Fruit and Nut Crops

Dr. P.E. Rajasekharan, until recently serving as a Principal Scientist at ICAR Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, boasts an impressive 38years of research experience in the fields of Horticultural genetic resources, Conservation and Management, and Intellectual Property Rights.Dr. Rajasekharan's academic journey reflects brilliance, securing a rank in M.Sc. (Botany) from Calicut University. He further achieved the top rank in the Agricultural Research Service All India competitive examination in Economic Botany. His academic pursuits culminated in a Ph.D. focused on the conservation of threatened medicinal plants from the Department of Botany, Bangalore University.In addition to his extensive research, Dr. Rajasekharan holds three postgraduate diplomas in IPR, HRD, and Ecology & Environment. He has successfully completed three certificate courses in Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering, and UPOV.Dr. Rajasekharan's research spans various areas, including cryopreservation of seed, pollen, and organelles of horticultural crops. His notable achievements include the establishment of a pollen cryobank comprising over 700 samples and the development of conservation protocols for RET (Rare, Endangered, and Threatened) medicinal plants, namely Madhuca insignis and Mappia foetida. His research findings have been published in more than 200 research papers across renowned national and international journals. His pioneering work in pollen cryopreservation has been recognized globally, with technology transfers to seed industries and the establishment of a pollen cryobank, earning a place in the Limca Book of Records-2001.. He has attracted external funding through projects from various agencies and conducted national-level training programs on Conservation and IPR.With an H index of 18 and an I index of 39 on Google Scholar, Dr. Rajasekharan has published over 200 research papers in national and international journals. He co-authored two books andedited 4volume for Springer Nature .: Dr. Rajasekharan's contributions have been acknowledged through various fellowships, including being elected as a Fellow of the Indian Society for Plant Genetic Resources and the Indian Association of Angiosperm Taxonomy. He actively participates as a councilor in professional societies and serves on advisory committees for prestigious institutions.Dr. Rajasekharan's commitment to education is evident through his role as a recognized faculty in various institutions and his guidance of numerous students at both the master's and doctoral levels. He continues to make significant contributions to academia, blending teaching with research and creating awareness about Intellectual Property Rights.In summary, Dr. P.E. Rajasekharan's career reflects a remarkable journey marked by scholarly achievements, global collaborations, impactful research, and a dedication to nurturing the next generation of researchers.

Dr. Ramanatha Rao holdsa Ph.D. in Genetics and Plant Breeding, and his illustrious career has been marked by significant contributions to the field of genetic resources and plant breeding. From 1976 to 1989, he served at the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, where he dedicated himself to the study of genetic resources of wild and cultivated groundnuts. During a year-long sabbatical at CENERGEN/EMBRAPA in Brasilia, Brazil (1983-84), he expanded his expertise in this domain. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Rao amassed a formidable collection of over 10,000 accessions, establishing himself as a leading authority in genetic diversity. Subsequently, from 1989 to 2007, he played a pivotal role at the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, now known as Bioversity International. His assignments spanned diverse locations including Rome, Italy (1989-92), Singapore (1992-97), and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1997-2007). Dr. Rao's work centered on the genetic diversity, conservation, and utilization of genetic resources for various crops, encompassing horticultural and forest species. His overarching goal was to contribute to the improvement of livelihoods in rural communities. A key aspect of his legacy is the instrumental role he played in establishing and enhancing National Plant Genetic Resources Programmes (NPGRS) in numerous countries across Asia and the Pacific. Post-retirement, Dr. Rao continued to make valuable contributions as an Honorary Research Fellow from 2007 to 2014. Notably, he assisted Bioversity International in developing and successfully implementing a proposal for the conservation and utilization of tropical tree fruits. This ambitious project, funded by the Global Environment Facility/United Nations Environment Programme (GEF/UNEP), built upon the foundations laid by an earlier fruit tree project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Dr. Ramanatha Rao's influence extends beyond his hands-on contributions, as reflected in his extensive publication record comprising over 300 publications. These encompass a variety of categories, including edited books published by esteemed institutions such as the National Museum, Osaka; Routledge, UK; the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), UK; and Springer. His scholarly impact underscores his commitment to advancing the understanding and utilization of plant genetic resources on a global scale.