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She
started her career as Scientist (1984 ARS Batch) in Plant Pathology at
I.I.H.R., Bangalore in 1985 and worked on biological control of
Phytophthora diseases of Coorg mandarin. She was successful in
isolating a highly virulent native isolate of Trichoderma harzianum
with wide host range. She was the first to report coffee wastes as
efficient substrates for growth and sporulation of Trichoderma and
developed a simple protocol for its large-scale multiplication utilizing
these wastes. Based on this technology she set up a pilot plant for
commercial multiplication of T. harzianum utilizing a grant from
the Centre for Technology Development, Bangalore. She was also a
consultant to a cooperative society at Pune for setting up a pilot plant
for commercial production of Trichoderma.
She
has standardized a technology for the management of post-harvest decay in
grapes utilizing the bio-control agent Trichoderma harzianum 5R
that minimizes the sulphur di-oxide injury in export grapes and
prolongs the shelf life.
Currently
she is studying the biology and epidemiology of anthracnose disease of
grapes, searching for efficient bio-control microorganisms, identifying
grape germplasm with multiple disease resistant traits, etc.
Other Responsibilities
She
was one of the first scientists to report at National Research Centre for
Grapes and since then has been actively involved in its activities.
Present
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I/c Technical cell, 2004-continuing
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Chairperson, Women’s Complaint Committee, 2004-continuing
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Member, Institute Technology Management Committee (ITMC)
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Member, Institute Management Committee, NRC for Citrus, 2010-13
Earlier
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In-charge, Research Management & Coordination
Unit, 1997-2004
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Member Secretary, Research Advisory Committee
1997-2000, 2001- 2004 and 2009-10
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Member Secretary, Quinquennial Review Team 2002-03
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Member Secretary, Staff Research Council
(Now IRC), 1997-
2004
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Member, Institute Management Committee 1997-2000, 2001-2004, 2007-2010
and 2010-2013
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Member, Institute Management Committee, NRC for Onion and Garlic,
2003-05
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Member, Institute Joint Staff Council, 2004-05
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In-charge, Director (during the absence of regular Director), 1996 - May
2001 and during absence of Director and next senior since 2001.
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Member, Official Language Implementation Committee, continuing
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Nodal Officer, Intellectual Property Rights, 1999- 2004
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Chairperson Internal Resource Generation Scheme, 2004-2007
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Member of various selection / Departmental Promotion Committees etc.
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In charge publications 1997-2002
Trainings
given
1.
Life cycles and management of important diseases of horticultural
crops.
2.
Post harvest problems due to diseases in grapes and their
management.
3.
Biological control of diseases of horticultural crops.
4.
Patenting of Agricultural Technologies.
Trainings
acquired
1.
Information Technology in Agriculture.
2.
Molecular Biological Techniques in Horticultural Crops.
3.
IPR and WTO Awareness.
Research Projects
Current
As
Principal Investigator
-
Bio-prospecting for viticulturally important micro-organisms (Jan 2006 –
March 2012)
-
Diagnosis and management of leaf-spot diseases of horticultural and field
crops - Grapes (ICAR-Out Reach Programme)
-
Studies on the biology and control of the fungi causing anthracnose
disease in grapes (June 2009 - December 2014)
As
Co-Investigator
-
“NRCG - DIPS - A system for diagnosis and management of important
diseases and insect pests of grapes” (May 2008 - December 2010)
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Studies on bio-efficacy of fungicides and safer environmental profiles
products for management of grape diseases (April 2007 – March 2012)
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Development and testing of disease forecasting models and development of
pest alert systems (April 2007 – March 2012)
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Studies on virus diseases of grapes (April 2007 – March 2012)
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Breeding for development of marker assisted selection (MAS) technique for
downy mildew resistance in Thompson Seedless (September 2010 – August
2015)
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Studies on the management of mites (July 2009 – March 2012)
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Techniques to improve nutrient use efficiency including farm waste (April
2006- August 2010)
Past
As
Principal Investigator
-
Management of post-harvest decay in grapes for export (1998- 2005)
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Management of newly emerging grape diseases of economic importance (1998-
2005)
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Use of antagonistic micro-organisms as a component in integrated
management of fungal diseases,
1989-1996
As
Co-Investigator
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ICAR network project on molecular breeding, 2005-2008
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Molecular tagging of downy mildew resistance in grape, 2002-2005; (project
partially funded by DBT)
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Improving fungicide use efficiency in grapes, 1998- 2006
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Improving fungicide use efficiency in grapes, 1998- 2006
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Improving nutrient use efficiency in grapes, 2004 – 2004
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Studies on fungal diseases of fruit crops, July 1986-December 1996
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Studies on virus diseases of citrus, July 1986-December 1991
Professional
Societies:
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Life member,
Indian Phytopathological Society, New Delhi
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Life
member, Society for Biocontrol Advancement, Bangalore
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Life
member, Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Udaipur
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Life
member, Indian Society of Plant Pathologists, Ludhiana
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Life
Member, International Federation of Women in Agriculture, New Delhi
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Life Member,
Society for Promotion of Horticulture, IIHR, Bangalore
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Life Member,
Horticulture Society of India, New Delhi
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Member, Doctor’s
Krishi Evam Bagwani Vikas Sanstha (Doctor’s Agricultural and
Horticultural Development Society), Lucknow
Publications
Awards
-
The Maharashtra State Grape Growers’ Association’s ‘Gaurav Chinh’ at
the awarded at hands of Shri Sharad Pawar, Hon’ble Union Minister of
Agriculture on 25th September 2006 in recognition for her services to
the grape industry of Maharashtra.
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A certificate of merit (citation) and a memento for their paper
“Potential of Trichoderma spp. for management of anthracnose
disease of grapevines” which was adjudged the best paper in the
session IVth of the International Symposium on Grape Production and
Processing, Baramati, Feb. 6-11th 2006. (Abst no. S4P5, p116). (S.D.
Sawant and Indu S. Sawant).
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A certificate of merit (citation) and a memento for the paper
“Identification of microsatellite markers associated with downy mildew
resistance in grape: an example of association mapping in a perennial
crop” which was adjudged the best paper in the session IInd of the
International symposium on grape production and processing, Baramati,
India, Feb. 6-11th 2006. (Abst no. S2P12, p90). (Anuradha Upadhyay,
Kiran P. Deokar, Suvarna Reddy, Indu S. Sawant, Madhuri D Kshirsagar,
Mamta Saboji, and G S Karibassappa)
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The best scientific article for the paper “Fungi on grape bunches and
their control” (in Marati) published in Baliraja, October, 1999-
special issue on grapes (pp 142-147). (S.D. Sawant and Indu S. Sawant)
Email :
issawant@icar.org.in,
indulika18@yahoo.co.in
Phone: 91-20-26956031,
30916855 (R)
Postal Address
National Research Centre for Grapes, P.B. No. 3, Manjri Farm Post, Solapur Road, Pune
-412 307, Maharashtra, India.
Residential
Address
A-4/4, Agarwal Ganga Residency, Behind Mantri Market, Hadapsar, Pune –
411 028.
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