Penulis: T. Sivakumar

Dr. C. Rajamanickam is presently working as an Assistant Professor of Horticulture, Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College and Research Institute (TNAU), Madurai -625 104. He obtained his B.Sc. (Horticulture) and M.Sc. (Horticulture) from Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam and Ph.D. (Horticulture) from College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He guided two M.Sc. (Hort.) students and was on the advisory committee for over 20 postgraduate students in different disciplines of Agriculture. He has solved many field problems in horticultural crops. He has published more than 25 research papers, 5 books in regional language, 35 book chapters and several booklets. He is a member of six elite professional scientific societies across the country. He was the Principal Investigator of NICRA scheme for two years and handled two externally funded projects as Co-Principal Investigator. Dr. A. Subbiah is presently working as an Assistant Professor of Horticulture at Grapes Research Station, (TNAU), 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 is associated with 10 various scientific societies involved in promotion of research and development in fruits, spices and plantation crops as life member. He published 4 book chapters and 8 books and published 23 research papers in reputed National and International Journals. Dr. J. Rajangam is the Professor and Head, Department of Fruits Science, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam (TNAU), Coimbatore. As a Horticulturist, he has more than 20 years’ experience in various horticultural crops. During his service, significant contributions were made pertaining to release of varieties CO 3 Chillies, PKM 2 Annual moringa and PKM 1 Davana. He served as a Professor and Head, Horticultural Research Station, Kodaikanal for 4 years. During his tenure, he was officer in-charge of All India Net Work Project on Temperate Fruit Crops at Horticultural Research Station, Kodaikanal with CITH, Srinagar and PI of ICAR – AICRP (Fruits) at Horticultural College & Research Institute, Periyakulam. He has published more than 30 papers in National and International research journals, 112 popular articles, 15 booklets and two books. Dr. I. Muthuvel is presently working as an Associate Professor and Head, Horticultural Research Station (TNAU), Kodaikanal, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu. He worked in All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Fruits for five years and developed technologies in fruit crops especially in sapota. He has been associated with one pilot project, ten externally funded projects as Principal Investigator/Co-Principal Investigator. He guided five M. Sc. students and offered courses to undergraduate and Postgraduate degree programme in horticulture. He has published more than 20 research articles, 10 books, booklets and 5 book chapters. He has been awarded “Professor MS Swaminathan Best Scientist Award 2018-2019” on the occasion of 9th National Conference on Natural Sciences organized by Bose Science Society, Govt. of India, New Delhi and Life/Annual member for more than six elite scientific societies across the country. Dr. M. Tamil Selvan completed M.Sc. (Horticulture) degree in Horticulture (Fruit Science) at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and subsequently acquired Ph.D. degree in Horticulture from ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa Campus, New Delhi. He has completed 15 years of service in teaching and research. He published 10 books, 15 booklets, 20 National and International research articles, 15 abstracts in conference/seminar/ workshop and more than 50 popular articles in both Tamil and English. He offered subtropical fruit crops course to the undergraduate students of both Agriculture and Horticulture. He is currently working as an Assistant Professor of Horticulture, Agricultural Research Station (TNAU), Pattukottai, Tanjavur district, Tamil Nadu. He is doing research on evaluation of Oil Palm hybrids and involved in releasing of oil palm hybrid “Godavari Gold” for the cauvery delta farmers of Tamil Nadu. Dr. K.S. Vijai Selvaraj has completed his undergraduate in B.Sc. (Horticulture) at Horticultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Periyakulam during 1998-2002 and pursued Master’s degree M.Sc., (Horticulture) at Agricultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Madurai during 2002-2004. He completed his Ph.D in Horticulture during 2004-2007 at Horticultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Coimbatore in collaboration with The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. Also, he completed his Post Doctoral Research in Agriculture Research Organization, The Volcani Centre, Israel during 2008-2009 in Molecular Physiology and Genetic Engineering. Currently, he is Assistant Professor (Horticulture) at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Eachangkottai, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu and handling 8 Undergraduate courses and operating 2 externally funded projects. He published 12 international research papers, 5 national research papers, 3 books and 10 popular articles. Dr. P. Balasubramanian is presently working as an Assistant Professor in Horticulture, ICAR – Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu. He has more than 10 years Research experience in various horticultural crops. He served as Programme Coordinator of ICAR – KVK at Ramanathapuram District. He has been recognised as ASCI certified trainer for coconut growers. He is the Principal Investigator of NICRA scheme (Rs. 11.0 lakhs), DAMU (6.00 lakhs) and ASCI (3.5 lakhs) at KVK, Ramanathapuram District. During his career, significant contributions were made pertaining to the release of variety MDU-1 in cluster bean. He is the Principal Investigator of BRNS -GOI, Mumbai scheme entitled “Isolation of short statured early maturing mutant in cluster bean through gamma irradiation” with a budget of Rs. 24.11 Lakhs. He has published 2 books and 13 research articles in peer reviewed National and International journals. Dr. T. Sivakumar obtained his B.Sc (Ag) from Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam, a constituent college of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore and M.Sc. (Plant Physiology), Ph.D. (Plant Physiology) from ICAR – IARI, New Delhi. At present, he is working as an Associated Professor of Crop Physiology, Agricultural College & Research Institute, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. He joined the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in 2004 and served fifteen years in various capacities in teaching, research and extension. He is currently working on development issues specially related to source – sink relationship, seed physiology and postharvest physiology. He has published several research papers in both National and International journal. He is a member elite professional scientific societies like Indian Science Congress Association, Indian Society for Plant Physiology, etc. He has attended many National and International symposia, conferences, and seminars. Dr. T. Ragavan is currently working as Professor and Head, Costal Saline Research Centre, Programme Coordinator, ICAR -Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ramanathapuram and Agricultural Research Station, Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu. He is having 25 years of work experience in various categories of position under Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. He also served under various mandates of education, research and extension. He offered courses to undergraduate and post-graduate programmes in Agronomy. He has guided five postgraduate students and seven Ph.D scholars. He published two books and more than forty research papers in International and National peer reviewed journals. He participated in number of International and National conference, symposium, seminar and workshops.