M.Sc. (Plant Science),Ph.D (Genetics and Plant Breeding)

Tissue Culture and Biotechnology

6 years of research experience in Genetics and Plant Breeding
Extensive skill and experience in Plant Tissue Culture and Morphogenesis, In vitro conservation (Slow growth storage) of plants, In vitro secondary metabolite production, Establishment and maintenance of in vitro gene bank, Analysing phyto compounds by using HPLC, HPTLC and GC and Expertise in molecular studies-RAPD, AFLP etc.

Associated with two externally funded projects:

• Large scale micropropagation and organic home-stead farming of medicinal plants in rural areas as a means of economic empowerment of rural women in three districts of Northern Kerala (2005-08, National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Govt. of India)
• Micropropagation and in vitro conservation of Operculina turpethum and genetic fidelity analysis (2005-08, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), Govt. of Kerala)

• Guidance to Post Graduate Students: Guided the project work of 12 Post Graduate students of Biotechnology, Life Sciences and Plant Sciences of various universities

  Membership in Societies:

  • Member, The Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding
  • Executive member, Gregor Mendel Foundation (GMF), Calicut University, India

Total Publications

10 Research papers, 15 Popular articles

Selected Publications

1

Raghu A.V., Geetha S.P., Gerald Martin, Indira Balachandran and P.N. Ravindran 2006. Direct shoot organogenesis from leaf explants of Embelia ribes Burm.f. – a vulnerable medicinal plant. J. Forest Research, 11(1):57-60.

2

Gerald Martin, S.P. Geetha, A.V. Raghu, Indira Balachandran and P.N. Ravindran 2005. Micropropagation of Holarrhena pubescens. J. Tropical Medicinal Plants, 6(1): 111–115.

3

Satheesh George, A. B. Remashree, K.V. Tushar, A.V. Raghu, M. Hariaharan and S. Benjamin 2005. Somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis in Centella asiatica. J. Tropical Medicinal Plants, Vol. 6(2): 241–243.

4

A.V. Raghu, K. V. Mohanan and R. Uma Maheshvari 2005. Air layering studies in Premna corymbosa Rottl. J. Non TimberForest Products, 12(1): 34-35.

5

A.V. Raghu, K. V. Mohanan, K. B. Suresh Kumar and A. G. S. Reddy 2003. Variability in a sib-mated progeny of CxR (Coffea congensis x Coffea canephora) Coffee. Indian J. Agricultural Research, 37: 21-25.

6

A.V. Raghu, Geetha S.P., Gerald Martin, Indira Balachandran and Ravindran P.N. 2006. In vitro clonal propagation of Tinospora cordifolia (willd.) Hook.f. & Thoms. through mature nodes: an important ayurvedic medicinal plant. In Vitro Cellular Developmental Biology-Plant (In press)

7

Gerald Martin, Geetha S.P., A.V. Raghu, Indira Balachandran and P.N. Ravindran 2006. An efficient micropropagation system for Celastrus paniculatus Willd. - a vulnerable medicinal plant. J. Forest Research, Springer, Japan (in press)

8

A.V. Raghu, Geetha S.P., Gerald Martin, Indira Balachandran and Ravindran P.N. 2006. Further research on clonal propagation of Costus speciosus. J. Tropical Medicinal Plants, Malaysia (Accepted)

9

Raghu, A.V. 2005. In vitro clonal propagation of Bael, Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr. In: proceedings, XVIIth Kerala Science Congress January 29-31, Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala, p.304.

10

Raghu A.V., Geetha, S.P., Gerald Martin, Indira Balachandran and P.N. Ravindran 2005. Effect of cytokinins on relative growth rate, shoot formation and secondary metabolite accumulation in the multiple shoot cultures of Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br. Annual conference and National symposium of Plant Tissue Culture Association of India (PTCA), Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (CIMAP), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, p.127.