TR Gopalakrishnan Author

T.R. Gopalakrishnan, got 38 years of experience in the field of research and research administration and was involved in the development of 29 improved vegetable varieties in tropical vegetables. The brinjal varieties Surya, Swetha, Haritha and F 1 hybrid Neelima and chilli variety Ujwala developed by him are considered as excellent source of resistance to bacterial wilt.

The other varieties includes Ambili (Pumpkin), Baby (Snake gourd), Vyjayanthi, Lola, Anaswara (Vegetable cowpea) and Hima (Hyacinth bean) all released at the state/national level. He was also associated with the release of another eighteen improved vegetable varieties and has guided 47 PG students as Chairman/ Advisory committee member and published 119 research papers and 6 books.

Dr Gopalakrishnan served As Expert member in vegetable science in several selection committee meetings at University and ICAR levels and was the Visitor Nominee in the Central Agricultural University for the North Eastern region He is the recipient of Krishi Vigyan Award during 1996-97 for the best agricultural scientist in Kerala, Dr Kirti Singh Life Time Achievement Award in vegetables during 2015, Young Scientist Award during the first Kerala Science Congress (1989), Dr. Harbhajan Singh Award (1993) and Best Research paper awards two times (2001 and 2014) at National level. He is also a Fellow of Indian Society of Vegetable science, Varanasi and honorary fellow of High Tech Horticultural society Meerut. Dr Gopalakrishnan has served as Director of Research of Kerala Agricultural University (2010-15),. Managing Director and CEO of Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK)- A Govt. of Kerala supported farmer company (2006-2008).

Professor and Head, Department of Olericulture (1997-2006) and Professor at the Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur.

Pradeepkumar. T is the Professor and had Head, Department of Vegetable Science, Kerala Agricultural University. He completed PhD degree in Horticulture from IARI, New Delhi and undergone overseas training at University of Wisconsin, USA. He has developed 6 unique hybrids in water melon (Seedless types), salad cucumber (Parthenocarpic type) and ridge gourd. He has published 76 research papers, 12 books, 16 book chapters and 60 popular article. He is the fellow of Indian Society of Vegetable Science, Indian Academy of Horticultural Science and Indian Society for Spices.