Dr. Rasappa Viswanathan has been elected as the President of the Indian Phytopathological Society (IPS) for 2026-27. A distinguished scientist in the field of plant pathology, Dr. Viswanathan has dedicated over 34 years to agricultural research, particularly in sugarcane pathology.
Currently serving as the Director of ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, since 2022, Dr. Viswanathan has contributed immensely to both fundamental and applied research in sugarcane. His groundbreaking work includes the identification of 16 red rot-resistant sugarcane varieties, the development of novel screening techniques for disease resistance, and innovative disease management strategies. His research has also advanced molecular diagnostics and genome characterization of sugarcane pathogens, benefiting the farming community significantly.
Among his notable achievements, Dr. Viswanathan identified new red rot pathotypes CF12 and CF13, developed a mechanized sett treatment system for sugarcane, and successfully implemented an integrated approach to managing red rot in field conditions. As Principal Investigator for the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Sugarcane (Plant Pathology), he has led national research efforts in sugarcane pathology for over a decade.
With a prolific academic career, Dr. Viswanathan has published 314 research papers, including 191 in high-impact SCI journals, accumulating over 8,362 citations. His research excellence has attracted funding worth over Rs. 1032.91 lakhs from various prestigious funding agencies.
His contributions have been recognized through numerous accolades, including the Fellowship of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (FNAAS), the ICAR Hari Om Ashram Trust Award, the Sir T S Venkatraman Award, and the TNAU Distinguished Alumnus Award. Additionally, he has been featured among the world’s top 2% of scientists, as per rankings compiled by Stanford University and published by Elsevier.
In a major development, Dr. Viswanathan, alongside his editorial team members Dr. Aundy Kumar, current IPS President Dr. Dilip Ghosh, President-elect Dr. Dinesh Singh, and Dr Kajal Biswas have signed an MoU with the Asian PGPR Society for Sustainable Agriculture.
This agreement paves the way for the joint organization of international conferences and special journal editions focusing on PGPR (Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria) research, which is expected to contribute to a secondary green revolution. The IPS Journal, published by Springer, will soon release special issues dedicated to PGPR-related topics.
The Asian PGPR Society, founded by Prof. M. S. Reddy in 2009, is a non-profit organization committed to advancing research, education, and commercialization of PGPR technology. With over 1,500 registered life members globally, the society has successfully organized seven international conferences across Asia.
The collaboration between IPS and the Asian PGPR Society is expected to enhance scientific exchange and drive sustainable agricultural practices worldwide.
