Scientist Profile

Dr.S.Alarmelu

Dr.S.Alarmelu

Principal Scientist& i/c Breeding,Division of Crop Improvement,
ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore -641007 Ph:9443256026 Email Id: alarmelu.s@gmail.com
  • Contributed in the development of notified 15 sugarcane varieties viz., Co 0218, Co 0403, Co 09004, Co 10026, Co 12009, Co 13013, Co 14005 and Co 14012 released for Tropical India and Co 0212, Co 11015 and Co 18009 to meet the varietal needs of Tamil Nadu State.The other notified varieties viz., Co 94008, Co 99004, Co 2001-13 and Co 2001-15 entered seed chain and two were included in zonal trials as standard. Co 0212, Co 11015 and Co 18009 has widely spread in Tamil Nadu state and Co 09004 in Karnataka and Maharashtra. Contributed in identification of more than 150 Co canes and in registration of four trait specific genetic stocks viz., Co 13001, Co 13003, Co 14016 and Co 12014 with NBPGR. Prebreeding programme utilizing improved S.officinarum, S.robustum through backcrossing and introgression was carried out and 560 trait specific genetic stocks were identified for exploitation in breeding programmes and work on identifying drought tolerant material is in progress. Accomplished significant progress on several basic breeding strategies like reciprocal recurrent selection to develop high yielding population, investigating the mechanism of incompatibility in cross pollinated crop sugarcane and simple recurrent selection to develop high sucrose populations
  • In the light of farmers and industry partnership, location specific entries were identified through SISMA (Private) and Cooperative sugar factories (TASCO) for coastal and drought regions of Tamil Nadu and as well involved in varietal evaluation programme in north Karnataka and under ISMA. As a part of National service programme, assisted in hybridization programme and despatch of fluff to the sugarcane centres of the country and also actively involved in DUS testing of 6 Farmer’s varieties and11candidate varieties,in registration of three varieties with PPV&FR authority and in field maintenance of active collections in NAG from sugarcane centres of the country and assigned index number to clones.Contributed in the development of Cane Adviser Mobile app in English and Tamil which can be used as a ready reckoner for sugarcane growers.
  • 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
  • Life member, The South Indian Sugarcane and Sugar Technologists Association, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
  • Fellow Member, Sugarcane Technologists’ Association of India (STAI), New Delhi since 2014
  • Title  : PPP-23/1-1-8: Identification of suitable location specific sugarcane varieties for commercial cultivation under different agroclimatic situation in India

Agency :ISMA, New Delhi  

Amount :7.5 crores

  • Title: Enhancing Sugar Productivity in Tamil Nadu through Institute-Industry Participatory Approach SB2.0

Agency: SISMA-TN, Chennai

Amount: Rs. 54 Lakhs

  • Title: C1-02/1.1.6 Identification, Characterization and verification of new sugarcane varieties for DUS testing

Agency: PPV&FRA, New Delhi

Amount: Approx 15 lakhs

  • Foundation Day Award (Best Scientist Award under PS Category) by the ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore in recognition of my scientific contribution in the field of sugarcane research (2020).Best Scientist Award for outstanding contribution during 2021at ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore.
  • Sir T.S.Venkatraman Award for outstanding research in Sugarcane Agriculture in 2022 at ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore
  • Sugar Industry Excellence Award for sugarcane improvement and variety development in 2024 at the International Association of Professionals in Sugar and Integrated Technologies (IAPSIT),China, Society for Sugar Research & Promotion (SSRP) and Sugar Technologist’s Association of India, STAI ,New Delhi
  • Best researcher award during 2024 by Society of sugarcane research and development, ICAR- Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore.
  • Awarded Fellow of ISGPB (Indian  Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding),New Delhi in 2020
  • Awarded Fellow member of STAI (FSTA) in 2021 by the Council of STAI (Sugar Technologists’ Association of India), New Delhi
  • Awarded Fellow member member of SSRP (Society Sugar Research and Promotion) 2022,New Delhi
  • Awarded Fellow of SSRD (Society of Sugarcane Research and Development), ICAR-SBI in 2022
  • Best Research paper Award in 2014, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute
  • Best Research paper Award in 2016, ICAR- Sugarcane Breeding Institute
  • Best Research Paper Award in 2017, ICAR- Sugarcane Breeding Institute
  • Received Noer Deerr Gold Medal Award- 2016, Sugar Technologist’s Association of India, New Delhi
  • Received Silver Medal Award – 2015, Sugar Technologist’s Association of India, New Delhi
  • Received Best Prolific Contributor Award – 2022, Society of Sugarcane Research and Development, ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore
  • Received Reviewer Excellence Award – Agricultural Research Communication Centre (ARCC), Karnal in recognition of significant and outstanding contribution to the ARCC Journal and reviewing the articles (2020 – 2025) and others by Agricultural Research Communication Centre, Karnal
  • Nagarajan, S. Alarmelu and R. M. Shanthi.2000. Studies on variation in interspecific hybrids of Saccharum. Sugar Tech.2.42-46.
  • M. Shanthi, S. Alarmelu and R. Balakrishnan.2005. Role of female parent in the inheritance of brix in early selection stages of sugarcane. Sugar Tech. 7.39-43.
  • G Hemaprabha, R Nagarajan, S Alarmelu and US Natarajan. 2006. Parental potential of sugarcane clones for drought resistance breeding. Sugar Tech. 8.59-62.
  • M.Shanthi and S.Alarmelu 2007 .Assessment of the first cycle hybrid progenies for early high sugarcontent in sugarcane. Ind.J.genet. 67(4):384-387
  • M. Shanthi, K. V. Bhagyalakshmi, G. Hemaprabha, S. Alarmelu and R. Nagarajan.2008. Relative performance of the sugarcane families in early selection stages. Sugar Tech.10. 114-118.
  • Alarmelu S.*, Hemaprabha G., Nagarajan R., and Shanthi R. M. 2010. Combining ability for yield and quality in Sugarcane. Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding. 1(4). 742-746.
  • Alarmelu S.*, Nagarajan R., Shanthi R. M., Mohanraj D., and Padmanabhan P.2010. A Study on Genetics of Red Rot Resistance in Sugarcane. Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding. 1(4). 656-659.
  • Alarmelu and R.M.Shanthi, 2011. Incompatibility studies in sugarcane (Saccharum spp) Indian Journal of Genetics & Plant breeding,71 (1) :43-48
  • S Alarmelu*, G Hemaprabha, RM Shanthi, and R Nagarajan.2012. Clonal evaluation of crosses by adopting family selection in sugarcane. Journal of Sugarcane Research. 2 (2). 21-28.
  • M.Shanthi and S.Alarmelu 2012 .Genetic stocks for early high sugar content generated over two selections cycles in sugarcane. Ind.J.genet.72 (3): 336-342
  • Alarmelu*, R. Nagarajan, R. M. Shanthi, G. Hemaprabha, 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.
  • S Alarmelu*, R Balakrishnan, and G Hemaprabha. 2015. G× E interaction studies in multi-location trials of sugarcane using GGE biplot and ANOM analysis. Journal of Sugarcane Research. 5(1). 12- 23.
  • E Karpagam and S Alarmelu*. 2016. Study of genetic diversity and evaluation of interspecific hybrids of Saccharum spp. using SSR markers. Journal of Sugarcane Research. 6 (1). 11 – 26.
  • E and Alarmelu. S 2017. Morphological characterization and genetic diversity analysis of interspecific hybrids of sugarcane. Ind.J.genet.77 (4): 531-539 (Corresponding author)
  • Alarmelu*, Adhini. S. Pazhany and C. Jayabose. 2018. Genetic improvement and development of genetic stocks in Sugarcane through backcross breeding. Journal of Sugarcane Research. 8 (1). 36 – 42.
  • E Karpagam and S Alarmelu*. 2019. Character association and path analysis for cane yield and its components in interspecific hybrids of Saccharum spp. Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding. 10(1). 30-38.
  • Rajula Shanthy, S. Alarmelu, C. Jayabose, P. Malathi and Bakshi Ram. 2020. Cane adviser: a mobile based app for transfer of technology in sugarcane. Journal of Sugarcane Research. 9(2). 187-192.
  • Hemaprabha, K. Mohanraj, S. Alarmelu and Bakshi Ram. 2020. Assessment of breeding methods and parental value of Co canes developed during 1918 – 2017. Journal of Sugarcane Research. 10 (1). 24-31.
  • Alarmelu*, E. Karpagam, R. Nagarajan and R.M. Shanthi. 2020. Molecular identification and genetic diversity analysis of sugarcane clones by SSR markers. Journal of Sugarcane Research. 10 (2). 140-151.
  • Alarmelu*, A. Anna Durai, H. K. Mahadevaswamy, G. Hemaprabha and Adhini S. Pazhany. 2021. Genetic diversity of parental clones used in breeding programs of sugarcane. Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding. 12(2). 529-539.
  • G Hemaprabha, T. Lakshmi Pathy, K. Mohanraj, S. Alarmelu and Ram Bakshi. 2022. Population structure of coimbatore canes developed in a century of sugarcane breeding in India. Sugar Tech. 24. 1449-1460.
  • Alarmelu*, C. Jayabose, V. Anusheela, V. Aravindhan and R. Karuppaiyan.2023. Genetic Diversity Analysis in Tropical Sugarcane Genotypes Using Morphometric Traits. Sugar Tech. 25. 430–439.
  • Arun Kumar, S. Vasantha, R. Gomathi, G. Hemaprabha, S. Alarmelu, V. Srinivasa, Krishnapriya V, M. Alagupalamuthirsolai, K. Hari, C. Palaniswami, K. Mohanraj, C. Appunu, P. Geetha, A. S. Tayade, S. Anusha, V. Vinu, R. Valarmathi, Pooja D, M. R. Meena. 2023. Rapid and non-destructive methodology for measuring canopy coverage at an early stage and its correlation with physiological and morphological traits and yield in sugarcane. Agriculture.13. 1481.
  • Karpagam and S. Alarmelu*. 2023. Genetic diversity and population structure of sugarcane introgressed hybrids by SSR markers. 3 Biotech. 13. 399.
  • Alarmelu* and G Hemaprabha. 2023. Principal component and cluster analyses based on morphological characterization in sugarcane. Journal of Sugarcane Research. 12 (1). 16-31.
  • Arun Kumar, S. Vasantha, G. Hemaprabha, S. Alarmelu, K. Mohanraj, V. Sreenivasa, R. Gomathi, C. Palaniswami, V. Krishnapriya, S. Anusha, M. Alagupalamuthirsolai and Vinayaka. 2023. Comparison of Stalk Volume by Water Displacement Method and Calculation Method for Stalk Weight Determination and Its Relevance to Single Cane Weight in Sugarcane Clones. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change.13 (8). 2282-2291.
  • V Vinu, S Alarmelu*, K Elayaraja, C Appunu, G Hemaprabha, S Parthiban, K Shanmugasundaram, R Rajamadhan, KG Saravanan, S Kathiravan, Bakshi Ram, V Vinayaka, MKC Varatharaj.2024. Multi-environment Analysis of Yield and Quality Traits in Sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) through AMMI and GGE Biplot Analysis. Sugar Tech. 27. 540-558.
  • C Appunu, G Hemaprabha, V Sreenivasa, A Anna Durai, K Mohanraj, K Elayaraja, S Sheelamary, V Vinu, Adhini S Pazhany, HK Mahadeva Swamy, T Lakshmi Pathy, R Karuppaiyan, S Karthigeyan, P Govindaraj, S Alarmelu, RM Shanthi, AJ 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.
  • Mintu Ram Meena, S. Alarmelu*, S. Vasantha, S. Sheelamary, V. Anusheela, R. Arun Kumar, Ravinder Kumar,M.L. Chhabra, S. Mutharasu and M. Karthick. 2024. Drought resilience evaluation of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) hybrids in Indian tropical and sub-tropical climates. Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding. 84 (2). 266-272.
  • Alarmelu, S.*, Sheelamary, S., Anusheela, V. R. Arun Kumar, S. Vasantha, Huskur Kumaraswamy Mahadeva Swamy and A. Anna Durai. 2025. Identification of Drought Tolerance Indicators in Interspecific Hybrid Derivatives of Saccharum spp Using Membership Function Value of Drought Tolerance (MFVD). Sugar Tech. 27. 860–872.

Book

  • Alarmelu, S., Karuppaiyan, R., Jayabose, C., Sreenivasa, V., Hemaprabha, G., Anusheela, V. and Amudha, P. 2023. An Introduction to Protection of Plant Varieties Acts in India / இந்தியாவில் பயிர் இரகங்களின் பாதுகாப்பு சட்டங்கள்-ஓர் அறிமுகம். Pages ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, ISBN No 978- 93-85267-41-3.
  • HemaprabhaG, Alarmelu, K. Mohanraj, C. Mahadevaiah, V. Raffee Viola and Bakshi Ram. 2017. Description of Coimbatore (Co) canes (1993-2016). Pages 161. ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, ISBN: 978-93-85267-09-3.
  • Hemaprabha G, Alarmelu, R. M. Shanthi and Bakshi Ram,2018.Database of Coimbatore Canes. Pages 135. ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, ISBN: 978-93-85267-08-6.
  • Rajula Shanthy.T. Bakshi Ram, Alarmelu, M.N. Premachandran, R.Viswanathan, C.Palaniswamy, A.Bhaskaran, N.Geetha, P.Malathi, C. Jayabose, T.Arumuganathan and V.P.Shobhakumari, 2016. Sugarcane Technologies, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore ISBN No. 978-93-85267-00-0.
  • Gomathi,P,Malathi, S.Alarmelu et al.2023. Proceedings of Sugar Sem, National Sugar Seminar.162. ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute ISBN No :978-93-85267-40-6 pp1-162

Book chapters

  • Alarmelu,R.Nagarajan, R.M.Shanthi and G.Hemaprabha 2021.Prebreeding in Saccharum spp. In : Agricultural Research Updates Vol :35: 95-136.Nova Science Publishers, New York
  • M. Shanthi, S. Alarmelu, T. Lakshmi Pathy.2022.Influence of environmental stresses on sucrose accumulation of sugarcane varieties. In : Physiological interventions for developing climate resilent commercial crops.271-300.Sathish serial publishing House. ISBN 10: 939066053X / ISBN 13: 9789390660537
  • Hemaprabha, S.Alarmelu and Ravinder Kumar.2022.Sugarcane varieties suitable for different states of India.In :Handbook on sugarcane.13-38.ISBN 978-93-85267-34-5
  • S 2016.Tamilnatuku yetra karumbu ragangal. In : Naveena Karumbu sagupadi. Muraigal.12-25.ISBN: 978-93-85264-01-7.Extn Pub : 240 P
  • S.2018.Sugarcane Varieties for Tamil Nadu .In : Naveena Karumbu sagupadi.13-26.Extn Publication : 260
  • S.2018.Varietal Identification and description. In: Manual on Best Management Practices for doubling farmer’s income.49-63.ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute.ISBN 978-93-852672-2-2.
  • Alarmelu and A.Annadurai.2023.Promising varieties for tropical India. In:Improved Sugarcane Production technology .Pg.11.ICAR-SBI
  • Alarmelu ,A.Annadurai and G.Hemaprabha.2023.Promising varieties for tropical India.In: Technology for sustainable sugarcane production.15-37.ICAR-SBI.ISBN:978-93-85267-39-0.
  • Hemaprabha,S.Alarmelu and K.Mohanraj.2022.Sugarcane varieties for Tamil Nadu. In: Sugarcane based farming system.7-24.ISBN 978-93-85267-1