Dr Ramanagouda Gaviyappanavar is a Scientist – Plant Pathology & Biocontrol in the Plant Health Cluster of the ACI-GRP at the ICRISAT. He obtained his PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, India. His doctoral research was carried out in collaboration with ICRISAT and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, where he focused on the genetic enhancement of Trichoderma strains for the sustainable management of soil-borne diseases in grain legumes. He also completed postdoctoral training at the University of Leeds, UK, where he investigated the role of plant cell wall components in defence responses during plant–pathogen interactions. Following his PhD, he joined ICRISAT and worked various positions, contributing to strategic research on plant health and crop improvement.
Dr Gaviyappanavar research combines plant pathology, host-plant resistance, biological crop protection, disease surveillance, climate science, and digital technologies to help farmers and breeders respond to emerging plant health challenges. Contributing for establishing the phenotyping platforms and strengthen plant pathology research with multidomain partnerships in India and Africa. His also investigating the plant traits that helps in recruit beneficial microorganisms around the rhizosphere and identifying the sustainable plant health management (SPHM) centric genotypes. Integrated biological solutions that complement host-plant resistance and climate-smart agronomic practices, contributing to regenerative and environmentally sustainable agriculture.
Dr Gaviyappanavar has published many peer-reviewed journal articles and participated in many national and international conferences and other capacity building programmes. Active collaborations with national and international research organizations across Asia, Africa and Europe. Secured the research funding; work closely with other researchers in many R&D projects/initiatives. For his contributions, he received the ICRISAT Promising Young Scientist Award 2023 and many other awards and honours.