(During the Period of 2019-2023)
Conducted research on the molecular characterization of fungal pathogens affecting chickpeas, both in the soil and on the leaves. Explored the molecular makeup of chickpea stunt virus, Bean common mosaic virus, and Groundnut Bud Necrosis Virus in tomatoes. Investigated the diversity of various fungal plant pathogens like Ascochyta rabiei and Botrytis cinerea. Discovered and classified six races and four pathotypes of Ascochyta rabiei in India. Developed the SCAR marker, enabling the detection of Ascochyta rabiei infection in chickpeas. Identified over 12 resistant chickpea genotypes against race-2 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris, which causes Fusarium wilt. Explored the potential of two microorganisms, Trichoderma asperellum and Bacillus subtilis, found on the chickpea phylloplane, for managing Ascochyta rabiei, Botrytis cinerea, and F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris. Identified eight common bean germplasms resistant to Bean common mosaic virus. Conducted extensive literature reviews for national and international journals. Holds membership in various prestigious scientific societies, including the Indian Phytopathological Society, New Delhi, India; Indian Society of Pulses Research and Development, IIPR, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh; Society for Biocontrol Advancement, ICAR-NBAIR, Bangalore, India; National Academy of Biological Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Additionally, an honorary life member of the Asian PGPR Society, Alabama, USA, and the American Phytopathological Society, USA (2018-21).
- As a co-developer of chickpea cultivars IPC 2007-28 (Atal), IPC 2010-134(Shiva) and IPCK 2013-163 (Madhav)
- Two Common Bean génotypes viz., IC360831, IC340947 résistant to Bean common mosaic virus has been registered with ICAR- NBPGR, New Delhi
- Identified and registered the chickpea advanced breeding line IPC 2010-121 resistant to Race-2 of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Ciceri with NBPGR, New Delhi
(Best 10/High Impact)
- Lakshmaiah Manjunatha, Leela Saisree Uppala, Mahesha, Hunsur, Aravinda Kumar Konda, Upasana Rani, Shailendra Singh, Narendra Pratap Singh, Yogesh Kumar, 2023. Diversity profiling, distribution of pathotypes and mating types in Indian isolates of Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labr. causing Ascochyta blight of chickpea”. PhytoFrontiers. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-08-21-0048-R
- Manjunatha, L., Ramappa, H.K and Rangaswamy, K.T., 2018. Role of leaf morphology in defense against Sterility Mosaic Disease (SMD) of pigeonpea, Journal of Environmental Biology 39(3):298-305. (NAAS: 6.54)
- Manjunatha, L., Rani, U., Basavaraja, T., Jagadeeswaran, R. and Kumar, Y. (2021). Morphological and Molecular Diversity of Botrytis cinerea Infecting Chickpea in India. Legume Research. DOI: 10.18805/LR-4547. (NAAS: 6.67)
- Manjunatha, L., Srinivasa, N., Basavaraja, T., Keerthi, M.C., 2021. Characterization of Chickpea Chlorotic Dwarf Virus (CpCDV) Associated with Chickpea Stunt Disease. Legume Research. An International Journal. DOI:410.18805/LR-4512. (NAAS: 6.67)
- Manjunatha, L., Saabale, P.R., Srinivasa, N. et al. Molecular characterization and development of sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker for detection of Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labr., infecting chickpea. Indian Phytopathology 74, 605–613 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42360-021-00345-z (NAAS: 5.95)
- Manjunatha , L. Basavaraja, T. Manjunatha, N. Srinivasa, N. Vijay Kumar, Rahul Chandora, Mohar Singh & N. P. Singh, 2021. Identification of stable resistant donors against necrosis inducing strain of bean common mosaic virus in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection. 54 (15-16):1033-1046. https://doi.org/10.1080/03235408.2021.1877432 (link is external)
- Jha, U.C., Saabale, P.R., Manjunatha, L. and Singh, N.P., 2021. Advanced chickpea lines resistant against Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum). Indian Journal of Agricultural Science, 91(1):176-178. (NAAS:6.37)
- Manjunatha, L., Rani, U., Basavaraja, T., Jagadeeswaran, R. and Kumar, Y. (2021). Morphological and Molecular Diversity of Botrytis cinerea Infecting Chickpea in India. Legume Research. DOI: 10.18805/LR-4547. (NAAS: 6.67)
- Basavaraja, T., Manjunatha, L., Chandora, R., Singh, M., Rathod, S., Dubey, V., . . . Singh, N. (2022). Assessment of phenotypic diversity and multi-locational screening against bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) disease resistance in dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) germplasm. Plant Genetic Resources, 20(2), 79-86. doi:10.1017/S1479262122000144 (NAAS: 7.28)
- Dinesh, H.B., Lohithaswa, H.C., Vishwanatha, K.P., Poonam Singh, Manjunatha, L., Ambika, D.S and Prasanna Kumar, M.K., 2018. Genetic analysis and marker assisted back crossing for transfer of mosaic virus resistance in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]. Legume Research. 41 (5):663-668. DOI: 10.18805/LR-3750 (NAAS: 6.67)
- Manjunatha, L., Rajashekara, H., Uppala, L. S., Ambika, D. S., Patil, B., Shankarappa, K. S. & Mishra, A. K. (2022). Mechanisms of Microbial Plant Protection and Control of Plant Viruses. Plants, 11(24), 3449.
- Mahesha, H. S., Keerthi, M. C., Saini, R. P., Manjunatha, N., Manjunatha, L., Shivakumar, K. V. & Yadav, V. K. (1990). Candidatus Phytoplasma Australasia Associated with Alfalfa Witches’ Broom: Symptomatology, Quantitative Loss, Qualitative Loss and Molecular Characterization. Legume Research-An International Journal, 1, 7. DOI: 10.18805/LR-4962
Book Chapter
- Manjunatha, L., Puyam, A., Prema, G. U., Sanjay Bandi, M., Kumar, R., Keerthi, M. C. & Kavitha, T. R. (2022). Chickpea Biotic Stresses. In Genomic Designing for Biotic Stress Resistant Pulse Crops (pp. 117-159). Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91043-3_2
- Manjunatha, L., Narasa Reddy, G., Uppala, L., Ravikumara, B.M., Ranjini, R. (2023). Screening of Endophytes for Virucidal Activity. In: Sankaranarayanan, A., Amaresan, N., Dwivedi, M.K. (eds) Endophytic Microbes: Isolation, Identification, and Bioactive Potentials. Springer Protocols Handbooks. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2827-0_25
- Manjunatha, L. et al. (2023). Detection of Endophytes by Molecular Fingerprinting Techniques. In: Sankaranarayanan, A., Amaresan, N., Dwivedi, M.K. (eds) Endophytic Microbes: Isolation, Identification, and Bioactive Potentials. Springer Protocols Handbooks. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2827-0_13
- Manjunatha, L., Singh, S., Ravikumara, B. M., Reddy, G. N., & Senthilkumar, M. (2020). Ampelomyces. Beneficial Microbes in Agro-Ecology, 833-860. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-823414-3.00044-7
- Keerthi, M. C., Manjunatha, L., Bhargavi, H. A., Mahesha, H. S., Puyam, A., & Dasgupta, D. (2022). Development of Biotic-Stress Resistant Pigeonpea. In Genomic Designing for Biotic Stress Resistant Pulse Crops (pp. 309-351). Cham: Springer International Publishing. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-91043-3_6
- Ravikumara, B. M., Manjunatha, L., Subathra, K., Narasareddy, G., Jyothi, G., & Prashantha, C. (2022). Detection of Endophytes by Immunological Methods. In Endophytic Microbes: Isolation, Identification, and Bioactive Potentials (pp. 51-69). New York, NY: Springer US. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2827-0_7
- Mahesha, H. S., Keerthi, M. C., Shivakumar, K. V., Bhargavi, H. A., Saini, R. P., Manjunatha, L., & Blair, M. W. (2022). Development of Biotic Stress Resistant Cowpea. Genomic Designing for Biotic Stress Resistant Pulse Crops, 213-251. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-91043-3_4
- University gold Medal for Merit for Ph.D (Plant Pathology) from UAS, Bengaluru, Karnataka during 2013
- Dr.K.Ramakrishnanan (Ex Dean) Memorial Gold Medal for Ph.D (Research on Virology) from UAS, Bengaluru, Karnataka during 2013
- ICAR-Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) for pursuing Ph.D (Plant Pathology)
- Early Carrier Research (ECR) Award under Young Scientist Scheme from SERB, GOI during 2016
- Best Research Team award from ICAR-IIPR, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh during 2020
- "Best Research Paper" award from Indian Phytopathological Society during 2021
- Young Scientist Award from Samagra Vikas Welfare Society (SVWS), Lucknow during 2019
Dr. Manjunatha, L., M.Sc. (Agri.), Ph.D
Scientist (Plant Pathology)
Division of Crop Protection,
Indian Institute of Horticultural Research(ICAR-IIHR),
Hesaraghatta Lake Post-560 089, Bengaluru, Karnataka
Email: manjupath@gmail.com , Manjunatha.l@icar.gov.in
Mobile No: 8660559353