Dr. B. Madhumitha

Dr. Madhumitha Balasubramaniam 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 Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, where she secured 93.40%. She also holds an M.Sc. in Agricultural Sciences with specialization in Plant Pathology with 93.00% and a B.Sc. in Agriculture with an aggregate of 85.80% from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Her research interests include Molecular Plant Pathology, host–pathogen interactions, plant disease diagnostics, and sustainable disease management through biological control.

Her research experience encompasses molecular approaches to plant disease resistance, plant–pathogen interactions, biological control, and disease management. Her doctoral research focused on understanding the molecular basis of Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Virus resistance through transcriptome profiling, while her master’s research examined the management of leaf spot disease of elephant foot caused by Curvularia lunata. She has also worked as a Senior Research Fellow under a technology-transfer programme involving bio-fortification and resistance to banana bunchy top virus disease. Her teaching experience includes courses in Fundamentals of Plant Pathology, integrated pest and disease management, diseases of field and horticultural crops, diseases of fruits, plantation and medicinal crops, diseases of vegetables, ornamentals and spice crops, and experiential learning in mushroom cultivation.

Dr. Madhumitha Balasubramaniam has contributed to research through publications in areas including Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Virus resistance, molecular and transcriptome studies, plant disease management, biological control, plant disease detection, and post-harvest disease and quality management. Her scholarly contributions include research and review articles, book chapters, and publications in journals and conference proceedings. She has also contributed chapters to books published by Elsevier, Springer, and other academic publishers. Her research projects include a CSR-funded sustainable livelihood initiative through mushroom cultivation, a short-term project on the bio-efficacy of a new biocontrol agent against damping-off disease, and a project on the formulation and standardization of instant soup dip using fresh oyster mushrooms.

She has received the TNAU Merit Fellowship for Ph.D. study, the Senior Research Fellow award under the DST–SERB scheme, the Young Scientist Award from the Dr. Vasanth Raj David Foundation in 2021, the Prof. M. S. Swaminathan Young Scientist Award from the Bose Science Society in 2022, and the Young Teaching Faculty Award in 2023. Her academic and research contributions reflect her involvement in plant pathology, molecular disease resistance, biological control, sustainable disease management, and agricultural research and teaching.