Birth & Educations: Born on 15.04.1963, Vellalapalayam, Namakkal Dt, Tamil Nadu; Had B. Sc Agri (1987), M. Sc Agri (Plant Pathology) (1989) and PhD in Plant Pathology (1999) from TNAU, Coimbatore.

Positions hold: Scientist, ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad, ICAR-IIOR, Hyderabad, ICAR-SBI, 1991-2000; Senior Scientist & Principal Scientist, 2000-2010; Head, Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-SBI, 2010 to 2022; Director, ICAR-IISR, Lucknow 2022 to date

Awards/Honours: Fellow, National Academy of Agricultural Scinces, New Delhi, 2016; Hari Om Ashram Trust Award in Crop and Horticultural Sciences for the biennium 2016-17 from ICAR, 2019; Sir T.S. Venkatraman Award for Outstanding Research Contribution in Sugarcane Agriculture for the biennium 2006-2007, 2008; Dr K.C. Mehta  Memorial Award 2023-24, National Academy of Agricultural Scinces, New Delhi, Dr. M. Puttarudriah Memorial Endowment National Award for the best Plant Protection Research in India, 2012; Biotechnology Overseas Associateship from DBT, 2009; M.S. Pavgi Memorial Award 2020, Mundkur Memorial Award 2024, Indian Phytopathological Society, New Delhi; KS Bhargava Oration Award 2024, Indian Virological Society, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan memorial award, Aligarh Muslim University Centenary Award, 2021; Outstanding Alumini Award, TNAU, 2021; Lifetime Contribution Award, Society for Sugar Research and Promotion, 2022; Sugar Technologists Association of India-Noel Deerr Gold Medals 2000, 2002, 2022; Sugar Technologists Association of India-Silver Medal 2001, 2023; Vice-President, Society for Sugarcane Research and Development, Coimbatore, 2015-17 & 2021-23; Member, Pathology Section of International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, Mauritius, 2013-19; Principal Investigator, AICRP on Sugarcane (Pathology), 2011 onwards, Chief Editor, Indian Phytopathology 2023-26.

Fellow: Indian Phytopathological Society 2012; Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology 2013; National Academy of Biological Sciences, 2013; Indian Virological Society 2014; Society for Sugar Research and Promotion, 2019; Society for Sugarcane Research and Development 2020; Indian Mycological Society, 2024; Associate Fellow, Sugar Technologists Association of India.

Research Areas: Sugarcane Pathology, Molecular Plant Pathology, host-pathogen interactions, Molecular diagnosis

Significant scientific contributions to plant pathology: Made immense contribution on basic and applied research areas in sugarcane varietal development, new disease management strategies, molecular basis of red rot resistance, establishing Molecular Plant Pathology lab at ICAR-SBI etc. Many of his technologies have reached the field and benefitted the farming community. Reported new diseases including YLD in sugarcane to the scientific world from India for the first time and assessed their impact with management strategies. Successfully demonstrated varietal degeneration in sugarcane due to non-fungal diseases and effectively managed the constraint. Rejuvenated the popular sugarcane variety in the tropics Co 86032 and extended its field life. Developed and commercialized molecular diagnostics for sugarcane viruses and phytoplasmas; characterized genomes of four sugarcane viruses, successfully managed YLD through virus elimination and molecular diagnostics. Operated 25 external funded projects from various funding agencies such as DBT, DST, ICAR, Sugar Development Fund, SISMA, ISMA etc. As Principal Investigator, AICRP on Sugarcane (Plant Pathology) guided the country’s sugarcane pathology work for the past 13 years. Served as Member ISSCT, Pathology Section for two terms (2013-16 & 2016-19). Has published 314 research papers in referred journals (191 in SCI journals). His research papers received >8362 citations with h-index of 41 and i-10 index of 190 (google scholar).