HEMANTH, K. N. VASANTHAIAH

Postdoctoral Research Associate

 

Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research,

CESTA, Florida A & M University,

6505 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32317

Phone: (850) 412-5191

Fax: (850) 561-2617

Email: hemanth.vasanthaiah@gmail.com

 

Education:

1. Ph.D, Agriculture College, UAS, GKVK, Bangalore, India, 2005; Subject: Horticulture;

Specialization: Molecular Biology; Thesis Title: Molecular Assessment of Internal Breakdown in

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Alphonso.

2. MCA, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India, 2003; Subject: Computer

    Science; Project Title: Partition Manager.

3. CIC (Certificate in Computing), Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India, 2001;

    Subject: Computer Science

4. MSc, Agriculture College, UAS, GKVK, Bangalore, India, 1999; Subject: Horticulture; Thesis

Title: Fingerprinting and Estimation of Genetic Diversity of Certain Commercial Mango (Mangifera

indica L.) Varieties Using RAPD Markers.

5. BSc, Agriculture College, UAS, GKVK, Bangalore, India, 1996; Subject: Agriculture

 

Professional Experience:

1. 2005- till date, Postdoctoral Fellow at Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research, Florida

A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida.  Working on Functional Grape Genomics related to Pierce’s

and Anthracnose disease tolerance, transcriptional profiling of value-added compounds and ripening

related genes of muscadine and Florida Hybrid Bunch Grapes. 

2. 2004, Senior Research Fellow at Department of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences,

GKVK, Bangalore, India on project “Estimation of genetic diversity in Terminalia Chebula RETZ.

utilizing AFLP and Microsatellite”, which is one of the important medicinal plant that is of great

demand in pharmaceutical industries.  Standardized the protocol for isolating DNA in T. chebula for

AFLP analysis.

3. 2000-2003, Senior Research Fellow at Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Indian

Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessarghatta (IIHR), Bangalore, India in project “Biochemical

and Molecular basis of internal breakdown in Alphonso Mango: A study on the roles of ethylene,

calcium and oxidative stress”.  Standardized several protocols, techniques and isolated genes

specific to spongy tissue.

4. 2000, Research Scientist at Avestha Gengraine Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a plant Genome Biology

Laboratory, Bangalore, India.  Was involved in marker project, which aimed at identifying disease

resistance markers in tomato lines.  Successfully identified few markers and standardized protocols

for AFLP analysis in tomato. 

5. 2000, Research Fellow at Division of Biotechnology, UAS, GKVK campus, Bangalore, India,

Was involved in banana tissue culture, transformation in groundnut and tobacco, somatic

embryogenesis and direct regeneration. 

 

Awards and Honors:

1. Invited to contribute a chapter in a book ‘Bio-Techniques for Developing Nations” by Life Science

    Foundation of India

2. Member, Working Committee of Genome India International, since 2005 (http://genome-india-

    intl.org/committee.htm)

3. Gold medalist in Ph.D, 2005

4. Invited to contribute a chapter on “Genome Mapping and Molecular Breeding of Mango” in a book,

    Springer, Germany

5. Qualified, National Eligibility Test (NET) 2004, an all India examination conducted by Agricultural

    Scientific Research Board (ASRB) New Delhi, India.

6. Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR – SRF) Fellowship for Ph. D research work.

7. ISPMB Student Travel Grant, to attend Plant and Animal Genome Conference, held at San Diego,

   CA, USA January 10-14, 2004 (http://www.intl-pag.org/12/12-awardees.html).

 

Grants Received (as Co-PI):

1. Identification of Differentially Expressed Gene/s in Anthracnose – Tolerant Grape Genotypes, 2006-

    07.  Viticulture Advisory Council, Florida grape growers Association.

2. Identification of Differentially Expressed Gene/s in Anthracnose – Tolerant Grape Genotypes, 2005-

    06.  Viticulture Advisory Council, Florida grape growers Association.

 

Professional Membership:

1. International Society for Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions (IS-MPMI)

    (http://www.ismpminet.org/members/new_members.cfm)

2. American Society for Horticultural Sciences (ASHS)

3. American Society of Plant Biologist (ASPB)   

   (http://www.aspb.org//newsletter/janfeb07/05newmbrs.cfm)

4. Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS)

5. Southern Section – American Society of Plant Biologist (SS-ASPB)

6. Genome India International (GII), (India http://genome-india-intl.org/mds.htm)

7. Life Science Foundation of India (LSFI), India

 

Selected Publication:

 

(i) Book Chapter:

1. Vasanthaiah, H. K. N. 2007. Temperature and Spongy Tissue in Alphonso Mango. In:  
Bio-Techniques for Developing Nations, by Life Science Foundation of India (In Review).
2. Vasanthaiah, H. K. N. and Basha, S. M. 2007. Resveratrol a Versatile Natural  
   Compound. In: Bio-Techniques for Developing Nations, by Life Science Foundation of India (In 
   Review).
3. Vasanthaiah, H. K. N., Ravishankar, K. V. and Mukanda, G. K. 2007. Mango. In: Fruits and Nuts, 
Volume 4, Kole C (ed) Genome Mapping & Molecular Breeding in Plants.  Springer –Verlag Berlin 
Heidelberg, pp 303-323. (http://www.neutrino.co.jp/publication/3540345310or_9783540345312)

 

(ii) Journal/Proceedings:

4. Vasanthaiah, H. K. N., Katam, R. and Basha, S. M. 2007. Efficient Protocol for Isolation of 
Functional RNA from Different Grape Tissue Rich in Polyphenols and Polysaccharides for Gene 
Expression Studies.  Vitis (In Review)

5. Vasanthaiah, H. K. N., Katam, R. and Basha, S. M. 2007.  Biochemical Approach to Identify

    Differentially Expressed Protein in Anthracnose infected Florida Hybrid Grapes (Ready to submit).

6. Katam, R., Vasanthaiah, H. K. N. and Basha, S. M. 2007. Water stress induced changes in Leaf

    protein expression of various peanut genotypes. Peanut (In Review)

7. Katam, R., Vasanthaiah, H. K. N. and Basha, S. M. 2007. Identification of Water stress induced

    proteins in Florida Hybrid Grape (Manuscript in preparation).

8. Vasanthaiah, H. K. N., Ravishankar, K. V. Shivashankara, K. S. Anand, L.  Narayanaswamy, P. 
Mukunda, G. K. and Prasad, T. G. 2006.  Cloning and characterization of differentially expressed 
genes of internal breakdown in mango fruit (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Alphonso.  Journal of Plant 
Physiology. 163(6):671-9.  (www.sciencedirect.com)

9. Vasanthaiah, H. K. N., Katam, R. and Basha, S. M. 2007.  Water Stress Induced Differential

Gene Expression in Peanut.  2006 Proceedings of The American Peanut Research and Education

Society, Volume 38, Sholar JR (ed) p 79 (http://www.apres.okstate.edu/Vol%2038%20Proc.pdf).

10. Katam, R., Vasanthaiah, H. K. N. and Basha, S. M. 2007.  Differences in Leaf Protein Expression 
     Among Peanut Genotypes in Response to Water Stress. 2006 Proceeding of The American Peanut 
Research and Education Society, Volume 38, Sholar JR (ed) p 80.
11. Katam, R, Basha, S.M. and Vasanthaiah, H. K. N. 2006.  Genetic Variation in Molecular and 
cellular expression of Peanut genotypes in response to water stress.  2005 Proceeding of The 
American Peanut Research and Education Society, Volume 37, Sholar JR (ed) p 86
(http://www.apres.okstate.edu/Vol%2037%20Proc.pdf).

12. Kumar, N.V. H. Narayanaswamy, P. Prasad, D. T. Mukunda, G. K. and Sondur, S. N. 2001. 

Estimation of genetic diversity of commercial mango (Mangifera Indica L.) cultivars using RAPD

markers J. Hort. Sci. & Biotech. 76 (5) 529 – 533.

13. Narayanaswamy, P. Gowda, A. P. M. and Kumar, N.V. H. 1999.  Finger Printing in Plants. March

    of Karnataka pp 16-17.

 

(iii) Database Submission:

 

Genes deposited in NCBI Database:

14. Vasanthaiah, H. K. N. and Sheikh, M. B (2007). Differentially Expressed transcripts upon

challenging with bacterium Xylella fastiodiosa, which causes Pierce’s Disease in Grapes. NCBI

GenBank_Accn yet to be assigned for 40 clones.

15. Vasanthaiah, H. K. N. and Sheikh, M. B (2007). Differentially Expressed transcripts upon

challenging with fungus Elsinoe ampelina, which causes Anthracnose Disease in Florida Hybrid

Bunch Grapes. NCBI GenBank_Accn yet to be assigned for 20 clones. 

16. Vasanthaiah, H. K. N. and Sheikh, M. B (2006). Isolation and characterization of Stilbene

     synthase genes in Muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia) Grape. NCBI GenBank_Accn EE297448 to

     EE297453.

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=nucleotide&cmd=search&term=Stilbene%2C+vitis+rotundifolia)

17. Vasanthaiah, H. K. N., Ravishankar, K. V., Shivashankara, K. S., Anand, L., Narayanaswamy, P.,

      Mukunda, G. and Prasad, T. G (2004). Cloning and characterization of differentially expressed

      genes of internal breakdown in mango fruit (Mangifera indica).  GenBank Accn CB933767 to

      CB933776 and CD001993 to CD002009 (Spongy tissue), and CB933777 to CB933786 (Healthy

      tissue from spongy tissue affected fruit).

     (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=nucleotide&cmd=search&term=vasanthaiah)

 

Proteins deposited in UniProtKB database:

18. Vasanthaiah, H. K. N., Katam, R. and Basha, S. M (2007).  Biochemical Approach to Identify

      Differentially Expressed Protein in Anthracnose infected Florida Hybrid Grapes.  UniProtKB

      Accn. No. P85085 (Ribulose 1-5 bisphosphate carboxylase), P85087 (Mitochondrial ATPase beta

      subunit) and P85088 (Glutmine Synthetase).

19. Katam, R, Vasanthaiah, H. K. N., Basha, S. M and McClung, S (2007). Water Stress induced

     Proteins in Florida Hybrid Bunch Grape cv. Suwannee.  UniProtKB Accn. No. P85111 (Ribulose  

     bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activase) and P85112 (Phosphoribulokinase).

20. Katam, R, Vasanthaiah, H. K. N., Basha, S. M and McClung, S (2006).  Water Stress induced

      Proteins in Peanut.  UniProtKB Accn. No. P85086 (Ribulose 1-5 bisphosphate carbosylase in leaf)

      and Q647G9 (Conglutin precursor in seed) (http://ca.expasy.org/uniprot/Q9SQG5).

 

Professional Presentations:

 

(i) Oral Presentations:

1. Vasanthaiah, H. K. N*, Katam, R. and Basha, S. M, 2007. Molecular Analysis of Anthracnose in

Florida Hybrid Grape.  Southern Section – American Society of Plant Biologists (SS-ASPB)

Meeting at Dauphin Island Sea Lab, University of South Alabama, Alabama, March 3-5

(http://www.ss-aspb.org/documents/2007MeetingProgram.pdf).

2. Katam, R, Vasanthaiah, H. K. N. and Basha, S. M, 2007. Identification of water deficit responsive

polypeptides in Florida hybrid grapes.  Southern Section – American Society of Plant Biologists

(SS-ASPB) Meeting at Dauphin Island Sea Lab, University of South Alabama,  Mobile, Alabama,

March 3-5.

3. Vasanthaiah, H. K. N* and Basha S. M, 2007.  Biochemical and Molecular Approach to Identify

Differentially Expressed Genes in Anthracnose-Tolerant Grape Genotype.  104th Annual Meeting of

The Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS), Biochemistry and Biotechnology

Division, Mobile, Alabama, Feb 3-6 (http://saasinc.org/Mobile2007/Assoc-Info/2007-Biochem.pdf).

4. Vasanthaiah, H. K. N* and Basha, S. M, 2007.  Grape Biotechnology Program. Florida

    Grape Growers Association (FGGA) Annual meeting and Conference, Ocala, FL, Jan 18-19.

5. Vasanthaiah H. K. N*, Katam, R and Basha, S. M, 2006.  Identification of Differentially Expressed

Gene/s in Anthracnose-Tolerant Grape Genotype. 14th Biennial ARD Research Symposium, Atlanta,

GA, April 1 -5. 

6. Katam, R, Vasanthaiah, H. K. N and Basha, S. M, 2006.  Water Stress Induced Compositional

    Changes in Peanut Leaf.  14th Biennial ARD Research Symposium, Atlanta, GA, April 1 -5.

 

(ii) Conference Abstracts:

7. Vasanthaiah H. K. N, Katam, R and Basha S. M, 2007.  Functional Genomic Approach to Analyze

Pierce’s Disease in Grapes. Plant and Animal Genome conference, San Diego, CA, January 13 – 17

    (http://www.intl-pag.org/15/abstracts/PAG15_P02b_51.html).

8. Katam, R, Vasanthaiah, H. K. N. and Basha, S. M, 2007.  Identification Of cDNA Transcripts And

    Proteins Differentially Expressed In Response To Water Stress In Peanut. Plant and Animal Genome

   conference, San Diego, CA, January 13 – 17

   (http://www.intl-pag.org/15/abstracts/PAG15_P02b_56.html)

9. Vasanthaiah, H. K. N*, Katam, R. and Basha, S. M, 2006.  Water Stress Induced Differential Gene

Expression In Peanut. 38th Annual Meeting of American Peanut research and Education Society,

Savannah, GA, July 11 -14

    (http://168.29.148.65/scripts/pubs/PubDetail.CFM?Publication__ID=2392)

10. Katam, R, Vasanthaiah, H. K. N. and  Basha, S. M, 2006.  Differences in Leaf Protein         

     Expression Among Peanut Genotypes in Response to Water Stress.  38th Annual Meeting of

American Peanut research and Education Society, Savannah, GA, July 11 -14

(http://168.29.148.65/scripts/pubs/PubDetail.CFM?Publication__ID=2465).  

11. Katam, R, Vasanthaiah, H. K. N, Basha, S. M. and Mahzar, H, 2006.  Differential response of

      grape genotypes to water stress, 2006.  14th Biennial ARD Research Symposium, Atlanta, GA,

      April 1 -5.

12. Katam, R, Vasanthaiah, H. K. N. and Basha, S. M, 2006.  Differential Expression of mRNA

     Transcripts and Protein in Leaf Tissue of Peanut Genotypes to Water Stress. Poster presented at

     Plant and Animal Genome conference, San Diego, CA, January 14 – 18

    (http://www.intl-pag.org/14/abstracts/PAG14_P446.html).

13. Katam, R, Basha, S. M. and Vasanthaiah, H. K. N. 2005.  Genetic Variation in Molecular and

     cellular expression of Peanut genotypes in response to water stress.  37th Annual Meeting of

     American Peanut research and Education Society, Portsmouth, Virginia, July 11-15, 2005.

14. Kumar, N. V. H*. Ravishankar, K. V. Shivashankara, K. S. Anand, L. Narayanaswamy, P. Prasad,

     T. G. and Mukunda, G. K.  2004.  Cloning and characterization of differentially expressed genes of

      internal breakdown in mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Alphonso.  Poster presented at Plant and

     Animal Genome conference, held at San Diego, CA, USA from January 10 – 14

     (http://www.intl-pag.org/12/abstracts/P01_PAG12_36.html).

15. Kumar, N. V. H*. Mukunda, G. K. and Halesh, G. K. 2004.  Molecular analysis of mango

     (Mangifera indica L.) hybrids with their parents.  Plant and Animal Genome conference, held at

     San Diego, CA, USA from January 10 – 14.

16. Halesh, G. K. Prasad, T. G. Uday, K. M. Reddy, P. C. Devendra, R. Gowda, P. H. R.

      Narayanaswamy, P. and Kumar, N. V. H. 2004.  Agrobacterium mediated gene transfer for basta

      herbicide resistance in tobacco.  Plant and Animal Genome conference, held at San Diego, CA,

      USA from January 10 – 14.

17. Mukunda, G. K. Kumaraswamy, S. R. and Kumar, N. V. H. 2003.  Effect of pruning on vegetative

     and reproductive growth in alternate bearing varieties of mango.  National Seminar on Mango,

     challenges in management of production, postharvest, processing and marketing, held at College of

     Agriculture, Gujarat Agricultural University, Junagadh, India from June 14 – 15.

18. Kumar, N. V. H*. Narayanaswamy, P. Sondur, S. N. and Prasad, D. T. 2000.  Paternity analysis of

      mango (Mangifera indica L.) hybrids through RAPD markers.  Poster Presentation at National

      seminar on Hi-Tech Horticulture, held at Bangalore, Karnataka, India from June 26 -28.

 

Others:

1. Our work on anticancer activity of muscadine grape seeds - “Grape May Fight Cancer” was      

broadcasted by WCTV (http://www.wctv6.com/home/headlines/4234201.html) on Sept 26, 2006.

2. Cited in three references

3. Member (Grape Researcher) of International Grape Genomics Database (http://www.vitaceae.org)

 

Extracurricular Activities:

1. Accepted for exhibiting my stamp collection, titled “Struggle Against Malaria Continues” at

National Topical Stamp Show (NTSS07), which will be held at Irving, Texas from June 15-17,

2007.

2. Invited and Exhibited my philatelic collection on Malaria on behalf of Medical Subject Unit, ATA,

    at Washington 2006, World Philatelic Exhibition, held at Washington, DC from May 27 – June 3,

2006 (This Exhibition is held once in 10 years).

3. Member to several Philately and Numismatics societies around the world and have published few

    articles in some Indian and US Journals.

4. My Photos on Fall colors “Nature at its Best” was accepted and posted on Deccan Herald

    Newspaper website (http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/dec42006/update.asp).

 

* Presenter