FTWAS, FNA, FASc, FNASc, FNAAS & JC Bose National Fellow
Professor at the School of Life Sciences, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Hyderabad, India
Research Interests:
Photosynthetic carbon metabolism and its interactions with nitrogen metabolism and mitochondrial respiration;
Redox signals based on nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) as the bases of inter-organellar interaction;
Plant Metabolomics: To understand primary and secondary metabolism.
Major Research Findings:
The thrust of Professor Raghavendra’s research has been on photosynthetic carbon metabolism and its interactions with mitochondrial respiration and nitrogen metabolism. His group has also contributed significantly to the topic of bioenergetics and signaling components of guard cells in relation to stomatal function. Many of the papers from the group on the topic of photosynthetic carbon metabolism and signal transduction in stomatal guard cells are all highly cited.
Some of the significant contributions from Prof Raghavendra’s lab are:
- Discovery of several C4 plants and C3-C4 intermediates and characterization of the physiology and biochemistry of Indian C4 plants;
- Mitochondrial enrichment in bundle sheath cells as the basis of reduced photorespiration in C3-C4 intermediates;
- Optimization by mitochondria of photosynthetic carbon assimilation and protection against photoinhibition;
- Novel role of cytosolic pH as an early signaling event during stomatal closure;
- Extensive use of fluorescent dyes to monitor pH, ROS and NO in guard cells;
- Interactions of cytosolic pH, ROS and NO during stomatal closure;
- Nitric oxide as a signal during stomatal closure and plant innate immunity against pathogens.
A total of 8 Books/Special Issues of Journals and 215 Papers in Peer-reviewed Scientific journals & Chapters in Books have been published.
Positions held in India:
- Professor, 1996 onwards, Associate Professor, 1985 – 1996 – School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
- Deputy Director (Plant Physiology), 1982 – 1985 – Rubber Research Institute of India, Kottayam, Kerala
- Assistant Professor (Botany), 1976 – 1982 – Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati
- Scientist (Plant Physiology), 1974 – 1976 – Central Plantation Crops Res Inst (ICAR), Vittal, Karnataka
- Dean, School of Life Sciences, 2004-2010 and 2014 – University of Hyderabad
- Co-ordinator, UGC-SAP-CAS in Life Sciences and PI, DBT-CREBB – UoH
Elected Fellow in Science Academies:
- Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Trieste, Italy;
- Indian National Science Academy (INSA);
- Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc);
- National Academy of Sciences India (NASI);
- National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS);
Academic Awards:
- Corresponding Member, 2012, American Society of Plant Biology
- JC Bose National Fellow 2007-2012, Dept of Science & Technology (DST), New Delhi
- Mercator Visiting Professor 2010, Deutsch Forschungs Gemeinschaft (DFG), Germany
- Humboldt Fellowship 1990-1991, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2009, 2012 & 2015 – AvH, Germany
- JSPS Senior Visitor, 1999 & 2010 — Japanese Society for Promotion of Science, Japan
