Dr Ravinder Singh Chandi joined PAU in 2006 and served as Assistant Professor of Plant Protection (2006-2009) and Assistant Entomologist (2009-2019). Currently he is working as Senior Entomologist (14-08-2019 till date) with additional duties of Senior Extension Scientist (Entomology). He is involved in conducting research on biology and ecology of economically important insect pests of vegetable crops. He is also developing eco-friendly approaches like use of pheromone traps and neem based insecticides for integrated management of these insect pests. He has published 75 research papers, 07 book chapter, 15 abstracts, 01 compendium, 6 extension bulletin and 79 extension articles. He has given 87 recommendations in package of practices. He has handled 5 competitive research projects, 12 sponsored projects and 32 industry funded projects by various agencies. He is also associated in the extension activities of the department and conducted demonstrations (362), field days (7), trainings (55), adaptive research trials (84), surveys (48) and arranged exhibitions (31) to disseminate integrated pest management technologies. He has delivered 222 lectures in field days/district level training camps/kisan melas, 5 TV and 4 radio talks on integrated pest management. He is also associated in teaching and has guided 3 M.Sc. students as major advisor and 11 M.Sc./Ph.D students as member of advisory committee. He is life member of 7 professional societies. He has been ardently involved in various academic committees of college and co-curricular/sports activities of the University.

Professional Accomplishments Research Projects completed

1. Bio-efficacy of herbal formulations against sucking, lepidopteran and other major insect pests in brinjal funded by NIF, DST (2021-22)

2. Behavioural physiology of tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) and brinjal shoot and fruit borer Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee” funded by DST (SERB) (2017- 2021).

3. Determination of level of insecticide resistance in tomato fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) infesting tomato funded by NIPHM (2020)

4. Bio-efficacy evaluation of botanical formulations against leaf curl diseases and insect pests of chilli funded by NIF, DST (2019-20)

Research Publications

1. Chandi, R. S., Kataria, S. K. and Fand, B. B. (2021) Effect of temperature on biological parameters of cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 41(2): 1823-1833. DOI 10.1007/s42690- 020-00397-0 (NAAS rating = 6.85)

2. Chandi, R. S., Kaur, A, Biwalkar, N. and Sharma, S. (2021) Forecasting of insect pest population in brinjal crop based on Markov chain model. Journal of Agrometeorology 23(1): 132-136. (NAAS rating = 6.64)

3. Chandi, R. S., Kaur, A. and Aggarwal, N. (2022) Management of red pumpkin beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis (Lucas) with traditional method of dusting with dung ash in cucurbits. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 21(1): 208-14. (NAAS rating = 6.76)

4. Damanpreet, Chandi, R. S. and Aggarwal, N. (2022) Field life tables and key mortality factors of Helicoverpa armigera infesting tomato (Solanum lycopersicon). Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 92(6): 684-88. (NAAS rating = 6. 37)

5. Kaur, A., Chandi, R.S., Sharma, S. and Shera, P.S. (2024) Eco-friendly management of sucking insect pests in okra with homemade and commercial neem formulations under Punjab conditions. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 23(11): 1027-32. (NAAS rating = 6.70)

Awards and Recognitions:

1. Best paper award for the paper: Chandi, R. S., Kumar, V. and Saini, S. (2014) Economic impact of dissemination of management strategies for sucking insect pests on transgenic cotton in Punjab presented in the National Seminar “Reorientation of Agricultural Research to Ensure National Food Security” held at HAU, Hisar on January 6-7, 2014

2. First prize in quiz competition on Entomology in ‘Third Congress on Insect Science’ held at PAU, Ludhiana on April 18-20, 2011