Scientists

Germplasm Exploration and Collection

Gene pool sampling of landrace diversity in Agri-horticultural crops, medicinal & aromatic plants, wild relatives and rare & endangered species of more than 14,500 accessions of germplasm in more than 75 collaborative collection missions including five with ICRISAT, four IPGRI funded and three special missions (In Mahendragiri hill ranges, Orissa, Nallamalais and North Coastal tribal hill tracts in Eastern ghats, Andhra Pradesh) in cultivated/ tribal/ difficult/ forest/ in-accessible/ disturbed pockets in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, NEH Region, Orissa and Tamil Nadu for collection and conservation of Agri-Biodiversity.

• Associated in developing the criteria for identification and assessment of Agri-biodiversity heritage sites in the country.
• Collected Rare/ Endangered/ Endemic Medicinal plant species which include Acorus calamus, Alpinia galanga, Asparagus racemosus, Bixa orellana, Costus speciosus, Curculigo orchioides, Cycas beddomei, Entada pursaetha, Gloriosa superba, Mallotus philippensis, Mucuna pruriens, Plumbago indica, Rauvolfia serpentina, Santalum album, Withania somnifera. 
• New taxon of cultivated Turmeric naturally occurring in the Eastern ghats collected, identified and described.
• Documented the status of diversity, distribution and conservation of wild relatives of crop plants in Andhra Pradesh.
• Described the Biodiversity of Medicinal Plants and gave an insight on the status of their exploration, collection and conservation from South East Coastal India including Andhra Pradesh and the Eastern Ghats.
• Associated in bringing out a Compact Disk on Medicinal Plants germplasm collections from the South East Coastal Zone, India.
• Associated in collecting and documenting Medicinal plants germplasm of Peninsular India leading to publication of a book.
• Associated in working out the conservation approaches for sustenance of genetic resources of medicinal plants in the Eastern Ghats.
• Reported occurrence of Luffa hermaphrodita from South India for the first time.     

Germplasm characterization and evaluation

A total of about 16,000 accessions of mandate & other crops as follows were characterized and evaluated and promising accs. were identified.

Cereals (Maize); Millets (Sorghum, Pearl millet); Small millets (Barnyard millet, Finger millet, Italian millet, Kodo millet, Little millet, Proso millet), Pulses (Black gram, Green gram, Horse gram, Pigeon pea); Oil seeds (Castor, Ground nut, Linseed, Niger, Safflower, Sun flower); Vegetables (Brinjal, Cowpea, Cucurbits, Dolichos bean, Field bean, Okra, Roselle, Tomato) and Spices (Chilli).

• Member, Core Advisory Group/ Reviewer for revision of the descriptors for Rice, Cowpea and Sorghum taken up by Bioversity International.

Germplasm conservation

• Germplasm Conservation (Long/ Medium term conservation and maintenance of Agri-horticultural crops)

• About 10,000 accs. of germplasm of different Agri-horticultural crops, medicinal, aromatic & dye yielding plants and wild relatives of exploration material were made available for the National Gene Bank for medium/ long term conservation.
• About 1,500 accs. of Chilli germplasm after characterization, evaluation and multiplication were made available for the National Gene Bank for long term conservation.
• About 2,645 samples of 1,517 accs. of Chilli germplasm of both indigenous exotic were made available as active collections in the storage module at NBPGR Regional Station, Hyderabad for medium term conservation/ distribution.
• Associated in the rejuvenation and multiplication of a total of 500 accs. of germplasm consisting of Sorghum and Chickpea of Indian origin received from ICRISAT Gene Bank in supplying to NGB for long term conservation.

Plant Quarantine

New host record for the Country

• Contributed in recording a new host (Simarouba glauca DC) for bark eating Caterpillar (Indarbela quadrinotata (Walker)) in India (Associate).

Technology developed/ Contributions towards development and release of Varieties

Associated/ contributed towards release of Seven varieties from the germplasm collected as follows:

Cluster bean (RCHCB-01/ Telangana Gokarakaya-1/ 2019) (IC103295)
Coriander (APHU Dhania-1/ 2010) (SH-3466/ LCC-170/ NIC-18231/ IC574503)
Coriander (Sudha/ 2006) (SH-3424/ LCC-128/ NIC-18189/  IC548085)
Coriander (Susthira/ 2016) (SH-3517/ LCC-219/ NIC-18280/ IC623167)
Rice (Maruteru Sannalu/ 2000) (Voodasannalu/ SM-3144/ MTU-1006/ IC547072)
Sorghum (Parbhani Moti/ 2002) (Maldandi/ GSS-194/ IC102161/ ISS-33844/ SPV-1411)
Yardlong bean (RCHYB-01/Bhagyanagar Podugubobbarlu-1/ 2019) (KV/ TSA-35/ IC582859)

Genetic stocks developed and registered with ICAR

Associated with the Registration of 11 Germplasm/ accessions as follows.

A total of 11 elite accessions/ genetic stocks registered with ICAR which have significant potential for utilization in crop improvement programmes meant for tribal and other areas.

Bottle gourd (INGR-10064): Unique spindle shaped fruit with hard durable rind.
Chilli (INGR-08095): Source of field resistance to Thrips and Mites.
Chilli (INGR-08097): Source of field resistance to Thrips and Powdery Mildew.
Chilli (INGR-14040): Purple phenotype as a morphological marker.
Chilli (INGR-14041): Anthracnose (Colletotrichum capsici) immune line.
Cowpea (INGR-08084): Source of resistance to Blackeye Cowpea Mosaic Virus.
Dolichos bean (INGR-11031): Source of field resistance to Anthracnose and Aphids.
Green gram (INGR-13010): Photosensitive nature.
Jatropha curcas (INGR-08086): High oil content (40 - 41.6%).
Linseed (INGR-10027): High oil content (42.6%).
Linseed (INGR-10028): High oleic acid content (32.0%).

Incentivizing/ Strengthening IPRs & ABS with Farmers’ Variety Registration

• Facilitated Farmer’s Variety Registration under PPV&FRA

• Pigeon pea (Erramachcha kandi)   Completed registration process and awarded a Certificate (65/ 2015) became the first Farmer’s variety for Telangana State & third in the Country for Pigeon pea.                            
• Sorghum (Pelala jonna) Completed registration process and awarded a Certificate (30/ 2016) became the second Farmer’s variety for Telangana State & second in the Country for Sorghum.
• Sorghum (Vayunowka jonna) Completed registration process and awarded a Certificate (32/ 2016) became the third Farmer’s variety for Telangana State & third in the Country for Sorghum.

• Facilitation of Farmer’s Variety Registration (Germplasm Registration) with ICAR

5. Validation and facilitating germplasm registration of a farmer variety of Chilli:

• Validated 51 characters of qualitative and quantitative descriptors of a unique farmer Chilli variety (Pandav) with erect, clustered and de-stalking fruit habit, low pungency and high colour by visiting his field at Tarulawada Village, Anandapuram Mandal of Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh and also facilitated  registration (INGR 09129) of the same.

• Incentivization
• Plant Genome Savior Community Award
• Facilitated filing of an application for Plant Genome Saviour Award with PPVFRA from Sanjeevini Rural Development Society, an NGO from Araku, Dumbriguda Mandal, Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh with whom NBPGR Reg.Station has association in strengthening PGR activities (Exploration and collection/ Conservation of germplasm/ PGR Grass root level awareness programmes) in the region for the prestigious award. PPVFRA, selected this NGO with a cash award of Rs.10,00,000 under the community award category.

Germplasm Distribution/ Supply

About 13,000 accs./ samples of different Agri-horticultural crops belonging to Cereals, Millets, Small millets, Pulses, Oil seeds, Vegetables, Spices, Medicinal/ Aromatic/ Wild relatives were distributed to researchers in >25 SAUs/ ICAR/ Int. Instt../ Other Univ./ Organizations for crop improvement

Capacity Building/ Training Programmes organized

Associated in organizing a total of 11 Training Programmes on various facets of PGR Management activities and 19 Grassroot level PGR Awareness Programmes at NBPGR Reg.Station, Hyderabad/ Out side.

Teaching

Member, Student Advisory Committee, ANGRAU/ PJTSAU/ Dr.YSRHU/  SKLTSHU 
Dept. of Genetics & Plant Breeding: M.Sc. (Ag.)- Co-Guided 3 Students
Dept. of Seed Science & Technology: M.Sc. (Ag.)- Co-Guided 1 Student
Dept. of Vegetable Science,: M.Sc. (Hort.)- Co-Guided 10 Students
Dept. of Vegetable Science,: Ph.D (Hort.)- Co-Guided 2 Students

Field Days Organized

Associated in organizing 21 Field days for Chick pea, Ground nut, Pearl millet, Pigeon pea, Pulses, Sesame, Small millets, Sorghum and Vegetables

Institutes served (Crop Genetic Resources Service)

SAUs (4), Conventional Universities (6), Bio-diversity Boards (2), CGIAR (1), ICAR (31)

Research Projects handled

• Institute Projects

• Ten Projects completed successfully  as PI &/ or Co-PI

• Currently associated in two Projects as PI in one Project and Co-PI in the other
• Externally funded Projects

• World Bank funded NATP Plant Biodiversity Project (Completed)
• DBT Project on Spine gourd (Completed)
• GEF funded NAIP Project on Harmonizing Biodiversity Conservation (Completed)
• RKVY funded In-situ management of community seed systems (On going)
• TSBDB funded Agri-biodiversity of Telangana: Inventorization and documentation (Completed)

Membership of Scientific Societies

• Indian  Society of Plant Genetic Resources (Life Member).
• Indian Society  of  Genetics and Plant Breeding (Life Member).
• Plant Protection Association of India  (Life Member).
• Indian Society of Oilseeds Research (Life Member).
• Grameen Krishi Vikas Society (Life Member).

• Best paper award at the National Conference on "Organic waste utilization and eco-friendly technologies for crop protection" organized by the Plant Protection Association of India from 15 - 17, March, 2007 at Hyderabad.
• Technical consultant to establish a Botanical Garden at SRTRI, Jalalpur, Boodhan Pochampally Mandal, Nalgonda District, Andhra Pradesh during 2007-09.
• Awarded Fellow of the Plant Protection Association of India during 2012.
• Awarded Fellow of the Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources during 2015.
• Awarded Fellow of the “Association for the Advancement of Biodiversity Science” during 2015.
• Nominated as an Editor in the Editorial Board for a two year period (2016-17) of the Journal Annals of Plant and Soil Research.
• Conferred with the "Outstanding Researcher Award” for significant contribution in Agricultural Science during Aufau International Awards-2016 instituted by Aufau Periodicals/ CSRL on 4th June, 2016 at Salem, Tamil Nadu.
• Best Paper Award (Associate) at the 1st International Agrobiodiversity Congress: Science, Technology, Policy & Partnership. November 6 - 9, 2016, New Delhi, India. organized by ISPGR and Bioversity International. For the Session IA: Plant Genetic Resources.
• Bestowed with Dr.R.K.Arora Best Paper Award for the year 2014 (Associate) instituted by ISPGR on 5th April, 2017 at New Delhi.
• Conferred with Dr.R.K.Arora Best Paper Award for the year 2015 (Main Author) instituted by ISPGR on 5th April, 2017 at New Delhi.
• “Sipani Anushandhan Award 2017” for Best Paper instituted by the Journal Asian Agri-History.
• Awarded Fellow of the “Grameena Krishi Vikas Society”, Agra during 2017.
• Best paper award at the National Seminar on "Sustainability of Small Farmer in the changing Agricultural Scenario" organized by the RICAREA on 22nd December, 2018 at Hyderabad.
• Honoured with the "Best Scientist Award" at 4th South Asian Education Awards-19 instituted by EET CRS on 10th March, 2019 at Hyderabad, Telangana.
• Nominated as Member, Editorial Board, Glacier Journal of Scientific Research, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.