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Asokan Ramasamy

Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Annamalai University

ORCID iD 0000-0002-0457-8120
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About

Research experience:
 32 years of research experience in the field of agricultural entomology on the following areas such as pollinators, biological control (parasitoids, Bt, NPV, fungi), and advanced molecular approaches like DNA Barcoding, RNAi, Genome editing etc.
 Working on Genome Editing of insects for various purposes such as genetic improvement of pollinators; insect pest management; insect vector and plant virus management etc.
 For the first time in India, H. armigera resistant transgenic tomato (cv. Arka Vikas) has been developed based on RNAi, expressing dsRNA for juvenile hormone acid methyl transferase (jhamt) gene and stable lines have been generated. Demonstrated the utility and mechanism of RNAi on more than 10 species of insects.
 Identified and validated microRNAs (miRNAs) from more than 10 species of insect pests in order to develop next generation insect resistant transgenic plants that express artificial miRNAs (amiRNAs). The effectiveness of amiRNA has been demonstrated in the management of the recalcitrant pest, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera).
 Developed DNA Barcode for 178 species of insect pests and more than 3000 sequences have been submitted to NCBI GenBank & BOLD databases. Developed and validated species-specific markers for T. tabaci, T. palmi, Scirtothrips dorsalis, Bactrocera dorsalis, B. zonata, B. correcta and B. carryae, H. armigera, B. tabaci, A. gossypii, Myzus persicae. This information contributed immensely to molecular species diagnosis, resolving species complex, identification of cryptic species in aphids, thrips, whiteflies and also it is highly useful from Quarantine perspective.
 Carried out extensive work on molecular diversity & phylogeny of insect pests of horticultural crops and proved the monophyletic nature of B. dorsalis species complex; prevalence of cryptic species in aphids, T. palmi, B. tabaci etc. Reported the prevalence of new biotype of B. tabaci in India on cabbage & cauliflower. Prevalence of two major clades in T. palmi, the vector of watermelon bud necrosis virus has been proved.
 Demonstrated for the first time in India, vector status of thrips species, Thrips palmi, Frankliniella schultzei and Scirtothrips dorsalis in the transmission of 'pea bud necrosis
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virus' ravaging tomato. Demonstrated the vector status of leaf hoppers in transmitting phytoplasma to china aster, chrysanthemum, marigold.
 Developed Bt formulations employing chemical mutagens and through natural conjugations which are safer to pollinators and natural enemies yet effective on the target insects. Introgressed Bt genes into the predominant phyllosphere bacteria, B. megaterium resulted in reduction of sprays and safer to pollinators.
 For the first time in India, isolated & formulated B. thuringiensis strains that are toxic to Coleoptera. The coleoptera toxic Bt strains have been successfully field validated in the management of areca nut root grub, Leucopholis lepidophora and coffee white stem borer, Xylotrechus quadripes, in Karnataka.
 Developed a high anthocyanin producing tomato (cv. Arka Vikas) by metabolic engineering resulting in a 100-fold increase in anthocyanin which is a water soluble pigments help fighting against cancer.
Fund Mobilized:
 Handled ten externally funded projects and the total fund mobilized amounts to Rs.24 Crores from various funding agencies such as ICAR, NAIP, NASF, DBT, DST, USAID.
 Awarded two NAIP projects with a total outlay of Rs.578.09 Lakhs on RNAi in insect pest management (Consortium Principal Investigator) & Ecology & taxonomy of the white fly, Bemisia tabaci (CoPI).
Patent:
 Developed modular plant transformation vector that requires less time, cost & a true single PCR, single transformation & single ligation for expressing intron containing hairpin RNA in plants. (Final Patent No. 295256 dated 28th March, 2018).
Publications:
 Published over 140 research papers with NAAS rating over 6.00 in various leading International research journals.
 Published six technical bulletins on DNA Barcoding and molecular identification of insects. Contributed five book chapters on various aspects of insect molecular biology.
Recognitions:
National:
 Task Force Member - Silks and Biomaterials, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India
 IMC Member for National Institute for Biotic Stress Management, Raipur
 RAC Member for Seribiotech, Central Silk Board, Bengaluru
 IBSC Member - SeriBiotech, Central Silk Board, Bengaluru
 Invited speaker in many seminar/symposia/conference/workshop in India
 DST-SERB International Travel Grant - 2019 to participate in the 8th International Barcode of Life Conference, Trondheim, Norway
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International:
 USA - Selected for the hands-on training to learn on RNAi in insect pest management at the University of California, Davis, USA from January to March, 2012.
 Australia - Invited speaker on RNAi in the management of the cotton boll worm, Helicoverpa armigera by the Queensland Alliance for A

Employment

  • Indian Institute of Horticultural Research Principal Scientist
    1991 - Present

Education

  • University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore Ph.D. in Agricultural Entomology
    2000 - 2004
  • University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore M.Sc., (Agricultural Entomology)
    1984 - 1987
  • Annamalai University B.Sc., (Ag)
    1980 - 1984

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (17)