Scientist Profile

Dr. R.M Shanthi

Dr. R.M Shanthi

Principal Scientist ,Head -Crop Improvement
E-mail:rm.shanthi@icar.gov.in; rm.shanthi@icar.org.in
  • Breeding superior sugarcane varieties of different maturity with improved cane yield, quality and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses
  • Enhancing Sugar Productivity in Tamil Nadu through Institute-Industry Participatory Approach
  • Identification of suitable location specific sugarcane varieties for commercial cultivation under different agro-climatic situations in India
  • Standardization of true seed production technique through developing homozygous parental lines and apomixes
  • Indian Society of Plant Breeders, Tamil Nadu, India.
  • Indian Society for Genetics and Plant Breeding, New Delhi, India.
  • Society for Sugarcane Research and Development, Tamil Nadu, India.
  • Society for Sugarcane Research and Promotion, Uttar Pradesh, India.
  •  Title: Enhancing Sugar Productivity in Tamil Nadu through Institute – Industry Participatory Approach (SWEET BLOOM 1.0)

Agency: SISMA funded

Amount: 46.20 lakhs

  • Title: Enhancing Sugar Productivity in Tamil Nadu through Institute – Industry Participatory Approach (SWEET BLOOM 2.0)

Agency: SISMA funded

Amount: 53.00 lakhs

  • Title: Identification of suitable location specific sugarcane varieties for commercial cultivation under different agro-climatic situations in India (ISMA-funded)

Agency: ISMA funded

Amount: 750.00 lakhs

  • Fellow of Society for Sugarcane Research and Promotion (FSSRP-2022) by Sugar Tech, India.
  • Serving as Consulting Editor/ Member in editorial Board of Sugar Tech journal since 2023.
  • Dr Clement William memorial medal-Awarded in recognition of performance in the B.Sc. (Ag) examination held by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore in the faculty of Agriculture during 1986-87
  • Dr G. Venkatachalam Medal Clement William memorial medal- Awarded in recognition of performance in the B.Sc. (Ag) examination held by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore in the faculty of Agriculture during 1986-87
  • MASU PRIZE for B.Sc. (Ag)- Awarded in recognition of performance in the B.Sc. (Ag) examination held by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore in the faculty of Agriculture during 1986-87
  • Three months training (21.11.2011 to 18.12.2012) in Molecular Breeding at the GUS R Douglass Land Grant Institute, West Virginia State University, WV, USA.

Research papers

  • Vigneshwari, R., Shanthi, R.M.*, Lakshmi Pathy, T., Mohanraj, K.   Estimates of Genetic Parameters and Prediction of Breeding Values Among Full‑Sib Sugarcane Families for Commercial Cane Sugar Yield Traits Through REML/BLUP Analysis.  Sugar Tech. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-024-01480-3.
  • Appunu, C., Hemaprabha, G., Sreenivasa, V., Anna Durai, A., Mohanraj, K., Elayaraja, K., Sheelamary, S., Vinu, V., Adhini S. Pazhany, Mahadeva Swamy, H.K., Lakshmi Pathy, T., Karuppaiyan, R., Karthigeyan, S., Govindaraj, P., Alarmelu, S., Shanthi, R.M., Prabakaran, A.J., Ananda Lekshmi, S. Surya Krishna, Arun Kumar, R., Chikkappa G. Karjagi, Bakshi Ram. 2024. Evaluation of sugarcane genotypes (Saccharum hybrid) for multi-trait stability analysis across diverse environments. Industrial Crops & Products, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.118993
  • Vigneshwari and R.M.Shanthi*, 2023. Identifying the Principal Contributing Traits for Commercial Cane Sugar Yield at First Clonal Selection Stage in Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.). International Journal of Environment and Climate Change: 13 (9): 3312-3321. DOI: 10.9734/IJECC/2023/v13i92583.
  • Shanthi, R.M., Vigneshwari, R., Hemaprabha, G. and H.K. Mahadeva Swamy.  Sucrose specific genic microsatellites to analyse the genetic structure among the Commercial Hybrids and Clones of Interspecific and Intergeneric Origin in Saccharum Complex.  Sugar Tech https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-022-01159-7.
  • Alarmelu S., Hemaprabha G., and Shanthi R.M. 2022. Co 12009: Midlate sugarcane variety released for tropical India. Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, 13(3):1012-1018.
  • Vigneshwari R. and Shanthi R. M. 2021. Mining and characterization of genic microsatellites associated with sucrose synthesis and their utility in population structure analysis in sugarcane. 2021. Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding 12: 286-297.
  • Alarmelu S., Karpagam E., Nagarajan R. and R.M. Shanthi 2021. Molecular identification and genetic diversity analysis of sugarcane clones by SSR markers.  Journal of Sugarcane Research, 10(2): 140-151
  • Elayaraja K., and Shanthi, R.M. Identification of principal traits associated with ratooning ability for cane yield and juice quality in sugarcane genotypes from advanced varietal evaluation trials. Journal of Sugarcane Research, 11: 66-73
  • Vennila A., Palaniswami C., Anna Durai A., Shanthi R.M. and Radhika K. Partitioning of Major Nutrients and Nutrient Use Efficiency Of Sugarcane Genotypes. Sugar Tech. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-020-00948-2
  • Govindaraj P., Bhagyalakshmi K.V., Alarmelu S., Hemaprabha G., Nagarajan R., Somarajan K.G., Shanthi R.M., Mohanraj K., Anna Durai A., Kumar R. and B. Ram.   Co 09004 (Amritha) – New high sugar and early maturing variety released for cultivation in peninsular zone.   Journal of Sugarcane Research, 7(2):174-176.
  • Shanthi R.M., Hemaprabha G., Vigneshwari R., Sarath T.S., Mohanraj K. 2016. New genic SSR markers identified for three major enzymes associated with sucrose synthesis in sugarcane. Journal of Sugarcane Research, 6(1):1-10.
  • Venkatesan, T., Sridhar V., Tomason Y.R., Jalali S.K., Behere G.T., Shanthi R.M., Kumar R., Vajja V.G., Nimmakayala P. and Umesh K. Reddy. 2015. Use of expressed sequence tag microsatellite markers for population genetic research of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from India. The Canadian Entomologist, 148(2):187-199.
  • Alarmelu S., Nagarajan R., Shanthi R.M., Hemaprabha G. and N.V. Nair. 2014. Development and evaluation of backcross progenies of improved Saccharum spp. for yield and quality traits. Journal of Sugarcane Research, 4(1):19-32.
  • Alarmelu S., Nagarajan R., Shanthi R.M., Hemaprabha G. and N.V. Nair. 2014. Development and evaluation of backcross progenies of improved Saccharum spp. for yield and quality traits. Journal of Sugarcane Research, 4(1):19-32.
  • Shanthi R.M., Kumar R., Nimmakayala P. and Reddy O.U.K. 2013. Genic SSRs from S.officinarum in WRKY and stress transcription factors to use them as markers in sugarcane. Journal of Sugarcane Research, 3(2):118-129.
  • Shanthi R.M. and Alarmelu S. 2012. Genetic stocks for early high sugar content generated over two selection cycles in sugarcane. Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding, 72: 336-342.
  • Shanthi R.M., Hemaprabha G. and S. Alarmelu, S. 2011. An overview on selection strategies in sugarcane breeding programmes. Journal of Sugarcane Research, 1: 27-37. 
  • Shanthi R.M. and Alarmelu S. 2010. Development of pre-breeding stocks with improved sucrose content over two selection cycles in sugarcane. Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding 1: 660-665.
  • Babu C., Natarajan U.S., Shanthi R.M., Govindaraj P., Ramesh Sunder A. and Viswanathan R. 2010. Inheritance of red rot resistance in sugarcane (Saccharum sp. hybrids). Sugar Tech 12: 167-171.
  • Babu C., Koodalingam K., Natarajan U.S., Govindaraj P. and Shanthi R.M. Assessment of genetic diversity detected by co ancestry of crosses and STMS markers among sugarcane genotypes (Saccharum spp. hybrids). Sugarcane International, 28(5): 206-215.
  • Shanthi R.M., Bhagyalakshmi K.V., Hemaprabha G., Alarmelu S. and Nagarajan R. Relative performance of the sugarcane families in early selection stages.  Sugar Tech 10(2): 114-118. 
  • Selvi A., Mukunthan N., Shanthi R.M., Govindaraj P., Singaravelu B. and Prabhu T.K. Assessment of genetic relationships and marker identification in sugarcane cultivars with different levels of top borer resistance.  Sugar Tech 10(1): 53-59.
  • Shanthi R.M. and Alarmelu S. 2007. Assessment of the first cycle hybrid progenies for early high sugar content in sugarcane. Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant breeding, 67(4):384-387
  • Shanthi R.M., Alarmelu S. and Balakrishnan R. 2005. Role of female parent in the inheritance of brix in early selection stages of sugarcane. Sugar Tech 7(2-3) 39-43.
  • Rakkiyappan P., Thangavelu S., Shanthi R.M., Alarmelu S. and Radhamani R. Uptake of major nutrients in above ground parts of promising midlate clones.  Sugar Tech 7(1): 67-70.
  • Vasantha S., Alarmelu S., Hemaprabha G., Shanthi R.M. 2005. Evaluation of Promising Sugarcane Genotypes for Drought. Sugar Tech 7(2-3): 82-83.
  • Rakkiyappan P., Thangavelu S., Shanthi R.M. and Radhamani R. Juice chemical components and technological characteristics of some promising sugarcane clones, Sugar Tech 5(4): 319-322.
  • Nagarajan R., Alarmelu S. and Shanthi R.M. Studies on variation in interspecific hybrids of Saccharum. Sugar Tech 2: 42-46.
  • Nagarajan R., Alarmelu S., Shanthi R.M. and Dhamodharan S. A note on extent of selfing in interspecific crosses of Saccharum. Sugar Tech 3: 180-181.
  • Rakkiyappan P., Thangavelu S., Shanthi R.M., Alarmelu S. and Radhamani R. Uptake of major nutrients in above ground parts of promising midlate clones.  Sugar Tech 7(1): 67-70.

       *Corresponding author

Books

  • Hemaprabha G., Alarmelu S., Shanthi R.M. and B. Ram. 2018. Database of Coimbatore Canes (1918-2017), 2018.  Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, p.132
  • Nagarajan R., Nair N.V., Premachandran M.N., Amalraj V.A., Subramonian N., Hemaprabha G., Rajendraprasad N., Govindaraj P., Alarmelu S., Shanthi R.M., Neelamathi D., Selvi A., and Shobhakumari V.P. Sugarcane Breeding, Genetics and Seed Production, Directorate of Open and Distance Learning, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, p.119

Book Chapters

  • Shanthi R.M. 2024. Functional Markers for Abiotic Stress management. In: G. Hemaprabha and C. Appunu (eds.), ICAR-sponsored winter school on Climate Smart Sugarcane Agriculture for Food and Energy Security in India, January 31-20 February, 2024, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, pp:209-219. ISBN:978-93-85267-42-0
  • Shanthi R.M., Alarmelu S., Mahadeva Swamy H.K. and Lakshmi Pathy T. 2022. Impact of Climate Change on Sucrose Synthesis in Sugarcane Varieties. In: K. K. Verma et al. (eds.), Agro-industrial Perspectives on Sugarcane Production under Environmental Stress, Springer Nature Singapore Pvt. Ltd. 2022 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-3955-6_2
  • Shanthi R.M., Alarmelu S. and Lakshmi Pathy T. 2021. Influence of Environmental Stresses on Sucrose Accumulation of Sugarcane Varieties. In: Physiological Interventions for Developing Climate Resilient Commercial Crops. Edited by: R. Gomathi, A.H. Prakash and Bakshi Ram. Published by: International Books & Periodical Supply Service, (Publisher of Scientific Books), New Delhi, 110034.ISBN No.:978-93-85267-27-7. Pg. No. 206-234.
  • Shanthi R.M. 2021. Quality Breeding in Sugarcane. In: Recent Scientific Advances in Sugarcane Cultivation for Doubling Farmer’s Income.  Edited by: B. Ram, G. Hemaprabha, RatnaNashine, K. Mohanraj, P. Murali and R.A. Shah. Published by: Dilpreet Publishing House, New Delhi.  
  • Alarmelu S, Nagarajan R., Shanthi R.M. and G. Hemaprabha. 2021. Pre- breeding in Saccharum In: Agricultural Research Updates.  Edited by: Prathamesh Gorawala and Srushti Mandhatri.   Published by: Nova Science Publishers, Inc., New York, US, ISBN No. 978-1-53619-697-9 Pg No. 95-136.
  • Shanthi R.M. 2016. Pre-breeding for developing high sucrose genetic stocks in sugarcane. In: Biotechnological and conventional tools for biotic and abiotic stress management in sugarcane.  ICAR sponsored winter school, 7-27 December, 2016, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute Coimbatore.  No: 40-42.