) organised a webinar cum workshop on the topic “Plant Eating Nematodes: A threat to Agriculture”. The workshop was organised by PG Department of Zoology. Dr Pooja Ohri, Head, Department of Zoology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Dr. Ohricommenced her lecture with the introduction to nematodes and briefed about their diversity, distribution and life cycle. The speaker also highlighted the fact that 90% of the nematodes are microbial feeders and are beneficial for the soil and rest are parasitic. Some of the parasitic nematodes feed on insects and are known as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). Moreover, there is a research for the EPNs to be used in the agriculture as bio pesticides to overcome the load of the chemical pesticides. Dr. Ohri also highlighted the fact that there are 4,100 known species of plant-parasitic nematodes that are estimated to cause a worldwide loss of $118 billion. Finally, she concluded her talk by sharing informative videos related to the topic with the participants. The event ended with a healthy discussion between the participants and Dr Ohri.

More than 90 students participated in this workshop with full zeal and enthusiasm. Principal Prof. (Dr.) Atima Sharma Dwivediextended her gratitude towards the resource person for sharing such a valuable information with the students. Madam Principal lauded the efforts of faculty of the PG Department of Zoology for successfully organising the event.