Current Research

Main areas of research

  1. Genetic diversity and phylogeny in forestry species through development of molecular markers (eg. SSRs), analysis of genetic diversity and estimation of phylogenetic relationships using markers from nrDNA or cpDNA regions
  2. Genetic analysis of adaptation ability and growth patterns of cardamom genotypes using miRNA, transcriptome and gene expression analysis

See Research collaborations

Research projects

Ongoing Research Projects

As Principal Investigator
  • 2023-2026: Cardamom for rainforest conservation. Principal Investigator. Date of sanction: 22.12.2022 (3 years). Rs. 12,12,200. Kerala Forest Development Fund (KFDF), Forest Department, Govt of Kerala.
As Co-Principal Investigator
  • 2024-2025: BGCI GGI Gardens Award Programme.
Completed Research Projects
  • 2021-2022: Establishment of a biorepository of the plants in the Southern Western Ghats of India with particular emphasis on endemics. BGCI/GGI.
  • 2018-2021: Population structure and genetic variability analysis of Cullenia exarillata populations in Western Ghats. SERB, Dept of Science & Technology, Govt of India.
  • 2018-2021: Exploration of Banana Biodiversity and its Biotechnological Research in Nagaland. Principal Investigator.Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt of India.
  • 2018-2021: Analysis of genetic diversity, development of sex linked SCAR markers and marker-assisted selection of Asian Palmyra palm (Borassus flabellifer L., Arecaceae). Dept of Biotechnology, Govt of India.
  • 2015-2020: Comparative biogeography and phylogeographic of selected plants of India. Co-Investigator.  Date of sanction: 14.05.2015 (INR 52,95,000). Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.
  • 2015-2020: Identification of elite lines of Centella asiatica and Bacopa monnieri for commercially significant constituents for standardization of their extracts. Co-Investigator.  Date of sanction: 14.05.2015 (INR 59,23,000). Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.
  • 2015-2018: Plant-Animal Interactions/Plant-Animal Ecology: Community plant-pollinator interactions at the landscape level. Co-Investigator.  Date of sanction: 14.05.2015 (INR 36,31,000). Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.
  • 2012-2017: Project on ‘Analysis of genetic variability and bioprospecting of wild cardamom populations, funded through in-house Plan programme. (INR 33,41,000)
  • 2011-2014: Project on ‘Analysis of genetic diversity in selected rattan palms (Calamus sp.) using microsatellite markers’ funded by Kerala Biotechnology Commission/KSCSTE. Principal Investigator.  Date of sanction: 23.02.2011 (INR 10,34,000).
  • 2011-2013: Project on ‘Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Identification of Gender Specific Markers of Important North-East and South Indian Rattan palms using SSR Analysis’, funded by Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. Principal Investigator. Date of sanction: 17.11.2011 (INR 16,35,000).


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