Dr. Saravanan Raju

Experience

November 2018–Present Principal Scientist• Crop Production • ICAR-CTCRI, Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

April 2011–November 2018 Senior Scientist• Crop Utilization • ICAR-CTCRI, Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

December 2003—April 2011 Scientist Sr. Scale• Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Boriavi, Anand, Gujarat. 387310

April 2000— December 2003 Scientist • Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Boriavi, Anand. Gujarat. 387310

December 1997— April 2000 Scientist • Crop Production • ICAR-CTCRI, Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Education

Degree Institution Year Division/Class

B.Sc.

(Agriculture)

Tamil Nadu Agricultural

University, College of

Agriculture, Killikulam,

Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu

1989-93 First class

M.Sc.

(Plant Physiology)

Indian Agricultural

Research Institute, New

Delhi

1994-06 First class

Ph. D

(Plant Physiology)

Kerala Agricultural

University, College of

Agriculture, Vellayani,

Thiruvananthapuram

2012-15 First class

Principal Scientist• Crop Production • ICAR-CTCRI• Sreekariyam• Thiruvananthapuram• Kerala - 695017

+91-9544420800

Saravanan.Raju@icar.org.in

http://www.ctcri.org

List of Research Publications

1. Velumani Ravi, Muthusamy Senthilkumar K., Raju Saravanan, Chakrabarti S.K. 2020. Analysis of molecular chaperones in differentiating storage root compared to non-tuber forming fibrous root of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). Current Horticulture.8(2): 51-56. DOI : 10.5958/2455-7560.2020.00023.0

2. Sanket J More, V Ravi, Saravanan Raju.2020. The quest for high yielding drought-tolerant cassava variety. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. SP6: 433-439.

3. Krishnakumar, T. MS Sajeev, Saravanan Raju, NA Giri, C Pradeepika, V Bansode. 2020. Studies on the development of cassava based reconstituted dry starch sago with modified starch as binder and characterization of its physico-functional properties. Journal of Environmental Biology. 41(1):29-34.

4. Velumani Ravi, Ancy Pushpaleela, Saravanan Raju, Byju Gangadharan, Sanket Jijabrao More. 2020. Evaluation of photosynthetic efficiency of yam bean (Pachyrhizus erosus L.) at saturating photon flux density under elevated carbon dioxide. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants. 26(1): 189-194.

5. Krishnakumar, T., M S Sajeev, Saravanan Raju, Namrata A Giri, Chintha Pradeepika, V Senthil Kumaran, Venkatraman Bansode. 2019. Engineering Properties of Different Commercial Grades of Sago (Sabudana. Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology. 1-12.

6. Manivel, P., R. Nagaraja Reddy, Saravanan Raju.2019. DPO-9 (IC0623443; INGR17055), an Extended Bract Mutant of Isabgol (Plantago ovata). Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources. 32(2): 263.

7. Manivel, P., R.N. Reddy, Raju Saravanan, V Thondaiman, RS Ganvit. 2019. Exploration and collection of genetic resources of salparni (Desmodium gangeticum L.) in India. International Journal of Minor Fruits, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. 5(1): 21-28.

8. Remesh, K. R., G Byju, Sabitha Soman, Saravanan Raju, V Ravi. 2019. Future changes in mean temperature and total precipitation and climate suitability of yam (Dioscorea spp.) in major yam-growing environments in India. Current Horticulture. 7(1)::28-42.

9. Ravi, V, S.J. More, R. Saravanan, G. Byju, M. Nedunchezhiyan, A.A. Devi, and K.P. Nair. 2019. Potential increase in photosynthetic response of taro (Colocasia esculenta L.) to photon flux density and elevated CO2. J. Environ. Biology (40): 111-118. (NAAS rating: 6.73)

10. Ravi V, Sanket More J, Saravanan R, Pallavi Nair K and Byju G. 2018. Evaluation of photosynthetic efficiency of elephant-foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius) to photon flux density and elevated CO2. Current Horticulture 6(1): 55–63. (NAAS rating: 3.71)

11. RAVI VELUMANI, SARAVANAN RAJU, BYJU GANGADHARAN, PALLAVI NAIR K and JAMES GEORGE. Photosynthetic response of sweet potato

(Ipomoea batatas) to photon flux density and elevated carbon dioxide. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 87 (9): 1231–1237. (NAAS rating: 6.23)

12. AJU K ASHOK, VELUMANI RAVI and RAJU SARAVANAN. 2017. Influence of cyanobacterial auxin on sprouting of taro (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum) and corm yield. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 87 (11): 1437–1444. (NAAS rating: 6.23)

13. RAVI. V, S K CHAKRABARTI, R SARAVANAN, T MAKESHKUMAR and J SREEKUMAR. 2017. Differential gene expression signatures of auxin response factors and auxin/ indole 3-acetic acid genes in storage root as compared to non-tuber forming fibrous root of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 87 (4): 512–520. (NAAS rating: 6.23)

14. NANDANWAR1 H.R., P. MANIVEL2, A.S. PATIL1, A.A. PUNEWAR1 AND R. SARAVANAN. 2017. Genetic Diversity Studies in Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC. Int. J. Curr. Microbiol. App. Sci (2017) 6(2): 424-429. (NAAS rating: 5.38)

15. RAVI, V., CHAKARABARTI, S. K., SARAVANAN, R., MAKESHKUMAR, T., & SREEKUMAR, J. (2016). Differential Gene Expression Signatures of Small Auxin Up-Regulated RNA (SAUR) and Gretchen-Hagen 3 (GH3) Genes in Storage Root as Compared to Non-tuber Forming Fibrous Root of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas). JOURNAL OF ROOT CROPS, 42(1), 14-21. (NAAS rating: 3.86)

16. SANKET J. MORE, V. RAVI, SARAVANAN RAJU. 2017. Management of heat stress to enhance growth, photosynthesis and corm yield of elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius Dennst.). Scientia Agriculturae. 19 (2), 2017: 47-54.

17. MAKASANA, J., PILLAI, V., SHARMA, A., DHOLAKIYA, B. Z., GAJBHIYE, N. A., AND SARAVANAN, R. (2016). Effect of seed treatment on germination and flavonoids diversity in accessions of butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea). Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 86(12), 1553-1558. (NAAS rating: 6.23)

18. JATINDRA NATH SAMANTA, KUNAL MANDAL, RAJU SARAVANAN, NARENDRA ATMARAM GAJBHIYE, VELUMANI RAVI. 2016. Influence of tapping position, intensity of tapping and season on gummosis of guggal (Commiphora wightii), oleo-gum-resin yield and quality. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 86: 143-146. (NAAS rating: 6.23)

19. SADASIVAN NAIR RAJI, NARAYANAN SUBHASH, VELUMANI RAVI, RAJU SARAVANAN, CHANGATHARAYIL N. MOHANAN, THANGARAJ MAKESHKUMAR, SUKUMAR NITA. 2016. Detection and Classification of Mosaic Virus Disease in Cassava Plants by Proximal Sensing of Photochemical Reflectance Index. Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing. 44(6): 875–883. (NAAS rating: 6.81)

20. JAYANTI MAKASANA · BHARATKUMAR Z. DHOLAKIYA · NARENDRA A. GAJBHIYE AND SARAVANAN RAJU. 2016. Assessment of chemical diversity in Clitoria ternatea accessions by an improved and validated

HPTLC method. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 86(9):1133-1139. (NAAS rating: 6.23)

21. NARENDRA A GAJBHIYE, JAYANTI MAKASANA, TUSHAR DHANANI and SARAVANAN RAJU. 2016. Development and Validation of LC-ESI-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of four coumatin derivatives and an alkaloid from root and stem bark of Aegle marmelos Correa. Acta Chromatographica. 28(4), 473-488. DOI:10.1556/1326.2016.28.4.6. (NAAS rating: 6.77)

22. SARAVANAN. R, STEPHEN, R., RAVI, V., NEELAKANTAN, S. M., MAKASANA, J., & CHAKRABARTI, S. K. (2015). Evaluation of postharvest physiological deterioration in storage roots of cassava (Manihot esculenta) genotypes. The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 85(10): 1279-1284. (NAAS rating: 6.23)

23. RAJI, S. N., SUBHASH, N., RAVI, V., SARAVANAN, R., MOHANAN, C. N., NITA, S., & KUMAR, T. M. (2015). Detection of mosaic virus disease in cassava plants by sunlight-induced fluorescence imaging: a pilot study for proximal sensing. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 36(11), 2880-2897. (NAAS rating: 7.78)

24. SARAVANAN, R., V. SAROJ KUMAR, AND SATYABRATA MAITI. Standardization of single eye cutting in patchouli (Pogostemon cablin). Current Horticulture 3.1 (2015): 19-23. (NAAS rating: 3.71)

25. SARAVANAN, R., GAJBHIYE, N. A., MAKASANA, J. S., & RAVI, V. (2015). Barbaloin content of aloe (Aloe barbadensis) leaf exudates as affected by different drying techniques. The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 85(7), 936-939. (NAAS rating: 6.23)

26. RAVI, V., SUJA, G., GEORGE, J., NEDUNCHEZHIYAN, M., SARAVANAN, R., & BYJU, G. (2015). Critical period of crop sensitivity to water deficit stress in elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius). The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 85(2): 274-279. (NAAS rating: 6.23)

27. MANIVEL, P., & R. SARAVANAN. (2014). DPO-296-4 (IC0598208; INGR14010), a Golden Yellow Leaf Colour Mutant of Isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsak) Germplasm. Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources, 27(2), 189-190. (NAAS rating: 5.12)

28. KAWALE, M., ANKOLIYA, S., SARAVANAN, R., DHANANI, T., & MANIVEL, P. (2014). Pharmacognostical and physicochemical analysis of Asparagus adscendens Buch. Ham. ex Roxb.(Shweta musali). Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 3(4), 131-139. (NAAS rating: 5.21)

29. RAVI, V., CHAKRABARTI, S. K., MAKESHKUMAR, T., & SARAVANAN, R. (2014). Molecular Regulation of Storage Root Formation and Development in Sweet Potato. Horticultural Reviews: Volume 42, 157-208

30. SARAVANAN R,, SHAH, S., & GAJBHIYE, N. (2013). Effect of light intensity on photosynthesis and accumulation of sennosides in plant parts of senna (Cassia angustifolia Vahl.). Indian Journal of Plant Physiology, 18(3), 285-289.

31. MANIVEL, P., SARAVANAN. R, KUMAR, S., PATEL, L., & MAITI, S. (2013).

DGS-22 (IC0590889; INGR13041) a High Fruit Producing Madhunashini (Gymnema sylvestre). Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources, 26(3), 258-260.

32. CHOUDHARY, V. K., KUMAR, P. S., GEORGE, J., KANWAT, M., & SARAVANAN, R. (2013). Genetic Variability and Character Association in Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott.) Under Mid-Hills of Arunachal Pradesh. Journal of Root Crops, 37(2), 155.

33. KAWALE, M., SARAVANAN, R., ANKOLIYA, S., PATEL, P. R., SRIVASTAVA, A., GAJBHIYE, N.,& PATEL, M. P. (2012). Pharmacognostic Characterization of Desmodium gangeticum (l.) DC-an Ayurvedic Medicinal Plant. Int. J. Pharmacogn. Phytochem. Res, 3(4), 113-120.

34. SAMANTA, J. N., SARAVANAN, R., GAJBHIYE, N. A., & MANDAL, K. (2012). Growth, photosynthetic competence and oleo-gum resin production of guggal (Commiphora wightii) across soil moisture and nitrogen gradient. Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 538-545.

35. MANIVEL, P., & SARAVANAN, R. (2012). DPO-14 (IC0586947; INGR11035), an Isabgol (Plantago ovata) Germplasm, with Early Maturing (80–85 days) and High Harvest Index (> 22%). Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources,25(2).

36. MANIVEL, P., & SARAVANAN, R. (2012). DPO 14-An early maturating Isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk) mutant. Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding. 72(4), 489-490.

37. SARAVANAN R, SONAL SHAH, K.A. GEETHA AND SATYABRATA MAITI. 2011. Gas exchange characteristics and chlorophyll-a kinetics of two morphotypes of Centella asiatica under open and shaded conditions. Indian Journal of Plant Physiology. 16(1): 75-84.

38. SONAL SHAH, R. SARAVANAN AND N.A. GAJBHIYE. 2010. Leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, growth and root yield of Aswaghandha (Withania somnifera Dunal.) under soil moisture stress. Indian J. Plant Physiol., Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 117-124.

39. Sonal Shah, Raju Saravanan and Narendra Atmaram Gajbhiye 2010. Phytochemical and physiological changes in Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal) under soil moisture stress. Braz. J. Plant Physiol., 22(4): 255-261.

40. SARAVANAN, R. KUNAL MANDAL, SRIDHAR GUTAM2, JATINDRA NATH SAMANTA1, AND V. SAROJ KUMAR. 2010. Changes in photosynthesis related parameters in isabgol (Plantago ovata) under downy mildew infection. Indian Journal of Plant Physiology. 15(4): 401-405.

41. Apexa Patel and R. Saravanan. 2010. Screening of Plantago species for physiological parameters in relation to seed yield. Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, 1(6):1454-1460.

42. Manivel. P and R. Saravanan. 2010. DPO 14 - An early maturating mutant of Isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk). Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, 1(5): 1371-1373.

43. SRIVASTAVA, A., PATEL, P. R., SARAVANAN, R., & MANIVEL, P. (2010). Gymnemic acid content in Gymnema Sylvestre accessions collected from

different regions of India. Open Access Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants,1(2).

44. Mandal. K., R. Saravanan, S. Maiti, Kothari, I.L. 2009. Effect of downy mildew (Peronospora plantaginis) disease on photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence in blond psyllium (Plantago ovata). Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection. 116 (4): 164-168.

45. Saravanan, R Sunil Krishti, N.A.Gajbhiye and S. Maiti. 2009. Effect of plant population and soil moisture stress on herbage yield and andrographolide content in Andrographis paniculata. Indian Journal of Horticulture 66(1): 120-125.

46. Phurailatpam, A.K., K.A. Geetha, N.A. Gajbhiye, R. Saravanan, S. Maiti. 2009. Comparative study of Chlorophytum borivilianum and C. arundinaceum – two safed musli species used as vital tonic in Indian Systems of Medicine. Phytomorphology. 59 (1 &2) 85-90.

47. Saravanan, R., Sunil Krishti, N.A.Gajbhiye and S. Maiti. 2008. Influence of light intensity on gas exchange, herbage yield and andrographolide content in Andrographis paniculata (Nees.). Indian Journal of Horticulture 65(2): 220-225.

48. Mandal, K., R. Saravanan, and S. Maiti. 2008. Effect of different levels of N, P and K on downy mildew (Peronospora plantaginis) and seed yield of isabgol (Plantago ovata). Crop Protection 27:988–995 (United Kingdom).

49. RAVI, V AND R SARAVANAN. 2001. Characteristics of photosynthesis and respiration in cassava and sweet potato. Journal of Root Crops. 27(1): 221-225.

Books Published /Chapters contributed

1. Sanket J. More, V. Ravi and Saravanan Raju. Tropical Tuber Crops.

In: Postharvest Physiological Disorders in Fruits and Vegetables. CRC

Press. pp. 719-757. DOI:10.1201/ b2200-33. 2. Velumani Ravi and Saravanan Raju. 2012 Crop Physiology of Sweetpotato. In:

Fruits, Vegetable and Cereal Science and Biotechnology Vol.6. Global Science

Books pg: 17-29. 3. V Ravi, SK Chakrabarti, T Makeshkumar, R Saravanan. . 2014. Molecular

regulation of storage root formation and development in sweet potato. Horticultural reviews 42, 157-206

Technologies Developed / Transferred

1. Preparation of aloin from aloeAn improved process for the extraction and purification of aloin (the active principle) from aloe leaf exudates was developed and a patented.

2. Single eye cutting of patchouli for rapid propagation 3. Vallabh-Medha – A new high yielding variety of Mandukaparni

( Centella asiatica). Vallabh-Medha out yield the common plant type by 5 times and also superior in terms of phytochemical constituents responsible for the medicinal properties.

4. Vallabh Isabgol-1: The high yielding variety of Isabgol is recommended for cultivation by AICRP on Medicinal plants for cultivation

5. Vallabh Isabgol-2: High yielding isabgol variety

Awards & Recognitions

Name of the Award/ Prize/Recognition/ Reviewer

Awarding Organization (place/country)

Year

Senior Research Fellow Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi

2004

Senior Research Fellow Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi

2004-06

Executive Committee Member (Ad-hoc)

Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Association of India

2008-09

Research guide for Botany/Genetic/Breeding

Sardhar Patel University, Vallaabh Vidhya Nagar, Gujarat

2005-08

Research guide for BSc-MSc Integrated Biotechnology

College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

2016-2020

Outstanding Horticultural Scientist Award-2018

Society for Horticultural Research and Development (SHRD), Ghaziabad

2020

Significant contributions related to the relevant field of specialization (Patents, Technologies, Varieties etc.)

A Method for preparing Aloin” patent granted on 23/11/2016 and patent Number is 277501. Technology transferred to National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) for commercialization

An improved method for purification of aloin from aloe leaf exudates or the

derived products thereof was developed. The process yield pure aloin as

free flowing yellow crystalline powder which contains above 90% pure aloin

with aloin A to aloin B in ratio of 3:1 and suitable for industrial purposes.

The powder so obtained can also be purified further by recrystallization in

suitable alcohol to get a very high purity aloin product (95-97%) and can be

used for pharmaceutical purposes.

Single eye cutting of patchouli for rapid propagation: Single eye cutting of

patchouli is developed for rapid multiplication of patchouli to accelerate the

propagation of patchouli with minimum utilization of patchouli mother shoots as

the dried shoot apex are used to extraction of patchouli oil and this technique will

be useful for inducing variability through mutation. It was found that the leaves

produce fully developed plantlets in 60 days at our green house condition. Hence

the suitability of leaf pairs for the propagation of patchouli and the time taken for

complete plantlet development was examined. Among the different pairs the 4th

pairs of leaves rooted early (7.33 days), followed by 3rd pair (9.0days), 2nd pair (9.33 days) and 5th pair (10.33 days). It was

found that the 4th pair of leaf from shoot tip was best for the propagation of patchouli for the production of plantlets from

leaf.

Development of New Variety - Vallabh Isabgol-1: Isabgol (Plantago

ovata) is an important medicinal plant grown as Rabi season crop in

north western India. India is the sole exporter of isabgol seed and husk

to the world market. Its mucilaginous seed coat is therapeutically used

against constipation and irritation in gasto-intestinal tract. DPO-1 with

the distinct morphological traits was developed from GI 2 through

mutation breeding using chemical mutagen, Colchicine (0.5 %) at the

ICAR Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (DMAPR), Anand, Gujarat. Based on superiority in seed yield,

quality parameters and distinct morphological traits, it was identified and named as “Vallabh Isabgol -1”. The mean seed

yield of was 967 kg ha-1 compared to 775 kg ha-1 of GI 2 and it can yield 1200 kg ha-1 under favourable conditions. The

swelling factor is 11.83. The mucilage yield was 9.21 g kg-1.

Development of New Variety - Vallabh Isabgol-2. An early maturing mutant genotype of isabgol (DPO-174) was

developed using GI-2 as parent at ICAR-DMAPR, Anand. The crop matures at 100-105 days and yields higher (9.94%)

compared to check variety. The mean seed yield of DPO-174 was 47 kg ha-1 higher compared to 1004.61 kg ha-1 of DPO-14.

The swelling factor of the proposed variety DPO-174 was 12.16 as compared to DPO-14 (12.56). Husk yield was 156.45 kg

ha-1 in DPO-174 which is statistically on par with the check DPO-14 (14 kg ha-1).

T T T T

Development of New Variety - Vallabh Medha: Associated in release of

Vallabh-Medha – A new high yielding variety of Mandukaparni

( Centella asiatica). It is a single plant clonal selection. It out yields the common

plant type by 5 times and also superior in terms of phytochemical constituents

responsible for the medicinal properties. Fresh herbage and dry herbage yields

harvested in “Vallabh Medha are 12331 kg ha-1 and 2113 kg ha-1 , respectively”

comparing to 2050 and 392 kg ha-1 in the local variety. Active ingredients (asiaticoside, madecassic acid and Asiatic acid)

are also present in higher quantity.

Germplasm Registered: Developed and registered five elite germplasm lines

viz., (i) DPO 14 (INGR11035) -an early maturing (85-90 days) and high yielding

mutant with high harvest index (>22%); (ii) DPO 296-4 (INGR 14010), a Golden

yellow leaf colour mutant of isabgol; (iii) DGS 22 (INGR 13041) - A high fruit

producing and high leaf yielding Gymnema sylvestre germplasm accession.

Production of biochar from agricultural biomass

and tuber crops residue for soil amelioration and

activated charcoal production: Biochar is obtained

by pyrolysis of biomass in the absence or minimal

supply of oxygen. charcoal is used as a soil amendment

and can endure in soil for hundreds of years. Biochar is

considered to be a effective method of carbon

sequestration and potentially help to mitigate climate

change. Biochar is found to increase soil fertility of

acidic soils (low pH soils), increase agricultural

productivity, and provide protection against some

foliar and soil-borne diseases. Single barrel and double barrel kilns were designed and tested for their biochar production

using farm waste and tuber crop residues. Of the two, double barrel kiln was most efficient for the biochar production.

Double barrel kiln was tested with locally available crop residues such as cassava stems, yam vines, arrow root leaves and

wood wastes. Co-composting technologies were studied for biochar enrichment. Mineral fertilizers and crop residues were

tested for improving the quality of biochar.

Method for surface coating for cassava tubers: The post-harvest physiological deterioration (PPD) is a major

constrain for cassava production and marketing. Wax coating of cassava after selected pre-treatment techniques was

developed for increasing shelf-life for one month or more periods for retail sale or export of cassava roots. The tubers

were successfully stored for a month without any loss in quality. The method was standardized and technology document

submitted for commercialization.

Cassava crop (A); fully grown storage roots (B); visible xylem streaking typical of PPD symptom(C) and root transverse sections showing progression of PPD (D), Wax coated cassava roots and flow diagram of wax coating process