Manikandan Ramasamy

About

Plant molecular biologist with over 10 years of research experience in plant molecular biology, specializing in plant–pathogen interactions, functional genomics, and genome editing. Currently investigating plant–pathogen interactions using CRISPR-Cas9–based approaches to identify and validate genes involved in disease resistance and susceptibility. Developed and optimized high-throughput, efficient, and cost-effective plant transformation pipelines to accelerate functional screening of candidate genes across multiple crop species, including citrus, potato, tomato, rice, and cotton. Experienced in both basic and translational research, with expertise spanning molecular cloning, plant genetic transformation, gene editing, functional genomics, and the development of strategies to improve crop resilience and productivity.

Employment

• Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Westlaco Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  2016 - 2020
• Texas A&M University Associate Research Scientist
  2015 - Present
• Texas A&M University Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  2015 - 2016

Education

• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Ph.D (Biotechnology)
  2010 - 2014

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (23)

• Rhizobium rhizogenes‐mediated hairy root induction and plant regeneration for bioengineering citrus
  Plant Biotechnology Journal 2023 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14096
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• Evaluation of Candidatus Liberibacter Asiaticus Efflux Pump Inhibition by Antimicrobial Peptides
  Molecules 2022 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27248729
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• Applications of CRISPR/Cas13-Based RNA Editing in Plants
  Cells 2022 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172665
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• Potato Zebra Chip: An Overview of the Disease, Control Strategies, and Prospects
  Frontiers in Microbiology 2021 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.700663
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• Modulation of Salicylic Acid Receptor Activity Confers Resistance to Potato Zebra Chip Disease
  ASPB PLANT BIOLOGY 2020 2020 DOI: 10.46678/pb.20.989633
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• Plant hairy roots enable high throughput identification of antimicrobials against Candidatus Liberibacter spp.
  Nature Communications 2020 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19631-x
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• Methods, compositions, and systems for culturing and characterizing fastidious plant microbes
  2019
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• A biolistic-based genetic transformation system applicable to a broad-range of sugarcane and energycane varieties
  GM Crops and Food 2018 DOI: 10.1080/21645698.2018.1553836
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• Development of sodicity tolerant rice varieties through marker assisted backcross breeding
  Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding 2017 DOI: 10.5958/0975-928x.2017.00151.x
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• Development of leaffolder resistant transgenic rice expressing cry2AX1 gene driven by green tissue-specific rbcS promoter
  World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 2016 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-015-2006-z
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