लेखक: P. Ananda Kumar

D.V.R. Reddy, obtained Ph D from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA in 1966 under the world renowned virologist Dr LM Black. He worked as Post Doctoral Associate at the University of Illinois from 1970 to 1975. He joined the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in 1976, initially as groundnut virologist and subsequently in 1980 as a Principal Virologist and Leader of Virology Program. He retired from ICRISAT in 2001. He served as a Visiting Professor: University of Georgia, Griffin, USA 1982 and 1993; at the University of Kentucky, Lexington in 1991-92; as a Visiting Scientist at the Scottish Crop research Institute, UK in 1983 and 1992; and as a consultant at the Donald Dan forth Plant Science Center, St Louis, USA from 2002 to 2005. Published nearly 200 papers in many highly reputed journals, text books and special editions on selected topics. He chaired sessions at the meetings organized by the International Virological Society, Association of Applied Biologists, British Society for Plant Pathology, American Peanut Research and Education Society, Indian Phytopathological Society and Plant Protection Association of India. He was recipient of several grants for Special Projects, on Plant Viruses and Mycotoxins, from the USA, UK, Belgium, Netherlands and Japan. He received several meritorious awards Dr P. Ananda Kumar is currently Director, Institute of Biotechnology, Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad and Former Director, National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi. He obtained M.Sc degree in Botany from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. He joined as a Scientist in the Agricultural Research Service of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in 1978. He obtained Ph.D degree in Plant Physiology from Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. After working as Alexander von Humboldt Fellow in the University of Hannover (1991-92), he moved to Biotechnology Centre, IARI, in 1993. He specializes in the area of transgenic development for insect resistance utilizing the genes encoding insecticidal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis. Dr Kumar developed fruit borer resistant brinjal and tomato, which were licensed to private companies. Dr Kumar published over 150 research articles, books and book chapters. He has three patents on codon-modified and chimeric Bt genes. His other research interests include functional genomics of brinjal, ragi and cotton. Dr Kumar serves as the Secretary of the Society for Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, India and as an Editor, GM Crops and Food.Dr P. Ananda Kumar is currently Director, Institute of Biotechnology, Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad and Former Director, National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi. He obtained M.Sc degree in Botany from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. He joined as a Scientist in the Agricultural Research Service of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in 1978. He obtained Ph.D degree in Plant Physiology from Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. After working as Alexander von Humboldt Fellow in the University of Hannover (1991-92), he moved to Biotechnology Centre, IARI, in 1993. He specializes in the area of transgenic development for insect resistance utilizing the genes encoding insecticidal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis. Dr Kumar developed fruit borer resistant brinjal and tomato, which were licensed to private companies. Dr Kumar published over 150 research articles, books and book chapters. He has three patents on codon-modified and chimeric Bt genes. His other research interests include functional genomics of brinjal, ragi and cotton. Dr Kumar serves as the Secretary of the Society for Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, India and as an Editor, GM Crops and Food.