Author: A. Subbiah

Dr. K. Balakrishnan is presently working as Professor of Crop Physiology at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai. He was the recipient of ICAR Senior Fellowship during 1983 and obtained Ph.D in Crop Physiology in 1987 from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. He has also obtained Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism in 1988. He also worked in United Planter”s Association of South India, Nilgris, Tamil Nadu. He has been teaching courses on Crop Physiology and Biochemistry to the Under Graduate and Post Graduate students in both Agriculture and Horticulture for the past 30 years. He served as Principle Investigator of Foliar diagnosis in Horticultural crops in plan scheme funded by Government of Tamil Nadu, Post Harvest Technology of Horticultural crops, Tropical fruits and Arid zone fruit crops funded by ICAR. He was the member of All India ICAR Syllabus Committee on basic Agricultural sciences during 2007-2008. He also served as a member of Board of studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during 1997-2000. He has authored and co-authored 10 book chapters and 4 books and published 60 research papers in both National and International Journals. He has been the question setter and external examiner for M.Sc.(Ag.) and Ph.D thesis in several Universities. He was the Professor and Head, Department of Seed Science and Technology, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai. during 2013-16. Dr. A. Subbiah is presently working as Assistant Professor of Horticulture at Grapes Research Station, Theni, Tamil Nadu. He was the recipient of ICAR Junior Research Fellowship for his Master Degree during 1997 and completed his Ph.D., in 2004 from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. He also worked as Research Assistant at Cardamom Research Station, Pampadumpara, Idukki, Kerala (KAU), Senior Research Fellow at Department of Vegetable Crops, TNAU, Coimbatore and Technical Executive of Indian Spices Producers Company, Cochin, Kerala. He has also been involved in teaching courses on fundamentals of horticulture, production and postharvest technology of fruits to the Under Graduate students in Horticulture for the past 10 years. He also served as Co- Principle Investigator in the ICAR-NICRA Research Project on “Studies on Mango Flowering Phenology” and IDRC-CIFSF, Canada funded Project on “”Enhanced Preservation of Fruits in Asia by using Nano Film About the Authors v PDF created with pdf Factory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com About the Authors / vi Techniques””. Further, he is also In-Charge of Venture Capital Scheme “”Mass multiplication of grape rootstocks and varieties. He was associated 10 various scientific societies involved in promotion of research and development in the field of fruits, spices and plantation crops as life member. He also served as a member of Board of Studies for UG Programme in Horticulture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during 2010-2013. He has authored and co-authored 4 book chapters and 6 books and published 23 research papers in reputed National and International Journals. He was the organizer of various training programmes related to production technology of mango, grapes and banana for the benefit of farming community. He is currently involved in research activities related crop improvement in grapes and standardization of canopy management and viticultural practices in grape. Dr. J. Rajangam, Started his career as Asst. Professor (Horticulture) in the year 1995 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore. As a Horticulturist, he has more than 20 years experience in various Horticultural crops. During his service, significant achievements were made pertaining to release of varieties Co-3 Chili, PKM- 2 annual moringa and PKM 1 Davana and so many horticultural technologies were also standardized. He served as Professor and Head. HRS, Kodaikanal for a period of four years. During his tenure, he was officer in-charge of All India net work project on temperate fruit crops at HRS, Kodaikanal with CITH, Srinagar and PI of ICAR-AICRP (Fruits) at HC & RI, Periyakulam. He got rich experience in teaching of UG and PG for more than 16 years and guided 12 M.Sc (Hort.) students. He has published more than 30 papers in National and International research papers, 112 popular article 15 booklet and two books. He has visited Israel and Tanzania for post graduate certificate programme in protected horticulture and International Symposium on Moringa Cultivation and Utilization. Currently, he is Professor and Head, Department of Fruits, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam (TNAU), Coimbatore. Dr. P.P. Mahendran. B.Sc. (Ag) 1988, M.Sc. (Ag) 1991, Ph.D 2000; Senior Research Fellow 1992-1995, Assistant Professor 1995, Associate Professor 2005, Professor 2010 onwards, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; Specialization: Soil Fertility and Problem Soils Management; Experience: 25 Years of Teaching, Research and Extension. Published 54 Research Articles and three Text Books: Recipient of Young Scientist Fellowship by Tamil PDF created with pdf Factory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com Nadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai (2003), Best Researcher Award (2009), Best Teacher Award (2010), Best Extension Worker Award (2011) by TNAU and P.S.G. Ganga Naidu Medal for the Best Research in Sugarcane (2010) by MASU, TNAU. Professor Dr. M. Prakash born in 1966, obtained his B.Sc.(Ag.) and M.Sc.(Ag.) from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India in 1988 and 1990 respectively. He did his Ph.D from Annamalai University. His studious and scholarly aptitude during his studenthood fetched him prestigious student support awards like National Merit Scholarship, Government of India during 1981-1988 and ICAR Junior Fellowship during 1988-1990. Prof. M. Prakash is working on abiotic stress tolerance from his post graduation onwards. He started working on effect of antitranspirants on growth and physiology of brinjal and continuing his work on abiotic stress tolerance till date. He is having 24 years of teaching and research experience in the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding wherein he has successfully guided 8 Ph. D. and 22 Masters Degree Programmes. He has also completed five funded research projects. He is presently serving as Professor, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University. He has earned the status of Departmental Research Support with Special Assistance Programme of University Grants Commission (UGC-SAP- DRS) to the Department with financial assistance of Rs. 50 lakhs at Phase I (2009- 2014) and Rs. 1.025 Crores at phase II (2015-2020) level. His credentials include publications of 85 refereed research papers, seven books published by National publishers, three books published by International publishers and one book chapter published in SESAME by globally reputed CRC Press. He has significantly contributed in knowledge sharing, through organization of 7 National Seminars, participation in 8 International Seminars, Conferences and Workshops and 18 National Seminars and Conferences. His expertise in abiotic stress tolerance is well recognised by invitations to serve in the Editorial Board/ Committees of several academic journals, awards like Crop Research Award in 2004 and Best Researcher Award in Annamalai University in 2010 and Fellowships like FELLOW of Indian Society of Plant Physiology, New Delhi in 2015 (FISPP), FELLOW of Association for the Advancement of Biodiversity Science, Bangalore in 2015 (FABSC) and FELLOW of National Academy of Biological Sciences (NABS), Chennai in 2016(FNABS).