Auteur: Dr. Balakrishnan K.

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 (TNAU). He has also obtained Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism in 1988. He also worked in United Planter”s Association of South India, Coonoor, 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 32 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 ICAR-PHT at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam and Arid zone fruit crops funded by AICRIP (ICAR) , at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Aruppukkottai. He operated several schemes from both private and Government agencies. He also worked as Assistant plant physiologist in ICAR-Tropical fruit crops, AICRIP, Horticultural College, Coimbatore. 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 6 books and published 60 research papers in both national and International journals, 3 extension bulletins and 120 popular articles. He has been the question setter and external examiner for M.Sc.(Ag.) and Ph.D thesis in several Universities. He has organized one national seminar at AC&RI, Madurai during September 2013. He served as the Professor and Head, Department of Seed Science and Technology, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai during 2013-2015. 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 Crore 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 organisation 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).