Scientist Profile

Dr. K.Mohanraj

Dr. K.Mohanraj

Principal Scientist (Genetics &Plant Breeding),Division of Crop Improvement
ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore - 641007 , Tamil Nadu, India e-mail:mohangene@yahoo.com
  • Developing high-yielding, early-maturing, and stress-resilient sugarcane varieties adapted to tropical climates
  • Pre breeding and developing trait specific genetic stocks with Erianthus base
  • Identification of superior sugarcane varieties suitable for different agro-eco climatic regions of the country
  • Life member, The Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding, New Delhi
  • Life member, Society for Sugarcane Research and Development, Coimbatore
  • Life member, Indian Society of Plant Breeders (ISPB), Coimbatore
  • Fellow, Bose Science Society, Tamil Nadu
  • Fellow, STAI  (Sugar Technologists’ Association of India), New Delhi
  • Identification of suitable location specific sugarcane varieties for commercial cultivation under different agro-climatic situations in India – ISMA – 750(In lakhs)
  • Improving tillering and yield in sugarcane through creating novel alleles of strigolactone biosynthesis gene MAX4-1 using CRISPR / CAS9 (DBT) – DBT – 38.8 (In lakhs)
  • Enhancing Sugar Productivity In Tamil Nadu Through Institute-Industry Participatory Approach – SISMA-TN –  46.2(In lakhs)
  • Recipient of Junior Research fellowship from the ICAR, New Delhi –  1999
  • CSIR JRF cum NET for Ph.D. Programme – 2001
  • National Eligibility Test (NET) for Lecturers/Assistant professor conducted by ASRB-ICAR – 2001
  • Best scientist Award – 2021
  • Awarded Fellow of Bose Science Society for the outstanding contributions in the field of Genetics and Plant Breeding during 26th March 2021 – 2021
  • FIRST PRIZE in the oral presentation- 6th Rencontres de Quy Nhon: International Biology Conference2023 at The International Centre for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE), QuyNhon, Vietnam from 20.9.2023 to 22.9.2023 – 2023
  • STAI Fellow: Awarded Fellow member of STAI (FSTA) by the Council of STAI (Sugar Technologists’ Association of India) during May 2022 – 2022
  • As a CoPI in DBT funded India – Australia Collaborative project – Genetic control and genomic selection for important traits in sugarcane and comparison of Indian and Australian germplasm, trained on genomic selection in UQ, Brisbane.
  • Valarmathi, R., Gandham, P., Appunu, C. K. Mohanraj, R. Sudhagar, P. Vinoth, G. Ariharasutharsan, A. Malarvizhi, P. Senthilrajan & Niranjan Baisakh. (2025) Deciphering the Differentially Expressed Proteins with Possible Involvement inTiller Bud Development in Sugarcane. Tropical Plant Biol. 18, 30.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12042-025-09395-3
  • Vigneshwari, R., Shanthi, R.M., Pathy, T.L., Mohanraj K. (2025) 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 27, 67–77 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-024-01480-3
  • Punithavalli, M., Mohanraj, K., Shanthy, T.R. et al. (2025) Mechanism of Biochemical Resistance in Sugarcane Varieties Derived from Saccharum and Erianthus Against Borer Pests. Sugar Tech 27, 667–680. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-024- 01521-x
  • Mahesh, P., Srikanth, J., Appunu, C. B. Singaravelu, D. Puthira Prathap, J. Alfred Daniel, B. Mahendran, K. Mohanraj, R. Gopi & R. Nirmala. (2025) Spotted Stem Borer Chilo partellus: Occurrence, Biology and Relative Resistance in Erianthus arundinaceus. Sugar Tech 27, 433–446.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-024-01516-8
  • Meena MR , K M , Kumar R , Raja AK , Chabbra M , Kulshreshtha N , Krishnappa G , Huskur Kumaraswamy MS , Angannan S , Perumal G , Govindakurup H. 2023. Deciphering Winter Sprouting Potential of Erianthus procerus for Sugarcane Improvement under Subtropical Climates. Preprints.org; DOI: 10.20944/preprints202312.1469.v1.
  • Prathima Perumal Thirugnanasambandam, AvinashSingode, Lakshmi PathyThalambedu, SelviAthiappan, MohanrajKrishnasamy, SobhakumariValiyaPurakkal, Hemaprabha Govind, Agnelo Furtado, Robert Henry.2023.Long read transcriptome sequencing of a sugarcane hybrid and its progenitors, Saccharum officinarum and S. spontaneum.Frontiers in Plant Science.doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1199748
  • Valiya Purakkal Sobhakumari, Krishnasamy Mohanraj. 2024. Application of Genomic In Situ Hybridization (GISH) and tandem repeat sequence amplification for identification of Erianthus– Saccharum introgression. Caryologia: 77 (2) 49-55
  • , G. Hemaprabha, V. Sreenivasa, A. Anna Durai, K. Mohanraj, K. Elayaraja, S. Sheelamary, V. Vinu, Adhini S. Pazhany, H.K. Mahadeva Swamy, T. Lakshmi Pathy, R. Karuppaiyan, S. Karthigeyan, P. Govindaraj, S. Alarmelu, R.M. Shanthi, A.J. Prabakaran, Ananda Lekshmi, S. Surya Krishna, R. Arun Kumar, Chikkappa G. Karjagi, Bakshi Ram. 2024 Evaluation of sugarcane genotypes (Saccharum sp. hybrid) for multi-trait stability analysis across diverse environments, Industrial Crops and Products, 219:118993,ISSN 0926-6690,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.118993
  • Meena, M.R., Kumar, R., Karuppaiyan, R. Neeraj Kulshreshtha, Manohar Lal Chhabra, Amaresh, Gopalareddy Krishnappa, Aswini Nunavath, K. Mohanraj, Perumal Govindaraj & Govind Hemaprabha. (2024). Unraveling the Stability of Sugarcane Clones Using Multivariate Stability Models for Cane Yield and Quality Under Subtropical Climates. Sugar Tech 26, 1790–1801https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-024-01442-9
  • Valarmathi, R., Mahadeva Swamy, H.K., Appunu, C. G. S. Suresha, Mohanraj, G. Hemaprabha, C. Mahadevaiah& V. Ulaganathan. Comparative transcriptome profiling to unravel the key molecular signalling pathways and drought adaptive plasticity in shoot borne root system of sugarcane. Sci Rep 13, 12853 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39970-1
  • Aswini, N., Moniusha, J., Keerthana, S. K. Mohanraj et al. Genomic Exploration for the Sucrose Content in Sugarcane. Tropical Plant Biol. 18, 44 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12042-025-09413-4
  • Anthony O’Connell, Jasmin Deo, Emily Deomano, Xianming Wei, Phillip Jackson, Karen S Aitken, Ramaswamy Manimekalai, Krishnasamy Mohanraj, Govinda Hemaprabha, Bakshi Ram, Rasappa Viswanathan, Prakash Lakshmanan. 2022. Combining genomic selection with genome-wide association analysis identified a large-effect QTL and improved selection for red rot resistance in sugarcane. Frontiers in Plant Science 13: 1021182 doi: 3389/fpls.2022.1021182
  • Hemaprabha, G., Mohanraj, K., Jackson, P.A. et al. 2022. Sugarcane Genetic Diversity and Major Germplasm Collections. Sugar Tech 24, 279–297. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-021-01084-1
  • Hemaprabha G., Pathy, T.L., Mohanraj, K. et al. 2022. Population Structure of Coimbatore Canes Developed in a Century of Sugarcane Breeding in India. Sugar Tech 24, 1449–1460. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-021-01093-0
  • Mohanraj K, G Hemaprabha, S Vasantha. 2021. Biomass yield, dry matter partitioning and physiology of commercial and Erianthus introgressed sugarcane clones under contrasting water regimes. Agricultural Water Management, Volume 255, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2021.107035
  • Pathy, T.L., Mohanraj, K. 2021. Estimating Best Linear Unbiased Predictions (BLUP) for Yield and Quality Traits in Sugarcane. Sugar Tech 23, 1295–1305 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-021-01011-4
  • Mahadevaiah, C., Hapase, P., Sreenivasa, V. Ramesh Hapase, HK Mahadeva Swamy, C Anilkumar, K Mohanraj, G Hemaprabha, Bakshi Ram. 2021. Delineation of genotype × environment interaction for identification of stable genotypes for tillering phase drought stress tolerance in sugarcane. Sci Rep 11, 18649. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98002-y
  • Vignesh, P., Mahadevaiah, C., Parimalan, R. R Valarmathi, S Dharshini, Singh Nisha, GS Suresha, S Swathi, HK Mahadeva Swamy, V Sreenivasa, K Mohanraj, G Hemaprabha, Ram Bakshi, C Appunu. 2021. Comparative de novo transcriptome analysis identifies salinity stress responsive genes and metabolic pathways in sugarcane and its wild relative Erianthus arundinaceus[Retzius] Jeswiet. Sci Rep 11, 24514. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03735-5
  • Hemaprabha G., Mohanraj, S. Alarmelu, and Bakshi Ram. 2021. Assessment of breeding methods and parental value of Co canes developed during 1918 – 2017. Journal of Sugarcane Research 10, 24-31
  • Govindaraj P, Ramya Gowri, Mohanraj, V. A. Amalraj. 2021. SSR Marker Based Molecular Genetic Diversity Analysis Among Saccharum spontaneum (L.) Collected from North Western Region of India Sugar Tech ( IF 1.198 ) Pub Date : 2021-02-15 , DOI: 10.1007/s12355-021-00956-w
  • Valiya Purakkal Sobhakumari, Krishnasamy Mohanraj, Narayana Vijayan Nair, Huskur Kumaraswamy Mahadevaswamy, Bakshi Ram. 2020. Cytogenetic and Molecular pproaches to Detect Alien Chromosome Introgression and Its Impact in Three Successive Generations of Erianthus procerus × Saccharum. Cytologia 85(4): 341–346
  • Meena, M.R., Kumar, R., Ramaiyan, K. M L Chhabra, A K Raja, K Mohanraj, N Kulshreshtha, S K Pandey & Bakshi Ram . 2020. Biomass potential of novel interspecific and intergeneric hybrids of Saccharum grown in sub-tropical climates. Sci Rep 10, 21560 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78329-8
  • Mohanraj, K., P.J. Oshin and Suganya, A. 2019. Evaluation of Erianthus Procerus introgressed sugarcane clones for water deficit stress and red rot resistance. Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci. 8(9): 590-598. doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2019.809.071. (NAAS rating 5.38)
  • Mohanraj, K., P.J. Oshin and Suganya, A. 2019. Evaluation of Erianthus Procerus introgressed sugarcane clones for water deficit stress and red rot resistance. Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci. 8(9): 590-598. doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2019.809.071
  • Sobhakumari V.P., N.V. Nair, 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, 8 (1) : 94 – 102
  • Nair, NV., Mohanraj, K. Sunadaravelpandian, A. Suganya, A. Selvi, C. Appunu. 2017. Characterization of an intergeneric hybrid of Erianthus procerus x Saccharum officinarum and its backcross progenies. Euphytica 213:267 (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-017-2053-7)
  • Mohanraj, K.,Nair, NV. 2014. Biomass potential of novel interspecific hybrids involving improved clones of Saccharum. Industrial Crops and Products, 53:128-132.
  • Govindaraj, P.,Amalraj, V. A., Mohanraj, K., Nair, NV. 2014. Collection, characterization and phenotypic diversity of Saccharum spontaneum L. from arid and semi arid zones of northwestern India. Sugar Tech, 16(1): 36-43
  • Ramalashmi K, Prathima PT, Mohanraj K, Nair NV. 2014. Expression profiling of sucrose metabolizing genes in Saccharum, Sorghum and their hybrids. Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 174(4):1510-9 (doi: 10.1007/s12010-014-1048-2)
  • Mohanraj K and N V Nair. 2014. Evaluation of backcross progenies of intergeneric hybrids involving Erianthus arundinaceus for developing sugarcane varieties with diverse genetic base. J Sugarcane Res. 4(1): 48-54.

Books or Chapter Published

  • Mohanraj, K., & Hemaprabha, G. (2025). Breeding clonally propagated crops. In S. R. Sree Rangasamy & S. Subbarayan (Eds.), Next generation plant breeding (ISBN: 978-1-966695-28-8). Professional Prints, New York, USA
  • Govindakurup, H., Mohanraj, K. (2024). Historical Perspectives on Sugarcane Breeding for Value Addition. In: Suresha, G.S., Krishnappa, G., Palanichamy, M., Mahadeva Swamy, H.K., Kuppusamy, H., Govindakurup, H. (eds) Value Addition and Product Diversification in Sugarcane. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-7228-5_2
  • Bakshi Ram, G. Hemaprabha, Ratna Nashine, K. Mohanraj, P. Murali and Rayees Ahmad Shah. 2021. Recent Scientific Advances in Sugarcane Cultivation for Doubling Farmers’ Income. Dilpreet Publishers & Distributors, New Delhi p441 ISBN 978-81-953726-0-7
  • Hemaprabha G, S. Alarmelu, Mohanraj, C. Mahadevaiah, V. Raffee Viola and Bakshi Ram. 2017. Morphological Description of Coimbatore (Co) canes (1993-2016). ICAR Sugarcane breeding Institute, Coimbatore, India. P 161.  ISBN: 978-93-85267-09-3.
  • Hemaprabha G, Mohanraj, C. Appunu, Bakshi Ram. 2016. Handbook on Identification of promising Sugarcane clones. ICAR Sugarcane breeding Institute, Coimbatore, p: 1-30. 2016, pages 1-4(SBI/NABARD/2016/TA/01)
  • Hemaprabha, G., Viswanathan, R., Ramasubramanian, T., Bhaskaran, A., Mohanraj, K. and Bakshi Ram (Eds )2017.Proceedings of international symposium on Sugarcane Research since Co 205:100 years and beyond (Sucrosym 2017). P 675. ISBN: 978-93-85267-12-1
  • Viswanathan R, Hemaprabha G, Bhaskaran A, Mohanraj K, Jayakumar V, Ramasubrananiam T and N.V. Nair.2012. Proceedings of the International Symposium on New Paradigms in Sugarcane Research October 15-18, 2012 Sugarcane Breeding Institute (ICAR) Coimbatore, India. Publishd by Society of Sugarcane Research and Development, Coimbatore, India p-396.
  • Hemaprabha G, Moharaj, C. Appunu, C. Mahadevaiah, Bakshi Ram. 2018. A guide to Identification of elite sugarcane clones under testing in Tamil Nadu. 54 Pages ISBN: 978-93-85267-19-2.
  • Govindaraj, P., Mohanraj, K., Appunu, C., Jayakumar, V., Ravinder Kumar, Manjunatha, T and Sivaraman, K (Eds). 2012. Hundred years of research in Sugarcane, p.1-317. Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, India
  • Appunu, C., Mohanraj, K.,, Manjunatha, T., Jayakumar, V., Hari, K., Puthiraprathap, D., Sivaraman, K and Manivannan, B (Eds). 2012. Abstracts of Research Publications (1987-2012), p.1-332. Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, India.( ISBN 9788190435956)
  • Appunu, C., Hari, K., Jayakumar, V., Mohanraj, K and Sivaraman, K (Eds). Classic papers on sugarcane – C A Barber – Volume I, p. 1-563, Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, India.
  • Appunu, C., Hari, K., Jayakumar, V., Govindaraj, P., Puthira Prathap, D., Mohanraj, K., Karpagam, C., Murali, P and Sivaraman, K (Eds). 2012. Classic papers on sugarcane – C A Barber -Volume II, P. 1-175, Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, India.
  • Appunu, C., Jayakumar, V., Hari, K., Govindaraj, P., Puthiraprathap, D., Mohanraj, K., Karpagam, C., Murali, P and Sivaraman, K (Eds). 2012. Classic papers on Sugarcane – E K Janaki Ammal, p.1- 91, Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, India.
  • Appunu, C., Jayakumar, V., Hari, K., Govindaraj, P., Puthiraprathap, D., Mohanraj, K., and Sivaraman, K (Eds). 2012. Classic papers on Sugarcane – N Parthasarathy, p.1-31, Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, India
  • Viswanathan, R., Hemaprabha, G., Bhaskaran A., Mohanraj, K., Jayakumar V., Ramasubramanian T., and Nair, N.V. (Eds) .2012.Proceedings of International Symposium on New Paradigms in Sugarcane Research, October 15-18, 2012, Sugarcane breeding Institute (ICAR), Coimbatore, India, 396p
  • Nair N.V., R. Viswanathan, P. Govindaraj and Mohanraj (Eds). 2012. Compendium of Research papers on Sugarcane Breeders and pathologists meet, Jan 23,2012, Sugarcane breeding Institute (ICAR), Coimbatore, India, 109p (ISBN 978-81-904359-6-3)
  • Puthira prathap, D., R.Viswanathan, Bakshi Ram, A.Bhaskaran, Jayakumar, V, J. Srikanth and Mohanraj. 2012. Abstracts of background papers. SBI and Indian Sugar Industry: National Interactive workshop held during June 26-27, Coimbatore, India
  • Mohanraj K., C.Mahadevaiah, H.K.Mahadevaswamy, R.Valarmathi. 2021. Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Biotic and Abiotic Stress Resistance in Sugarcane Through Pre-breeding. In: (eds) Bakshi Ram, G. Hemaprabha, Ratna Nashine, K. Mohanraj, P. Murali and Rayees Ahmad Shah .2021. Recent Scientific Advances in Sugarcane Cultivation for Doubling Farmers’ Income. Dilpreet Publishers & Distributors, New Delhi p441 ISBN 978-81-953726-0-7
  • Karuppaiyan R., Sreenivasa V., Suganya A, Mohanraj K. 2021. Wide hybridization programmes in Sugarcane. . In: (eds) Bakshi Ram, G. Hemaprabha, Ratna Nashine, K. Mohanraj, P. Murali and Rayees Ahmad Shah .2021. Recent Scientific Advances in Sugarcane Cultivation for Doubling Farmers’ Income. Dilpreet Publishers & Distributors, New Delhi p441 ISBN 978-81-953726-0-7
  • Hemaprabha G., S Alarmelu and K.Mohanraj. 2022. Sugarcane varieties suitable for Tamil Nadu. Eds . Sugarcane based Integrated Farming System. Garuda Graphics, Coimbatore. P.163 ISBN:978-93-85267-1