Staff Image
Division
Designation
Email
Mohan.M@icar.gov.in
mohan_iari@yahoo.com
Phone Number
080-2351-1982
Fax
080-2341-1961
Professional Experience
17 years
Qualification
Ph.D (Entomology)
Specilization
Insect Genomics / transcriptomics, Molecular and biochemical analysis of insecticide resistance in insect pests and resistance management, Bacillus thuringiensis - isolation to application, Biosystematics and management of longhorn and scarab beetles.
Training
“Expression analysis of genes involved in insecticide resistance” at University of Kentucky, USA from 16th Sept to 20th Dec 2013
"Insecticidal Proteins: Application and Regulatory Issues” at International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, India, 12-23rd Nov. 2007
“Recent Advances in Microbial Control of Crop Pests” at Department of Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India, 20th Feb. to 12th Mar. 2006
“Mass Production Technology of Biological Control Agents” at National Centre for Integrated Pest Management (ICAR), New Delhi, India, 18-26th Feb. 2004
"Foundation Training for Agricultural Research Service" at National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (ICAR), Hyderabad, India, 16th Apr. to 14th Aug. 2003
Awards and Honours
2019. Outstanding contribution to Science by Dr. B. Vasantharaj David Foundation, Chennai, India
2018. Republic Day Award and Gold medal for meritorious Service rendered in farmers welfare by Govt. of Tamil Nadu
2017. Bio innovations team award by DBT Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), DBT, Govt. of India
2017. Best Research worker award, ICAR-NBAIR
2009. WIPO meritorious award and Gold medal by World Intellectual Property Organization, UN, Geneva
2009. Best Innovation award and Gold Medal by DST-LockHeed Martin India innovation Growth Programme, DST, Govt of India
2008, Societal Innovation Award by National Research and Development Corporation (NRDC), Govt of India
2002. Jawaharlal Nehru Award and Gold Medal for outstanding Ph.D. thesis research by ICAR, Govt. of India
2002. Fast Track Project award for Young Scientists by DST, Min. of Science & Technology, Govt. of India
Brief Achievements
De novo whole genome sequencing, assembly and annotation of two agriculturally important insect species accomplished. Developed and commercialized low cost technologies such as user friendly light trap and entomopathogens for the management of scarab beetles and cost effective technology for the production and formulation of indigenous Bacillus thuringiensis for the management of lepidopteran pests. Pioneered in reporting insect resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis and its toxins from India. A checklist of all 1556 Indian species of cerambycid beetles with all taxonomic details along with their distribution and host plants prepared. National Insect Repository at ICAR-NBAIR was augmented with 2341 specimens of cerambycids representing 243 species.
Thirteen years of professional experience in various aspects of pest management and mass rearing of insects. Strong background in entomology, biochemistry and insect molecular biology research and techniques. Conducted field demonstrations and imparted training to farmers to popularize the developed technologies; developed linkages with other Govt. agencies and private firms for the commercialization of technologies.
Developed base-line susceptibility data, molecular mechanisms of resistance against Bacillus thuringiensis strains and Cry toxins in diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella
Characterized the gene expression profiling of gene related to insecticide resistance in bed bug populations
Documented and mapped the insecticide resistance in field populations of brinjal fruit and shoot borer, Leucinodes orbonalis
Developed technology for the cost effective production and liquid formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis based biopesticides
Documented 76 species of phytophagous white grub species (Scarabaeidae) from NW Himalayan region
Developed improved artificial diet / rearing system for rice stem borers and brinjal fruit and shoot borer
Monitoring and management of the new invasive tomato pinborer, Tuta absoluta
Collection and maintenance of 123 indigenous isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis
Collection and maintenance of 238 species of longhorn (Cerambycidae) beetles
Expertise in identification of common species of Cerambycidae
Recognition
WIPO Gold Medal and Award for the research “White grub management technologies suitable for developing countries, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), UN, Geneva, 2009.
Best Innovation Award and Gold Medal for the development of Cost effective technology for the mass production of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) biopesticide under DST – Lockheed Martin India Innovation Growth Program 2009, Govt. of India, New Delhi.
Societal Innovation Award and Gold medal for the development of eco-friendly technology for the management of white grubs in NW Himalaya, National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), Govt. of India, New Delhi, 2008.
DBT – Post Doctoral Research Fellowship by Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India (2001-2002)
Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) – Fast Track Scheme for Young Scientists by Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India (2001-2003)
Jawaharlal Nehru Award and Gold Medal for outstanding Ph.D. thesis research by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Govt. of India, New Delhi, 2002
Senior Research Fellowship by ICAR to pursue Ph.D., 1998
Junior Research Fellowship by ICAR to pursue M.Sc., 1994
Publications
Total Number of Publication = 41
Selected Publications
Kariyanna B, Prabhuraj A, Asokan R, Babu P, Jalali SK, Venkatesan T, Gracy RG, Mohan M*, 2019. Identification of suitable reference genes for normalization of RT-qPCR data in eggplant fruit and shoot borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guenée). Biologia (DOI:10.2478/s11756-019-00346-4).
Gracy RG, Basavaarya BR, Kariyanna B, Arunkumara G, Jalali SK, Venkatesan T, Ballal CR, Mohan M*, 2019. The relationship between genome size, morphological parameters and diet breadth in insect species. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology 20 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2019.101188)
Ramya RS*, Mohan M, Joshi S, 2019. A simple method for sexing live larvae of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Animal Biology (https://doi.org/10.1163/15707563-20191136)
Kariyanna B, Mohan M*, Francesco Vitali & Jacek Kurzawa, 2019. Checklist of Disteniidae and Vesperidae (Coleoptera) from India. Oriental Insects (doi.org/10.1080/00305316.2018.1531079)
Malathi VM, More RP, Anandham R, Gracy RG Mohan, M, Venkatesan T, Samaddar S, Jalali SK*, 2018. Gut bacterial diversity of insecticide-susceptible and -resistant nymphs of the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens Stål (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) and elucidation of their putative functional roles. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 28: 976–986.
Reetha BMA*, Mohan M, 2018. Diversity of commensal bacteria from mid-gut of pink stem borer (Sesamia inferens [Walker])-Lepidoptera insect populations of India. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 21: 937–943.
Kariyanna B, Mohan M, Gupta R, Vittali F, 2017. The checklist of longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from India. Zootaxa 4345: 1-317.
Chandish R. Ballal*, Ankita Gupta, M. Mohan, Lalitha Y, Verghese AV, 2016. The new invasive pest Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in India and its natural enemies along with evaluation of Trichogrammatids for its biological control. Current Science, 110(11): 2155-2159.
Benoit J, Adelman BZN, Reinhardt K, Dolan A, Poelchau M, Jennings EC, Szuter EM, Hagan RW, Gujar H, Shukla J, Zhu F, Mohan M, et al., 2015. Unique features of the bed bug, a global human ectoparasite, identified through genome sequencing. Nature Communications, 7: doi:10.1038/ncomms10165.
Malathi VM, Jalali SK, Gowda DK, Mohan M, Venkatesan T, 2015. Establishing the role of detoxifying enzymes in field-evolved resistance to various insecticides in the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) in South India. Insect Sci. doi: 10.1111/1744-7917.12254.
Shanker C, Mohan M, Sampathkumar M, Lydia Ch, Katti G, 2013. Functional significance of Micraspis discolor (F.) (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) in rice eco-system Journal of Applied Entomology 137 (8): 601-609.
Shanker C, Mohan M, Sampathkumar M, Lydia Ch, Katti G. 2013. Selection of flowering forbs for conserving natural enemies in rice fields. Biocontrol Science and Technology 23(4): 480-484.
Nanthakumar M, Lakshmi VJ, Shashi Bhushan V, Balachandran SM, Mohan M, 2012. Decrease of rice plant resistance and induction of hormesis and carboxylesterase titre in brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) by xenobiotics. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 102: 146–152.
Mohan M, Selvakumar G, Sushil SN, Bhatt JC, Gupta HS, 2011. Entomopathogenicity of endophytic Serratia marcescens strain SRM against larvae of Helicoverpa armigera (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera). World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 27: 2545–2551.
Mohan M, Sushil SN, Selvakumar G, Bhatt JC, Gujar GT, Gupta HS, 2009. Differential toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis strains and their crystal toxins against high-altitude Himalayan populations of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. Pest Management Science 65: 27-33.
Mohan M, Sushil SN, Bhatt JC, Gupta HS, 2007. Synergistic interaction between sublethal doses of Bacillus thuringiensis and Campoletis chlorideae in managing Helicoverpa armigera. Biocontrol 53: 375-386.
Selvakumar G, Mohan M, Kundu S, Gupta AD, Joshi P, Nazim S, Gupta HS, 2007. Cold tolerance and plant growth promotion potential of Serratia marcescens strain SRM (MTCC 8708) isolated from flowers of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo). Letters in Applied Microbiology 48: 171-175.
Gujar GT, Kalia V, Kumari A, Singh BP, Mittal A, Nai R, Mohan M, 2007. Helicoverpa armigera baseline susceptibilities to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry toxins and resistance management for Bt cotton in India. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 95: 215-219.
Sivakumar S, Mohan M, Franco OL, Thayumanavan B, 2006. Inhibition of insect pest α-amylases by little and finger millet inhibitors.Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 85: 155-160.
Sivakumar S, Franco OL, Tagliari PD, Bloch Jr, C, Mohan M, Thayumanavan B, 2005. Screening and purification of a novel trypsin inhibitor from Prosopis juliflora seeds with activity toward pest digestive enzymes. Protein and Peptide Letters 12: 561-565.
Mohan M, Gujar GT, 2003. Characterization and comparison of midgut proteases of Bacillus thuringiensis resistant and susceptible diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 82: 1-11.
Mohan M, Gujar GT, 2002. Geographical variation in larval susceptibility of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) to Bacillus thuringiensis spore-crystal mixtures and purified crystal proteins and associated resistance development in India. Bulletin of Entomological Research 92: 489-498.
