Dr. V. Celia Chalam

Dr. Celia Chalam Vasimalla
Principal Scientist & Head

Division/RS/Unit

Division of Plant Quarantine

Contact

Off.-011-25802787
Email-celia.chalam(AT)icar.gov.in; mailcelia(AT)gmail.com
Google Scholar : https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=ySRZoYUAAAAJ

 

Qualification

Degree Discipline Year
M.Sc. (Ag)Plant Pathology1988
Ph.D.Plant Pathology1997

SPECIALIZATION
Quarantine, Plant Virology & Policy Issues of Biosecurity and Biosafety

Salient Achievements

  • Methodology developed for detection and identification of viruses in germplasm by using a strategic combination of Electron Microscopy (EM), Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Reverse Transcription- Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) by which 45 viruses including 19 viruses not reported from India such as Cherry leaf roll virus (CLRV) and Tomato ring spot virus (ToRSV) were intercepted. The major impact is the exclusion of viruses which could have lead to economic yield losses, if these were not intercepted in quarantine. This also facilitated conservation of virus-free seeds of introduced germplasm in National GeneBank.
  • Established modern virology laboratory in Division of Plant Quarantine, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi which is of international standard.
  • Developed a multiplex RT-PCR method for simultaneous detection and discrimination of three viruses (CLRV, ToRSV and GFLRV).
  • Prepared pathway-based country-specific generic Pest Risk Analysis for 190 crop species with reference to viruses of which 140 were notified in Gazette.
  • Database on Potential Quarantine Pests (PQPs) of cereals, grain legumes, oilseeds and tropical and sub-tropical horticultural crops has been developed as a ready reckoner to quarantine scientists and officials of NPPO.
  • Developed three high-yielding, disease resistant varieties viz., Arka Arunima (amaranth), Arka Anupama (spinach) and Selection-9 (carrot) along with breeders.
  • Prepared a national map of seed-transmitted viruses of grain legumes based on surveys in 9 states for 3 years and by testing 1842 seed samples from 21 states. The results identified some virus-free sites.
  • Seed standards for certification against viruses of pea and soybean were developed.
  • Human resource developed through Trainings “Biosecurity and Biosafety”, “Diagnostic Methods for Detection and Identification of Pests” and “Biosafety of Transgenics and Detection of GMOs”.
  • Organized 14 Training Workshops on “Strengthening Capacities of Enforcement Agencies (Plant Quarantine and Customs Officials) for Transboundary Movement of living modified organisms” during 2015 to 2018. Training Workshops, each of two days duration have been organized for the plant quarantine and customs officials at different parts of the country. A total of 385 officials, which included Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors, Superintendents, Inspectors, Appraisers, Examiners, Preventive Officers from Customs and Joint Directors, Plant Protection Officers, Assistant Plant Protection Officers and Scientific Assistants etc. from Plant Quarantine were trained in these workshops.

Awards/Honours

  • “Dr RDVJ Prasada Rao Memorial Award” for outstanding contribution to the science of plant protection in Diagnostics and Plant Biosecurity for 2012 by Plant Protection Association of India, Hyderabad.
  • Fellow of Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources 2011 for significant contributions to the field of plant genetic resources.
  • Biography included in 2011-2012 (11th) Edition of Who is Who in Science and Engineering, the world-renowned reference directory by the publisher of Who’s Who in America.
  • Biography included  in 2011-2012 (11th) Edition of Who’s Who in Asia.
  • Five best paper/ poster awards for papers presented during various national/ international Conferences.
  • Two Commendation Certificates for papers presented during national symposium.
  • Two Gold Medals for securing highest OGPA while completing M.Sc (Ag).
  • C.S.I.R Senior Research Fellowship during Ph.D.
  • “Certificate of Achievement” for Ph.D thesis work at Asia Center of ICRISAT, Hyderabad.
  • Expert Member
    • Project Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (PMEC) (2008 onwards) and Accreditation Panel (2010 onwards) under the National Certification System for Tissue Culture-raised Plants of  Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.
    •  Visited Germplasm Health Unit of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria in 2010 as an Expert on Plant Virology (Virus indexing of germplasm).
    • Assessment Team of National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories, to assess the GMO detection laboratory of Avesthagen Quality Agriculture Services Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore (2007).
    • Team on Vegetable Crops constituted to suggest suitable remedial measures for management of fungal, bacterial and viral diseases of vegetable crops viz., cauliflower, chilli, cucumber, French bean and tomato to farmers in A.P. (1999).
  • Editor, Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources (2010 onwards)
  • Editor, Journal of Mycology and Plant Pathology (2014 onwards)
  • Editor, Indian Journal of Plant Protection (2005-06)
  • Editor, Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology News (2005-2006)

Recent Publications Research Papers

  • Abhishek GJ, Kuldeep Tripathi, K Kalaiponmani, DD Deepika, R Sharma, AK Maurya, and VC Chalam (2024) Germplasm screening for identification of BCMV resistance sources of diverse cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) germplasm using serological and molecular diagnostics. Legume Research 18805/LR-5169 (NAAS Score: 6.80)
  • Hemavati R, GP Rao, VC Chalam, K Rawat and YS Shreenath (2023) Mixed infection of phytoplasmas and potyvirus in Phlox drummondii in India. Phytopathogenic Mollicutes 13(1): 89-90 (NAAS Score: 5.17)
  • Kartar Singh, H Ranebennur, K Rawat, VS Meena, M Chaoudhary, VC Chalam, Ashutosh Rao, N Shekhawat, BR Meena, MP Chawla, M Sharma, D Ram and GP Singh  (2023) First Report of Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris (16SrI-B Subgroup) associated with phyllody disease of moth bean in world. Plant Disease https:// doi/10.1094/PDIS-05-23-0963-PDN (Accepted for publication online 15.12.2023). (NAAS Score: 10.50)
  • Kumar P, J Akhtar, R Kiran, BR Meena, Sadhana and VC Chalam (2023) Phylogenetic analysis and species level identification of seed-borne Bipolaris, Exserohilum and Curvularia. Indian Phytopathology 76: 115-121 https://doi.org/10.1007/s42360-022-00585-7 (NAAS Score: 97)
  • Parameswari B, B Bajaru, L. Karthikaiselvi, N. Sivaraj, S. K. Mangrauthia, Nagalakshmi, Prasanna H, M. Srinivas, VC Chalam and K. Anitha (2023) First report of the association of Zygocactus Virus X with dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.) plants from Telangana, India. Plant Disease 107:  1249 published online as https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-22-1242-PDN. (NAAS Score: 10.50)
  • Parameswari B, SK Sharma, L Karthikaiselvi, Baby Wangkhem, K Nithya, R Viswanathan, GP Rao, VC Chalam and K Anitha (2023) A simplified isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification assay for detection of Sugarcane bacilliform virus Sugar Tech. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-023-01258-z (NAAS Score: 7.90)
  • Thirumalaisamy PP, TC Amal, K Pradheep, B Parameswari, L Karthikaiselvi, VC Chalam, A Suma, G Senthilraja, K Anitha, A Manivannan, M Latha and A Mahalingam (2023) Phytoplasma association with phyllody of Sesamum species in India. Tropical Plant Pathology 48: 594-603 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40858-023-00603-7 (NAAS Score: 8.50)
  • Tripathi A, J Akhtar, K Kalaiponmani, SC Dubey and VC Chalam (2023) Quadruplex and q-PCR based diagnostic assay to delineate the major quarantine and other seed-borne fungal pathogens of soybean. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 39: 233 (NAAS score:10.10).
  • Tripathi A, J Akhtar, P Kumar, K Kalaiponmani and VC Chalam (2023)  Diagnostic assay for molecular detection of Bipolaris maydis and Stenocarpella maydis for safe exchange and long-term conservation of maize germplasm. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology htpp://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmpp.2023.102165 (NAAS Score: 8.70)
  • Chalam VC, Kavita Gupta, MC Singh, Z Khan, J Akhtar, BH Gawade, Pooja Kumari, Pardeep Kumar BR Meena, AK Maurya and DS Meena (2022) Role of plant quarantine in preventing entry of exotic pests. Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources 35(3): 141-146 DOI 10.5958/0976-1926.2022.00057.2 (NAAS Score: 5.17)
  • Bindu Prathyusha V, E Swathi, D Divya, BV Bhaskar Reddy, JS Bentur, VC Chalam, DP Wankhede, Kuldeep Singh and K Anitha (2023) Field and agroinoculation screening of national collection of urd bean (Vigna mungo) germplasm accessions for new sources of mung bean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) resistance. 3 Biotech 13:194 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-023-03610-2  (NAAS Score: 8.80)
  • Deepika DD., K Tripathi, GJ Abhishek, N Singh, R Sharma, VD Sharma, AK Maurya and VC Chalam (2023) Detection and identification of BCMV resistant germplasm in mungbean (Vigna radiata) using serological and molecular diagnostics. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 93 (1): 98-101 https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v93i1.123053 (NAAS Score: 6.40)
  • Hemavati Ranebennur, Kiran Kirdat, Bhavesh Tiwarekar, Kirti Rawa., VC Chalam, AU Solanke, R Yadav, Kuldeep Singh, Shivaji Sathe, A Yadav and GP Rao (2022) Draft genome sequence of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma australasia’, strain SS02 associated with sesame phyllody disease. 3 Biotech 12:107 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-022-03163-w (NAAS Score: 8.80)
  • Hemavati Ranebennur, K Rawat., A Rao, P Kumari, VC Chalam, N Meshram and  GP Rao (2022) Transmission efficiency of a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma australasia‘(16SrII-D) related strain associated with sesame phyllody by dodder, grafting and leafhoppers. European Journal of Plant Pathology  164: 193-208 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-022-02550-6 (NAAS Score: 7.80)
  • Parameswari B, B Bhaskar, Karthikaiselvi, N Sivaraj, P Pranusha, P Brahmi, SK Mangrauthia, L Saravanan, VC Chalam and K Anitha (2022) Interception of Bean common mosaic virus in bambara groundnut accessions imported from Ghana through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Indian Journal of Plant Protection 50(2&3): 80-85 (NAAS Score: -)
  • Pooja Kumari, SP Singh, KK Gangopadhyay, VC Chalam, YB Basavaraj, V Venkataravanappa and A Kumar (2022) Molecular characterization of monopartite bhendi (Abelmoschus moschatus) yellow vein mosaic virus and screening of wild okra. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 92(11): 1369–1374. DOI:10.56093/ijas.v92i11.125370 (NAAS Score: 6.40)
  • Pooja Kumari, SP Singh, KK Gangopadhyay, VC Chalam, CD Pandey and SK Yadav (2022) Standardization of artificial screening technique for okra enation leaf curl disease resistance in wild okra (Abelmoschus moschatus moschatus) germplasm. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 92(10): 1214-1218. https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v92i10.124278 (NAAS Score: 6.40)
  • Rashmi Yadav. S Kalia, P Rangan, K. Pradheep, GP Rao, V Kaur, R Pandey, V Rai, VC Chalam, S Langyan, S Sharma, B Thangavel, VS Rana, H Vishwakarma, A Shah, A Saxena, A Kumar, Kuldeep Singh and KHM Siddique (2022) Current research trends and prospects for yield and quality improvement in sesame, an important oilseed crop. Frontiers in Plant Science 13: 1-22 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.863521 (NAAS Score: 11.60)
  • Dubey SC, K Gupta, J Akhtar, VC Chalam, MC Singh, Z Khan, SP Singh, P Kumar, BH Gawade, R Kiran, T Boopathi and P Kumari (2021) Plant quarantine for biosecurity during transboundary movement of plant genetic resources. Indian Phytopathology 74 (2): 495-508 (NAAS Score: 5.97)
  • Pooja Kumari, SP Singh, KK Gangopadhyay, VC Chalam, SC Dubey and Pragya Ranjan (2021) Screening for okra enation leaf curl disease resistance in wild okra (Abelmoschus moschatus moschatus) germplasm in India. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 91(10): 1487–94 (NAAS Score: 6.40)
  • Pooja Kumari, SP Singh, KK Gangopadhyay, VC Chalam, SC Dubeyand Srinivasa N (2021) Screening of wild okra (Abelmoschus moschatus) germplasm for okra yellow vein mosaic disease resistance in India. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 91(7): 1010–1014 (NAAS Score: 6.40)
  • Chalam VC and AK Maurya (2018) Role of quarantine in ensuring biosecurity against transboundary plant viruses. Agricultural Research Journal 55(4): 612-626. (NAAS Score: 5.16)
  • Chalam VC, Parakh DB and Maurya AK (2017) Role of viral diagnostics in quarantine for plant genetic resources and preparedness. Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources 30: 271-285 (NAAS Score: 5.17)
  • Wylie SJ, M Adams M, VC Chalam, Jan Kreuze, Juan Jose López-Moya, Kazusato Ohshima,  Shelly Praveen, Frank Rabenstein, Drake Stenger,  Aiming Wang,  Murilo Zerbini and ICTV Consortium (2017) ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Potyviridae. Journal of General Virology 98: 352–354. NAAS Score: 9.80.
  • Chalam VC, DB Parakh, AK Maurya, S Singh and RK Khetarpal (2014) Biosecuring India from seed-transmitted viruses: The case of quarantine monitoring of legume germplasm imported during 2000-2010. Indian Journal of Plant Protection 42(3): 270-279 (NAAS Score:
  • Usha Dev, B Singh, PC Agarwal, D Chand, VC Chalam, AK Maurya and KD Joshi (2012) Fungal and bacterial plant pathogens intercepted in germplasm introduced into India during 2007–10. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 82(12): 1083-1089 (NAAS Score: 6.40)
  • Chalam VC, DB Parakh, RK Khetarpal, AK Maurya and Digvender Pal (2009) Interception of seed-transmitted viruses in broad bean (Vicia faba) germplasm imported into India during 1996-2006. Virus Disease (Indian Journal of Virology) 20(2): 83-87 (NAAS Score:5.80)
  • Chalam VC and RK Khetarpal (2008) A critical appraisal of challenges in exclusion of plant viruses during transboundary movement of seeds. Virus Disease (Indian Journal of Virology) 19(2): 139-149 (NAAS Score:5.80)
  • Chalam VC, DB Parakh, RK Khetarpal, AK Maurya, A Jain and S Singh (2008) Interception of seed-transmitted viruses in cowpea and mungbean germplasm imported during 2003. Virus Disease (Indian Journal of Virology) 19(1): 12-16 (NAAS Score:5.80)
  • Parakh DB, RK Khetarpal and VC Chalam (2008) Risk of seed-transmitted viruses associated with exchange of soybean germplasm and the South Asian scenario. Virus Disease (Indian Journal of Virology) 19(1): 47-49 (NAAS Score:5.80)
  • Parakh DB, VC Chalam, AK Maurya, RK Khetarpal, S Singh and A Kaur (2006) Interception of pea seed-borne mosaic virus in pea germplasm imported during 2003. Virus Disease (Indian Journal of Virology) 17(1): 35-38 (NAAS Score:5.80)
  • Parakh DB, VC Chalam, RK Khetarpal, AK Maurya, A Jain and S Singh (2005) Interception of seed-transmitted viruses in soybean germplasm imported during 2003 and 2004. Indian  Journal of Plant Protection 33(1): 119-124 (NAAS Score: -)
  • Parakh DB, RK Khetarpal, VC Chalam, AK Maurya and S Singh (2005) Risk of seed-transmitted viruses associated with exchange of soybean germplasm. Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources 18(1): 63-64 (NAAS Score: 5.17)
  • Singh B, Rajan, S Bhalla, VC Chalam, BM Pandey, SK Singh, N Kumar and RK Khetarpal (2003) Quarantine processing of imported transgenic planting material. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 73(2): 97-100 (NAAS Score: 6.40)

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The contents of this page are personal information/views of the staff. NBPGR is neither responsible for the contents or reliability nor endorses the views expressed within them.

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