ICAR-NRCB

Dr. M.S.Saraswathi

Division

Crop Improvement

Specialization / Discipline

Tissue culture and Molecular Biology

Area of Interest

Tissue culture and application of molecular markers in crop improvement

Publications

Qualifications

Ph.D.

Saraswathi.MS@icar.gov.in
saraswathimse@gmail.com

Current Institute Projects:

Improvement of cv. Grande Naine (Cavendish - AAA) for Fusarium wilt resistance through non-conventional breeding (PI)
Development of trait specific markers for fusarium wilt resistance through association mapping studies in banana (Musa spp.) (PI)
Improvement and management of banana genetic resources in Indian Subcontinent (Co-PI)
Crop Improvement of banana through conventional breeding (Co-PI)
Production of doubled haploids for improvement of bananas (Musa spp.) (Co-PI)
Identification of resistant gene candidate(s) in banana for race 1 and tropical race 4 of Fusarium oxysporumf. sp. Cubense (Co-PI)

Current External Projects:

Framing crop specific DUS guidelines for Banana (Musa spp.) (PI)
High – throughput Screening for induced mutations in banana cv. Grand Naine (AAA) with Fusarium wilt (TR4) resistance (Phase III) (PI)

Shoot tip and ECS based methodology for the successful creation of Fusarium wilt resistant mutants in banana cvs. Rasthali and Grand Naine
Developed variety specific DNA fingerprints, using SSR and ISSR markers.
Established a core collection a true representative of the Indian Musa germplasm based on morphotaxonomic and molecular charaterization data.
Developed DUS guidelines for banana and plantain.
Variety specific tissue culture protocol has been developed using various explants like shoot tips, cormlets and male flower buds.
Low cost tissue culture protocol has been developed for commercial varieties.
Standardized protocol for the Genetic fidelity Testing of tissue culture plants.
Developed macropropagation techniques in commercial banana varieties using steam sterilized suckers.

HSI Award (2018)
CHAI Fellow (2018)
Best Ph.D. Dissertation Award (2009)
Thiru. T. Gopalan Nair memorial medal
Indo-American hybrid seeds medal

Saraswathi. M.S., Uma, S Ramaraj, P Durai, MM Mustaffa, K.Kalaiponmani and A. Chandrasekar. 2019. Inter retrotransposon based genetic diversity and phylogenetic analysis among the Musa germplasm accessions. Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology 29 (1), 114-124.
Saraswathi Marimuthu Somasundaram Uma Subbaraya Sharmila Gayatri Durairajan Soundaryan Rajendran Jithu Gopalakrishnan Bahrudeen Shahul Hameed Durai Palani Backiyarani Suthanthiram. 2019. Comparison of two different electrophoretic methods in studying the genetic diversity among plantains (Musa spp.) using ISSR markers. Electrophoresis 40 (9): 1265-1272
M. S. Saraswathi , S. Uma, G. Kannan, M. Selvasumathi, M.M. Mustaffa & S. Backiyarani, 2016. Cost-effective tissue culture media for large-scale propagation of three commercial banana (Musa spp.) varieties. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology. 91: 23-29.
M.S.Saraswathi, G. Kannan, S. Uma, R. Thangavelu and S. Backiyarani. 2016. Improvement of banana cv. Rasthali against FoC (VCG 0124/5) through induced mutagenesis: Determination of LD50 specific to mutagen, explants, toxins and in vitro and in vivo screening for Fusarium wilt resistance. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology . 54: 345-353
M. S. Saraswathi , S. Praveena, S. Uma, R. Thangavelu G.Kannan, S. Backiyarani and T.Arivazhagan. 2014. Development of an efficient micropropagation technique for Musa cv.Udhayam (ABB). Indian Journal of Horticulture. 71:452-457
M. S. Saraswathi S. Uma, K. Prasanya Selvam, S. Ramaraj, P. Durai and M.M.Mustaffa. (2011). Assessing the robustness of IRAP and RAPD marker systems to study intra group diversity among Cavendish (AAA) clones of banana. Journal of Horticulture Science and Biotechnology. 86: 7-12.

Accessibility Options

Display

Quick Menu

Dr. M.S.Saraswathi