Scientist Profile

Dr.V.P.Sobhakumari

Dr.V.P.Sobhakumari

Principal Scientist,(Genetics and Cytogenetics) Division - Crop Improvement
ICAR- Sugarcane Breeding Institute Coimbatore - 641007 Tamil Nadu, India. E-mail : vpsobhakumari@rediffmail.com Tel. 91-422-2472621, Fax No. 0422-2472923 Mobile: 9894512881
  • As a scientist working at IACR – Sugarcane Breeding Institute for more than 30 years, significant contributions were provided to the field of Genetics and Cytogenetics of sugarcane by involving 10 multidisciplinary projects including DST-SERB funded project on ‘Molecular Cytogenetics’, NASF project on ‘haploid induction’ and National Mega seed project.
  • Cytological characterization of more than 2000 clones which includes species clones of germplasm, hybrids of interspecific, intergeneric crosses, Co cane varieties, somaclones, mutants, pre breeding materials – revealed different cytotypes, ploidies, chromosome transmission and hybridity.
  • A chromosome Atlas of spontaneum has been developed with geographical distribution of different cytotypes available in the World sugarcane germplasm.
  • First time in India, the Molecular Cytogenetic techniques (GISH, FISH and Multicolor GISH) in sugarcane has been standardized and used in the genome analysis of interspecific and intergeneric hybrids of sugarcane.
  • Tissue culture studies has been conducted in Co canes, interspecific and intergeneric hybris and contributed towards micropropagation, development of somaclones, encapsulated artificial seeds, In vitro induction of flowering, in vitro induction of Colchiploids, in vitro conservation, anther culture and production of amphiploids.
  • Centromere specific CENH3 gene was isolated and characterized. CENH3 mutants were developed through TILLING and has been utilized in hybridization for haploid induction in sugarcane.
  • Recipient of different Awards, Professional recognitions and Fellowships for international programmes. Recently awarded ‘2024-CIRAD, France’ Fellowship.
  • International scientific programmes were attended at National University of Singapore, Singapore; IRRI, Philippines; UC Davis, California; Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China and CIRAD, Montpellier, France.
  • Published around 110 research communications
  • Institute development programmes – involvement and Contributions
  • Nominated as selection committee member for SRF, JRF, YP, Apprentices and Promotion, probation and transfer cases of staff, reviewing technical applications, DPC member, MACP member, ASRB nominated member etc.
  • Institute Deputation Committee (IDC) member
  • Institute Grievance Committee member
  • Chairperson for Institute Aesthetic Committee
  • Chairperson for Institute Women Cell
  • Member in Award Selection Committee for meritorious wards of staff
  • Chairperson for Gamma chamber decommissioning
  • Member in different committees of different National and International Conferences/seminars/Symposium/Workshops and national Science day conducted at Institute.
  • Micro observer for Lokh Sabha Election (2019) and General election to Tamil Nadu Legisiative Assembly, 2021
  • Treasurer for SSRD (Society for Sugarcane Research and Development)
  • Invigilator for National level exams
  • Physical verification

Evaluation, Teaching and Trainings

  • D thesis evaluated and conducted Viva in different Institutes and Universities (5 Nos.)
  • Reviewed papers for national and international journals
  • Teaching – Theory and Practical classes on Cytogenetics taken for B.Sc, M.Sc and Ph.D students of TNAU (Every year)
  • Co guide for M.Sc and Ph.D students from TNAU (4 Nos.)
  • Invited lecturers and key note addresses
  • Expert member of Board of Studies of Kerala University and Providence Women’s College, Calicut University
  • Convener and Co-Convener for different sessions in Symposium and Conferences
  • Course Director for Cytological training programme
  • Technology developed: Classical and Molecular Cytogenetics protocols Methodology: Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) methodology to analyse Erianthus arundinaceus genome introgression in consecutive generations of intergeneric hybridization in sugarcane
  • Adoption of concept /methodology /product by research and academic members Extended the cytological analysis expertise to other crops like Wheat, Coconut, Cotton, Bajra, Rice, Banana etc. from the institutes (1) TNAU, Coimbatore (2) IARI Regional Research Centre, Wellington (3) ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod, (4) ICAR-NRCB, Trichy, (5) ICAR-IIHR, Bangalore
  • Published Technical Bulletins – 10
  • Life Membership in Gregor Mendel Foundation (GMF)
  • Fellow member in Sugarcane Technologists Association of India (STAI)
  • Founder Member in Society for Sugar Research and Development (SSRD)
  • Life Member in Indian Science Congress Association
  • Member in International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ISSCT)
  • Life Member in Society for Sugar Research and Promotion (SSRP)
  • Philippines (1999) – International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) – To attend a programme on “Transgenic Rice: Production and Deployment with special Reference to sheath Blight and Stem Borer Resistance”
  • Singapore (1999) – The Singapore Institute of Biology, National University of Singapore- To attend and present a paper in “Asia-Pacific Congress on the Biology of the Environment”
  • California (USA) (2010) – Genome Centre, UC Davis, California, USA – ICAR (NAIP) has nominated me for an international training in the area of Allele mining (F. No.1(12)/2009/FT (partA)/NAIP/O&M/CS/AM/4/66) for a period of three months (March 22nd – June19th, 2010) at UC Davis, California. (Supervisor: Dr. Luca Comai)
  • Nanning, China (2014) – Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GXAAS) – To attend and present a paper in the International Conference on “Green Technologies for Sustainable Growth of Sugar & Integrated Industries in Developing Countries” (IS-2014)
  • Montpellier, France (2024) – CIRAD [Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement], France – CIRAD Fellowship programme namely, ‘Incentive action, 2024 welcoming partners from south and developing scientific skills” for a period of two months (Oct 21st – Dec.20th, 2024) under the supervision of Dr Angelique D’Hont, Avenue Agropolis, 34398, Montpellier cedex 5, FRANCE, in the area of Advanced Molecular Cytogenetics
  • Best Poster award (2014) ICAR-SBI & Society for Sugarcane Research and Development (SSRD)
  • Best Paper Award (Silver Award) (2016) South Indian Sugar and Sugar Technologies Association (SISSTA)
  • Fellow award (2016) Sugar Technologists Association of India (STAI)
  • Best Paper Award (2020) Society for sugarcane research & Development (SSRD)
  • Fellow Award (FGMF) (2022) Gregor Mendel Foundation
  • Prolific contributor (Award) to the Journal of Sugarcane Research (2022) Society for sugarcane research & Development (SSRD)
  • Fellow Award (FSSRP) (2024) Society for Sugar Research and Promotion (SSRP)
  • Sobhakumari, V.P., and Mohanraj, K. 2024. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) and performance analysis in intergeneric hybrids from five consecutive generations of Erianthus x Saccharum.  Caryologia 77(3): 27-36.  https://doi.org/10.36253/caryologia-2727
  • Sobhakumari, V.P., and Mohanraj, K. 2024. Application of Genomic in situ Hybridization (GISH) and tandem repeat sequence amplification for identification of Erianthus – Saccharum introgression. Caryologia 77(2): 49-55. https://doi.org/10.36253/caryologia-2670
  • Harish Chandar S.R., Mahalakshmi Subramanian, Sakthivel Surya Krishna, Swathi Thangavel,Girija Sangari Murugavelu, Viswanathan Chinnusamy, Saranya Nallusamy , V. P. Sobhakumari, R. Gomathi,  Chinnaswamy Appunu . 2024. Isolation, characterization and genome wide identification of Cys-2/His-2 Type Zinc finger nuclease, a Transcription Activator in Saccharum Complex Under abiotic stress conditions. Sugar Tech https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-024-01397-x
  • Prathima Perumal Thirugnanasambandam, Avinash Singode, Lakshmi Pathy Thalambedu, Selvi Athiappan, Mohanraj Krishnasamy, Sobhakumari Valiya Purakkal, Hemaprabha Govind, Agnelo Furtado and Robert Henry. 2023. Long read transcriptome sequencing of a sugarcane hybrid and its progenitors, Saccharum officinarum and S. spontaneum. Front. Plant Sci. 14:1199748. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1199748
  • Juby B, Meenakshi Ganesan N., Ganesan K.N., Sivakumar S.D., Chandrasekhar C.N., Sobhakumari V.P. 2023. Studies on colchicine induced changes in bajra napier hybrid (Pennisetum glaucum x P. purpureum) Electronic journal of Plant Breeding. Vol 14 (1) https://doi.org/10.37992/2023.1401.019
  • Juby B, Meenakshi Ganesan N., Ganesan K.N., Sivakumar S.D., Chandrasekhar C.N., Sobhakumari V.P. 2023. Stomatal studies on colchicine treated Bajra Napier hybrids (Pennisetum glaucum x P. purpureum). Agricultural Science Digest. 43(5): 610-615. https://doi.org/10.18805/ag.D-5743.
  • Sobhakumari V.P., Mohanraj K., Mohanaprabha M and Mathumathi R. 2021. Establishment of GISH and multi-color GISH techniques to simultaneously discriminate different genomes in Erianthus procerus x Saccharum officinarum. Journal of Sugarcane Research 11,172-179. https://doi.org/10.37580/JSR.2021.2.11.172-179
  • Sobhakumari V.P. and Govindaraj P. Chromosomal Polymorphism in Saccharum spontaneum: Numerical Variation in Accessions from Eastern India. Cytologia 87(4): 375–381 https://doi.org/10.1508/cytologia.87.375
  • Imtiyazahemed S., Mahalingam L., Premalatha N., Senguttuvan K., Sobhakumari V.P. and Kumar M.2021. Development and hybridity confirmation of F1 interspecific hybrids between Gossypium barbadense and Gossypium anomalum. Journal of Cotton Research and Development 35(1), 19-28.
  • Sobhakumari V. P. 2020. Exploration of diversity and distribution of cytotypes of Saccharum spontaneum, a wild species of sugarcane, in India. Caryologia 73(4): 45-54. https://doi.org/10.13128/caryologia-1024
  • Sobhakumari V.P., Mohanraj K, Nair NV, Mahadevaswamy HK and Ram B. 2020. Cytogenetic and molecular approaches to detect alien chromosome introgression and its impact in three successive generations of Erianthus procerus X Saccharum. Cytologia 85(4):  341-346.         https://doi.org/10.1508/CYTOLOGIA.85.341
  • Sobhakumari V.P. 2020. Evolutionary dynamics of chromosomal diversity in Saccharum spontaneum population from Punjab and Haryana, India. Cytologia 85(4): 313-318 https://doi.org/10.1508/cytologia.85.313
  • Imtiyazahmed S., Mahalingam L., Premalatha N., Senguttuvan K., and Sobhakumari V. P. 2020. Interspecific hybrid confirmation in wide crosses of cotton (Gossypium spp) through morphological, cytological and molecular analysis. Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding. Vol.11(2):451-460. https://doi.org/10.37992/2020.1102.078
  • Sobhakumari V.P. 2019. Parental genome differentiation by Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) in intergeneric hybrid of Saccharum x Zea Journal of Sugarcane Research 9 (2) 130-137 http://doi.org/10.37580/JSR.2019.2.9.130-137
  • Sobhakumari V.P., N.V. Nair, K. Mohanraj and Maya Lekshmi. 2018. Molecular cytogenetic characterization of sorghum chro­mosomes in saccharum background and vice versa using genomic in situ hybridization. Journal of Sugarcane Research (2018) 8 (1) 269 – 277
  • 16.Sobhakumari V.P.and M. Abiraham Stanly.2017. High ploidy diversity in S. spontaneum   population of North-East region of India. Journal of Sugarcane Research.  7 (1) 52 – 59
  • Lekshmi, M., Pazhany, A.S., Sobhakumari, V.P. MN Premachandran. Nuclear and cytoplasmic contributions from Erianthus arundinaceus (Retz.) Jeswiet in a sugarcane hybrid clone confirmed through genomic in situ hybridization and cytoplasmic DNA polymorphism. Genet Resour Crop Evol 64 (7), 1553–1560 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-016-0453-5
  • Maya Lekshmi, Adhini S.Pazhany . Sobhakumari. V. P. Premachandran M N. 2016. Nuclear and cytoplasmic contributions from Erianthus arundinaceus (Retz.) Jeswiet in a sugarcane hybrid clone confirmed through genomic in situ hybridization and cytoplasmic DNA polymorphism. Genet Resour Crop Evol. DOI 10.1007/s10722-016-0453-5
  • M.N. Premachandran, Sobhakumari V. P., Mayalekshmi, V. Raffee Viola. 2017. Genome Characterization of In Vitro Induced Amphiploids of An Intergeneric Hybrid Erianthus arundinaceus x Saccharum spontaneum. Sugar Tech Volume 19, 4, pp 386–393 DOI 10.1007/s12355-016-0482-6
  • Sobhakumari V.P. and P.T. Prathima. 2015. Isolation of a novel centromere-associated cenh3 gene and its characterization from sugarcane. Journal of Sugarcane research 5(2): 22-29
  • Sobhakumari V.P. and Asmita Dutta. 2014. Cytogenetics and performance analysis of pre-breeding hybrids of Saccharum officinarum and Saccharum spontaneum. Journal of Sugarcane Research Vol.4(1),33-39
  • Sobhakumari V.P. and Nair N.V. 2014. Cytological mechanism of male sterility in intergeneric hybrids of Sorghum x Saccharum. Cytologia 79 (1) 79-83
  • Sobhakumari V.P. 2013. New determinations of somatic chromosome number in cultivated and wild species of Saccharum. Caryologia. 66(3)268-274.
  • Sobhakumari V.P. 2012. Assessment of somaclonal variation in sugarcane. African Journal of Biotechnology.11(87), 15303-15309.
  • Sobhakumari V.P., Sreedivya M.J., and Sanu Mary Abraham. 2010. Genetic and non-genetic factors affecting callus induction and regeneration in sugarcane. Gregor Mendel Foundation Journal 1 (1&2): 5-9.
  • Sobhakumari V.P. and Mathew S.D. 2009. Effect of Hybrid vigor on callus induction and regeneration of Sugarcane. Cytologia 74(1)71-77

  • Sobhakumari V.P. 2009. Chromosome survey of wild and cultivated species of Saccharum. The Nucleus, 52 (1&2)17-23

  • Sobhakumari V.P. and S.Mallika. 2007. A cytological survey of Saccharum officinarum and S.spontaneum clones. The Nucleus, 50 (1): 27-32

  • Sobhakumari V.P. and Nair N.V. 2007. In vitro induction of colchiploidy in an intergeneric hybrid of Sorghum x Saccharum. Cytologia, 72 (3): 303-308

  • Neelamathi D., Sobhakumari V.P. and Mallika S. 2007. In vitro storage and regeneration of encapsulated micro propagules in sugarcane. Phytomorphology, 57 (1&2) 103-107

Books/Reports/Chapters/General articles etc.

  • Book:

     V.P.Sobhakumari (2007) Tissue culture techniques in sugarcane In:   Sugarcane Breeding, Genetics and seed production. pp163-168. Editors: R Nagarajan, N.Vijayan Nair, …and V.P.Sobhakumari (2007), Sugarcane breeding Institute

  • Book chapter:

     V.P.Sobhakumari(2014) Utilization of tissue culture derived variation in sugarcane improvement. In:Current status of sugarcane research in India (Eds: Lal M., Singh A.K. and Tiwari A.K),  Studium Press LLC, U.S.A. ISBN: 978-1-63463-458-8

  • Book chapter:

    V.P.Sobhakumari  (Eds:Rajula Shanthy et al.) (2014) Sugarcane improvement through tissue culture derived variation. In: Recent Technologies for increased sugarcane productivity ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute. ISBN 978-93-808002-5-7

  • Catalogue

    Vijayan Nair, N., Amalraj, V.A., Jayabose,C., Sobhakumari V.P., Balakrishnan R. and Remadevi A.K.(2013) A catalogue on sugarcane genetic resources, Saccharum spontaneum L.   ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute. ISBN No. 978-81-926387-3-7

  • Book:

     Sugarcane Technologies. Editors: T. Rajula Shanthy, Bhakshi Ram, S. Alarmelu, MN Premachandran…..  and VP Sobhakumari (2016) ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute. ISBN No. 978-93-85267-00-0

  • Book chapter

   V.P.Sobhakumari.(2016) Tissue culture induced variation – a strategy for stress management in sugarcane. In: Biotechnological and conventional tools for biotic and abiotic stress management in sugarcane.      Course Manual of ICAR sponsored winter school. December 7-27,2016. Eds: Bakshi Ram, P. Govindaraj, A. Ramesh Sundar and A. Bhaskaran, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute ISBN No. 978-93-85267-07-9.

  • Lab Manual:

      V P Sobhakumari and M N Premachandran Practical manual for Cytogenetics.ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute. (2015)

  • Book chapter:

    Sobhakumari V. P. 2019. Sugarcane genetic resources: Collection, conservation and cytogenetic characterization for its utilization in crop improvement programmes. In: Proceedings of International conference ‘PROVECTUS PLANTAE 19’ [ISBN No.978-81-940888-0-6].

  • Book chapter:

      Sobhakumari V.P. 2020. Application of Molecular Cytogenetics to introgress novel traits. In: Recent Scientific Advances in Sugarcane Cultivation for Doubling Farmers’ Income. Eds. Bakshi Ram, G. Hemaprabha, Ratna Nashine, K. Mohanraj, P. Murali, Rayees Ahmad Sha. Dilpreet publishers & Distributors. [ISBN 978-81-953726-0-7] Pp. 78-85.

  • Book chapter:

  Sobhakumari V.P.  2021. Modern perspectives in Plant Cytogenetics with special reference to Sugarcane. Proceedings of International conference on New Horizons in Plant Science-NHPS 2020 [ISBN No. 978-81-940888-3-7]. Pp ii –v. Held at Department of Botany, University of Kerala, Karyavattom, Trivandrum, Kerala on 4-9th January, 2021.

  • Book Chapter:

 Sobhakumari V. P. 2024. Application of molecular cytogenetics to introgress novel traits in commercial cultivars. In: Course Manual of ICAR sponsored winter school, January 31-Februry 20, 2024.ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. ISBN 978-93-85267-42-0-374p

Technical / popular article

  • Sobhakumari V.P.,.Hari K and.Neelamathi D (2004) Tissue culture of sugarcane with beneficial microbes.

      NewsletterVol. 23, No.4

  • Sobhakumari V.P. Thiriveni P. and Nithiyanantham R. (2011) Effect of nitrogen on in vitro cultures of sugarcane variety. SBI News (Newsletter) , Sugarcane Breeding Institute, 31, No.3
  • Sobhakumari V.P., Premachandran M.N., Amalraj V.A and Govindaraj P (2013) New Saccharum spontaneum accessions with low chromosome number (2n=40) identified. SBI Newsletter , Sugarcane Breeding Institute, 23 (4)  33 No.4.
  • Sobhakumari V.P. (2024) Chromosome atlas on Saccharum spontaneum, a wild species of sugarcane, from India. ICAR-SBI Technical Bulletin No. 356 (2024E).
  • Sobhakumari V.P. and Mohanraj K. (2024) Molecular Cytogenetics in sugarcane – Protocol and its Application in introgression breeding. ICAR-SBI Technical Bulletin No. 357 (2024E).
  • Manimekalai R, Appunu C, Kumaravel A, Palaniyappan S, Sobhakumari VP, Valarmathi R, Ramesh Sundar R and Viswanathan C (2024) Genome editing methods in sugarcane and its applications. ICAR- SBI Technical Bulletin No. 344(2024E).
  • Suganya A, Appunu C, Neelamathi D, Sobhakumari V P, Mahadeviah C, Mahadeva SwamyHK and Gomathi R (2024) Tissue culture techniques for sugarcane improvement. ICAR- SBI Technical Bulletin No. 364(2024E).