ICAR-NRCB

Dr. P.Giribabu

Division

Crop Protection

Specialization / Discipline

Nematology

Area of Interest

Host plant resistance; Entomopathogenic nematodes; Nematode biocontrol

Publications

Qualifications

M.Sc., Ph.D.(Nematology)

Giribabu.P@icar.org.in
giribabunrcb@gmail.com

Current Institute Projects:

Investigations on Musa nematodes’ diversity, biology, behavior, interactions and their management (PI)
Improvement of banana through conventional breeding (Co PI)
Eco-friendly management of banana stem weevil (Odoiporus longicollis Oliver) and banana scarring beetle (Basilepta spp.) (Co PI)
Bio-intensive management of major insect pests of banana (Co PI)
Development of clump management technology for enhanced productivity in banana (Co PI)
Investigation of carbon sequestration, energy budgeting, biodiversity, and production potential of three different banana production ecosystems (Co PI)

Current External Projects:
No Data

Registered two root lesion nematode (Pratylenchus coffeae) resistant banana hybrids viz., Progeny 115 (Karpuravalli x Pisang Lilin) and NPL 30 (Nendran x Pisang Lilin), certified by Plant Germplasm Registration Committee, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi.
Surveyed, sampled and identified root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus sp.) on cvs. Nendran and its ecotypes, Red banana; spiral nematodes (Helicotylenchus sp.) on cvs. Red banana (AAA), Grand Nain (AAA); root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne sp.) on cvs. Grand Nain (AAA), Poovan (AAB), Sakkai (ABB) as important nematode problems associated with banana cultivation.
Sampled Musa field gene bank of ICAR-NRCB and identified susceptible genotypes to root lesion (Pratylenchus sp.), root knot (Meloidogyne sp.) and spiral nematodes (Helicotylenchus sp.).
Evaluated promising biocontrol agents against root lesion nematode and root knot nematodes under in vitro, pot and field conditions and identified application of endophytic Trichoderma asperellum (Prr-2) and Bacillus flexus (Tvpr1) @ 50g each per plant during planting and at 2 nd , 4 th and 6 th month after planting effectively reduced more than 75% of root nematode population and increased bunch weight up to 33%.
A simple, economic and eco-friendly technology was developed for the management of nematode infestation in banana planting material. In this technology, pared planting materials (suckers) were immersed in boiling water (100ºC) for 45-60 seconds before planting. Infestation of root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus coffeae) was significantly reduced and root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) were totally wiped out of the suckers. Besides, the treatment improved plant growth without affecting the germination.
Evaluated in vitro derived traditional banana cultivars to root lesion nematode (Pratylenchus coffeae) and identified Ney Poovan (AB) and Hill Banana (AAB) as moderately resistant.
A simple, rapid screening protocol was developed for evaluation of banana genotypes for resistance to root-lesion nematode (Pratylenchus coffeae).
Collaborator in development of banana hybrid ‘Kaveri Kanchan’ (NCR17), Pro vitamin A enriched dessert banana developed by crossing Nendran x cultivar Rose.
Collaborator in development of banana cultivar ‘Kaveri Vaaman’ (TBM9), first banana cultivar developed through mutation breeding in India. It is a dwarf statured, Cavendish banana with shorter duration, suitable for home / terrace garden cultivation.

Co-chairperson, Technical Session on ‘Nematode Management’ at International Conference on “One health perspectives in global plant protection research 2025 (OHPGPR 2025)” organized by and held at TNAU, Coimbatore on 19 – 21 February, 2025.
Delivered Lead lecture on ‘Host Plant Resistance in Nematode Management – Present Status and Future Perspectives’ at International Conference on “Unleashing the Power of Seed and Crop Health Innovations for a Food Secure World” (ICUCF’24) jointly organized by TNAU, Coimbatore and Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, New Delhi during 21-22 November,2024.
Recognised by Dr. Y. S. R. Horticultural University, Andhra Pradesh for acting as chairman / member of advisory committee of M.Sc./ Ph.D. programs.
Convener for three technical sessions (Aquatic virology - Diversity and Evolution of Viruses & Emerging and Reemerging Viruses; Workshop on Disease free Shrimp farming with special references to WSD and HPM; Silkworm Viruses and Phytoplasma Diseases) in ‘VIROCON 2023 – Advancements in global virus research towards one health’ jointly organized by ICAR-NRCB, Tiruchirappalli and IVS, New Delhi and held at Tiruchirappalli during 1-3 December, 2023.
Key Speaker at ‘National Conference on Plant Parasitic Nematodes 2023’, organized by Bayer Crop Science Ltd., held at Hotel Leela Bhartiya City, Bengaluru during 17 January, 2023.
‘Professor M. S. Swaminathan Best Scientist Award 2022-23’ by Bose Science Society at ‘12th National Conference on Natural Sciences’ held at Pushkaram college of Agriculture Sciences, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu on 28 February, 2023
Certificate of appreciation by ‘State of India’s birds 2023’ for making valuable contribution in documenting 139 bird species to State of India’s birds report 2023.
Fellow, Bose Science Society, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu (2023).
‘Runner’ in men’s chess event at ICAR South zone sports tournaments 2023 & 2024.
Member, Advisory Panel at Brainstorming session on researchable issues in Plant Nematology (Think Tank), organized by Centre for Plant Protection Studies, Department of Nematology, TNAU, Coimbatore on 12 September, 2022
Reviewer, Indian Journal of Nematology.
‘Agricultural Scientist Award–2021’ by Dr. B. Vasantharaj David Foundation at National Conference on “Recent Advances in Crop Protection including IPM and Environmental Sciences from GLP Perspective” held at Chennai on 17 October, 2021.
‘Best Oral Presentation Award’ for research paper titled “Host plant response of diploid hybrids of banana (Musa sp.) to root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus coffeae” at ‘Golden Jubilee International Conference on Global Perspectives in Crop Protection for Food Security (GPCP-2021)’, organized by and held at TNAU, Coimbatore during 8-10 December, 2021.
Councillor (South Zone), Executive Council, Nematological Society of India, Division of Nematology, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi (2021-23).
“ISOR Fellow” by Indian Society of Oilseeds Research (ISOR), ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad (2020).
‘Certificate of Excellence in Reviewing’ by Plant Protection Association of India (PPAI), Hyderabad for peer reviewing manuscripts submitted to ‘Indian Journal of Plant Protection’ (2016).

Anuradha, C. and Giribabu, P. 2025. A simple, rapid and cost-effective protocol for species identification of plant parasitic nematodes by PCR based downstream application. Indian Journal of Plant Protection, 50(4): 77-80
Manickam Venkatesan, Palaniappan Giribabu, Arumugam Mohanasundaram and Ponnusamy Manivel 2024. Biocontrol potential of Entomopathogenic nematode (Heterorhabditis indica) against the grubs of Hadda beetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) under laboratory condition. New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, DOI: 10.1080/01140671.2024.2439087.
Backiyarani S., Uma S., Agarwal D.K., Durai P., Thangavelu R., Giribabu P., Anuradha C., Padmanaban B., Perianayagaraj S.E., Saraswathi M.S. and Sharmiladevi S. 2024. Broadening the genetic base of the diploids with biotic resistance to accelerate banana (Musa acuminata L.) breeding. Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding 84(2): 280-291. https://doi.org/10.31742/ISGPB.84.2.17.
Giribabu, P. and Sankari Meena, K. 2023. Penetration behaviour of reniform nematode, Rotylenchulus reniformis on resistant and susceptible genotypes of Castor, Ricinus communis. Journal of Oilseeds Research, 40 (Special Issue). P. 429-430.
Backiyarani, S., Anuradha, C., Thangavelu, R., Chandrasekar, A., Baratvaj, R., Subeshkumar, P.,Giribabu, P., Muthusamy, M. and Uma, S. 2022. Genome‑wide identification, characterization of expansion gene family of banana and their expression pattern under various stresses. 3 Biotech 12: 101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-021-03106-x.
Anuradha, C., Chandrasekar, A., Backiyarani, S., Thangavelu, R., Giribabu, P. and Uma, S. 2022.Genome-wide analysis of pathogenesis-related protein 1 (PR-1) gene family from Musa spp. and its role in defense response during stresses. Gene 821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2022.146334.
Poornima Kumari, Giribabu, P., Manmode Darpan Mohanrao and Senthilvel, S., 2022. Genomic regions linked to reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis) resistance in castor. Journal of Oilseeds Research 39(1): 1-6.
Giribabu, P., Anuradha, C., Anitha Sree, T. and Padmanaban, B. 2020. Isolation, identification, bioassay of native entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema siamkayai Stock, Somsook & Reid, 1998 (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) and Heterorhabditis indica Poinar, Karunakar and David, 1992 (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) and their bio-efficacy against banana stem weevil, Odoiporus longicollis (Olivier) (Coleoptera:Curculionidae). Indian Journal of Nematology. 50(1): 117-125.

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Dr. P.Giribabu