Objectives

• To resolve the etiology of rhizome rot complex of ginger and turmeric and revealing the role of other associated organisms in the complex.
• To study the variability of the pathogens causing rhizome rot and their survival strategies in plant, rhizome and soil using appropriate tools.
• To evaluate potential chemicals and biocontrol agents against the rhizome rot pathogens with special emphasis on development of bioconsortium for management of rhizome rot targeting all the associated organisms.
• To evaluate germplasm of ginger and turmeric for tolerence against rhizome rot and development of reliable screening procedure.

Research Papers

1. Kumar, A and M. Anandaraj 2006 Method for isolation of soil DNA and PCr based detection of ginger wilt pathogen, Ralstonia solanacearum, Indian Phytopathology 59(2): 154-160
2. Kumar, A 2006 Methods for screening ginger (Zingiber officianale Rosc) for bacterial wilt resistance, Inian Phytopathology 59(3):218-286.
3. Kumar, A., Anila, G. and V. Divya(2006) Large scale disinfection of ginger(Zingiber officianale Rosc) rhizomes by Heat Treatment aided by solarization and its effect on bacterial wilt disease. In: Abstracts of 4th International Bacterial wilt Symposium CSL, York, UK(Eds.G.Saddler, J.Elphinstone and J.Smith) 17-20th July 2006 pp 84
4. Kumar, A., Bhai,R.S., Sasikumar, B., Anandaraj,M and V.A. Parthasarathy(2006) Curcuma amada Roxb., a bacterial wilt evading species in Zingiberaceae: A potential source for valuable genes for bacterial wilt resistance. In: Abstracts of 4th International Bacterial Wilt Symposium CSL,York, UK (Eds.G.Saddler,J.Elphinstone and J.Smith) 17-20th July 2006 pp 85
5. A.Kumar (2006) Comparative genetic analysis of Ralstonia solanacearum strains causing bacterial wilt of ginger isolated from Sikkim, an Easter Himalayan state and Southern states of India. In: Abstracts of 4th International Bacterial Wilt Symposium CSL,York, UK(Eds.G.Saddler, J.Elphinstone and J.Smith) 17-20th
6. Bhai, R.S., Kishore, V.K., Kumar, A and M. Anandaraj (2006) Screening of rhizobacterial isolates against soft rot disease of ginger (Zingiber officianale Rosc). J. Spices and Aromatic crops 15:130-136.
7. Kumar, A., Thomas, R.S., Jooju, B, Suseelabhai, R and K.N.Shiva (2007) PCR based identification of Phthium myriotylum causing soft rot of ginger In: Proceedings of 19th Kerala Science Congress 29-31 January 2007, Kannur, pp:700-702
8. Kumar A., Reeja, S.T., Suseela Bhai, R and K.N. Shiva (2008) Distribution of Pythium myriotylum Drechsler causing soft rot of ginger J. Spices and Aromatic Crops 17(1):5-10
9. Kumar, A. and S.Abraham (2008) PCR based detection of bacterial wilt pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum in ginger rhizomes and soil collected from bacterial wilt affected field J. Spices and Aromatic Crops 17(2):109-113
10. Kumar, A.(2008) Management of bacterial diseases In: Organic spices (Eds. V.A. Parthasarathy, K. Kandiannan and V.Srinivasan), New India Publishing Agency, New Delhi, pp 193-214