Dr. P. Amrutha

Dr. P. Amrutha is an Assistant Professor in Plant Pathology at the School of Agricultural Sciences, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore. She holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences with specialization in Plant Pathology from Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani, completed in 2025 with 91.6%. She also holds an M.Sc. in Agricultural Sciences with specialization in Plant Pathology from Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, with 93.9%, and a B.Sc. in Agriculture from Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, with 86.5%. She qualified the ICAR-National Eligibility Test (NET) in 2017 and the ARS Preliminary examination and was awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Scholarship for doctoral studies.

Her research interests and expertise encompass biocontrol, fungal pathology, endophytes, integrated disease management, laboratory diagnostics, pathogen characterization, and field-level disease management. Her doctoral research focused on Piriformospora indica and new-generation fungicides for the management of anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in vegetable cowpea. Her research contributions include studies on fungal diseases of strawberry, biological control agents, fungicide evaluation, plant disease epidemiology, fungal root endophytes, and sustainable plant disease management. She has also undergone training and participated in workshops, seminars, webinars, and international conferences covering endophytes, agricultural disease management, organic inputs, research publishing, gene expression analysis, genome engineering, and sustainable crop protection.

Dr. P. Amrutha has published research articles in areas including fungal diseases of strawberry, biocontrol agents, fungicide management, Piriformospora indica, Colletotrichum diseases, plant disease epidemiology, and sustainable disease management. Her publications include research in journals such as the Journal of Horticultural Science, Chinese Chemical Letters, International Journal of Plant and Soil Science, Journal of Biological Control, Plant Protection Science, and Journal of Applied Horticulture. She has also contributed articles to the Kerala Karshakan e-journal and presented research papers at the Indian Horticultural Congress, Kerala Science Congress, international symposia, national seminars, and other scientific conferences. Her project and research interests include sustainable crop protection, fungal disease management, endophyte-based biological control, and plant–microbe interactions.

She has handled research and academic activities related to plant disease management and has participated in training and extension-oriented programmes involving farmers, agricultural assistants, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Krishi Bhavans, Regional Agricultural Research Stations, and other agricultural institutions. She has also contributed to publications and outreach materials, including leaflets on Crossandra and Jasmine, and volunteered for the South Indian Agri Expo–Agrifiesta 2014. Her professional strengths include communication and teaching skills, laboratory and diagnostic capabilities, commitment, discipline, adaptability, and a research-oriented approach. She has been serving as an Assistant Professor at Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences since 2022.