Mahendar Thudi

Background

About Mahendar Thudi

Mahendar Thudi, Fellow of Telangana Academy of Sciences, is currently working as Associate Professor at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU). With basic background in agriculture and genomics he possesses more than 11 years of experience in international agricultural research. Prior to joining RPCAU, he worked as Senior Scientist at ICRISAT. He also holds honorary position of Adjunct Professor at University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia. He also led the Biotechnology Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) as Acting Theme Leader for ESA Biotechnology. He also led the genotyping services laboratory at ICRISAT for more than three years during which he worked with several multi-disciplinary scientists across the globe on enhanced adoption of genomic tools in agriculture. He has significantly contributed to development of large-scale genetic and genomic resources in chickpea and pearl millet. He played a key role in generation of pearl millet and chickpea draft genome sequence and led re-sequencing of pearl millet and chickpea genotypes. His efforts also led to development of 10 genetic maps, a physical map, the dense consensus genetic map, and identification of QTLs for abiotic and biotic stresses in chickpea. He has been successful in deploying the modern breeding approaches for the development of climate resilient chickpeas. Two high yielding drought tolerant (Pusa Chickpea 10216) and fusarium wilt (MABC-WR-SA1) resistant molecular breeding varieties were released for commercial cultivation in India. He independently led projects funded by Gov of Karnataka, Department of Science and Technology, Govt of India. In addition, he has been a great team player in attracting funds as collaborator from international funding like Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Generation Challenge Program. He has authored > 70 research/ review articles published in the top class international journals (e.g. Nature Biotechnology, Nature Genetics, Nature Ecology and Evolution etc.). He was an invited speaker in several international and national conferences like Plant and Animal Genome Conference, Inter Drought etc. He has been contributing to the community by as resource person in several training programs conducted by national institutes; has been mentoring next generation scientists like Masters, PhD and Post-Doctoral fellows.