Media Coverage
Dr. T. Venkatesan
Staff Image
Division
Designation
Email
nbairdirector@gmail.com
director.nbair@icar.org.in
tvenkat12@gmail.com
Phone Number
080-2351-1982
Fax
080-2341-1961
Professional Experience
32 years
Qualification
M. Sc (Ag. Entomology)., Ph.D (Ag. Entomology), Proficiency Course on Genetic Engineering at IISc, Bengaluru in 1997
Specilization
Currently working on Molecular Diagnostics of insects, RNA silencing on insect pests, insect genomics
Training
In vitro rearing of Natural Enemies at United States Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, Florida, USA during December 2004
Allele Mining in insects at West Virginia State University, USA March 21 to June 20, 2011
Participated at 6th International Barcode of Life Conference, at University of Guelph, Canada during 17th to 22nd August 2015
Invited to present a talk at International Congress of Biological Control (ICBC3) held at Sanjose, Costa Rica from 24th to 27th June 2024.
Visited Natural History Museum, London, UK in September 2024
Invited to attend the Technical Workshop on “Environment Risk Assessment Workshop: Non- Target Organisms testing” at Donald Danforth Plant Science Centre, St Louis, USA from 23/06 to 27/06/2025 organized by Agriculture & Food System Institute, Washington, USA
Awards and Honours
Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (FNAAS), New Delhi for the outstanding contribution in Entomology under Plant Protection Sciences category for 2021-22.
Fellow of National Academy of Biological Sciences 2019 by NABS, Chennai
Fellow of Royal Entomological Society (FRES) (2018): Royal Entomological Society, London
Fellow of Society for Biocontrol Advancement (2006) by Society for Biocontrol Advancement (SBA), Bangalore
Fellow of Association for Advancement of Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems (2012) by Association for Advancement of Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore, India.
National Societal Innovation Award (NRDC)" (3.0 lakhs) (2017) by National Research Development Council (NRDC), Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology.
Prof. T.N. Ananthakrishnan Award (2017) for the outstanding contribution to Biological Control of pests: Prof. T.N. Ananthakrishnan Foundation, Chennai, India
DR. S. Sithanantham Biennial Award for Excellence in Biological Control Research with special emphasis on Horticulture (2019): Association for Advancement of Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems (AAPMHE), Bangalore
Outstanding contribution to Science Award—2019: Dr. B. Vasantharaj David Foundation, Chennai
SBA- Dr. T.M. Manjunath Award (2017): For the Outsatnding contribution to Biological Control of Crop Pests. By Society for Biocontrol Advancement, Bangalore, India.
Research Excellence Award (2019): Society for Biotic and Environmental Research (SBER), Tripura
SBA-Dr. B.S. Bhumannavar Team Research Award (2014) (cash Award: Rs. 6000) by Society for Biocontrol Advancement, Bangalore (SBA), India.
Award of Excellence (2015) (Rs. 2000/- Cash Award): ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bangalore, India
Certificate of Merit, appreciation & Gold Medal (2018): State Award from District Collector, Krishnagiri Dist., Tamilnadu State Government, India
Team Award (2014): Society for Biocontrol Advancement (SBA), Bangalore, India
Secretary (2010-15): Society for Biocontrol Advancement, Bangalore, India
Vice President (2015-16): Society for Biocontrol Advancement, Bangalore, India
Vice President (2019 August onwards): Society for Biocontrol Advancement, Bangalore, India
Brief Achievements
Developed molecular diagnostic-based detection of invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda using Recombinase Polymerase amplification assay.
Determined the regulatory role of the miR-92a-3p - BOP1 interaction and underscore its importance in oogenesis and fertilization in invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda.
Studied the siRNA machinery genes expression and target gene knockdown Leucinodes orbonalis which has an ample response to exogenous dsRNA.
Documented differentially Expressed Cytochrome P450 in Response to Imidacloprid in the aphid lion, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi through Comparative Transcriptome analysis.
Determined the molecular mechanisms of insecticide resistance from the transcriptome data of field evolved spinosad resistant and susceptible populations of P. xylostella.
Performance and field efficacy of indigenous egg parasitoid, Trichogrammatoidea bactrae was studied against Pectinophora gossypiella in transgenic Bt cotton.
Population structure and genetic diversity of invasive fall armyworm after 2 years of introduction in India was studied which reveals the highest genetic diversity for Indian FAW populations to date and will be useful to track the subsequent evolution of FAW in India.
Identified the candidate genes involved in Bt BG II resistance in pink bollworm through comparative transcriptome study for the first time which will serve as a valuable resource for future studies to discern the molecular basis of PBW Bollgard II resistance.
Investigated the insecticide-resistance mechanism of P. xylostella associated with amino acid substitutions in acetylcholinesterase-1 through molecular docking & molecular dynamics investigation
Determined the enhanced insecticide-resistance spectrum in C. zastrowi sillemi (strain PTS-8) and its potential role in the management of sucking pests of cotton.
Identified and used expressed sequence tag microsatellite markers for population genetic research of H. armigera from India.
Explored the resistance-developing mutations on ryanodine receptor in diamondback moth and binding mechanism of its activators using computational study.
Differentiated some indigenous and exotic Trichogrammatids from India based on internal transcribed spacer-2 & cytochrome oxidase-I markers & studied their phylogenetic relationship
Recognition
Chairman and Panellist: Session on Sustainable Pest Management at the Summit on Sustainable Transformation in Agriculture and Nutrition (SUSTAIN-2026), held at National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore (5–6 February 2026), organized by TIGS – Tata Institute for Genetics and Society.
Convenor & Chairman: Theme on Ecological Insect Toxicology, Physiology, Genetics, Molecular Entomology and Biotechnology during the National Dialogue on Insects in Agriculture, Health and Environment held at ICAR-NBAIR, Bangalore (15-16 th December 2026)
RAC Member, CSB - Central Sericultural Germplasm Resources Centre, Hosur, Tamil Nadu (2024-26).
IRC Member: Directorate of Groundnut Research, Junagarh, Gujarat 2023-24.
IRC Member, ICAR-Centre for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Anand, Guajarat (2014-15).
Lead Talk and Panelist: International Satellite Symposium on Insect Multi-Omics: Molecular Insight Meets Pest Management Solutions –26 February 2025.
External Expert of the Advisory Committee Member of NASF, ICAR, New Delhi for the NASF funded project entitled, "Artificial intelligence enabled biotic & abiotic stress detection and advisory mobile application for crops.", IASRI, New Delhi in 2024
External Expert by Agri Innovate India Ltd, ICAR, New Delhi to evaluate the Technology Proposals (TDF) developed by ICAR-CICR< Nagpur on 16th December 2024
Lead Talk: National Brainstorming on ‘Insect Genomics and its Prospects in Pest Management’ was conducted on 23rd August 2024 at ICAR-0NBAIR, Bengaluru.
Chairman: Entomology Student Conclave 2024 (ESC2024) at University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru from 21st to 23rd February 2024, Organised by the Entomological Society of India.
Chairman for Theme 1 - Empowering farmers by integrating host plant resistance and protection of plant varieties for crop health management during the DST-SERB sponsored National Symposium on "Crop Health Management: Safeguarding Crop through Diagnostics and Innovations" held on September 29-30, 2023 at ICAR-VPKAS, Almora.
External Expert for the evaluation of research project at Seri-Biotech Research Laboratory, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, Kodathi, Bengaluru.
External member of the selection committee by Chandra Sekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh for recruiting Associate Professors and Professors (Entomology) during January 2024.
Evaluator of for the Project Organic waste management by using black soldier fly, under Zero Waste Hackathon, Kerala development and Innovative strategic Council (K-DISC), Planning and Economic Affairs (Development & innovation), Department, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 2024.
Co-Chairman for Theme 3 - Novel Approaches for Crop Health Management during the DST SERB sponsored National Symposium on "Crop Health Management: Safeguarding Crop through Diagnostics and Innovations" held on September 29-30, 2023 at ICAR-VPKAS, Almora.
Lead Speaker by Central Agricultural University, Imphal during the National Conference on Priorities in Crop Protection for Sustainable Agriculture from 16th to March 18th 2021 jointly organized by Directorate of Extension Education, CAU Imphal and ICAR-NBAIR, Bangalore
Keynote speaker: Conference on Challenges and Recent Initiatives on Sustainable Management on Fall Armyworm at Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bihar on 16th July, 2020
Co-Chairman: At AZRA International Conference on Frontier Research in Applied Zoology and Insect Pest Management Strategies: A way forward for food and nutritional security held at UAS, Raichur during 12th to 13 th Feb 2020.
Key Speaker: “National Symposium on Insect Diversity and Conservation, held at Loyola College, Chennai during 14th to 15th Feb 2020.
Invited Speaker: National Conference on Challenges and Innovative approaches in agriculture & allied sciences Research, held at Salem, Tamilnadu July 26th to 27th July 2019
Invited key Speaker: AZRA International Conference on Frontier Research in Applied Zoology and Insect Pest Management Strategies: A way forward for food and nutritional security held at UAS, Raichur during 12th to 13th Feb 2020.
Awarded DST International Travel Grant for attending 6th International Conference on Barcode of Life at University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
Awarded DST International Travel Grant for attending 3rd International Congress of Biological Control, San Jose, Costa Rica Dept. of Science & Technology, Govt. of India in 2024
Recognized as a Guide by Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology– Young Scientist Fellowship Scheme (TNSCST-YSFS) in 2023
Member of Board of Examiner: GPS Institution at Dept. of Botany, Bangalore university, for the courses Diploma and PG Diploma in Agriculture Management on 06/12/2019.
Expert: To discuss project on Project "Molecular characterization of Mulberry and Silkworm Germplasm" at CSGRC, Hosur on 22nd Oct. 2019.
Lead Speaker: National Agri-Business Entrepreneurship conclave: ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, India 9-11 February 2019.
Expert by the District Collector, Erode Dist., Tami Nadu for crating awareness on eco-friendly pest management strategies, Training the agricultural officers on the management of rugose spiralling whitefly, establishing units for mass production of effective natural enemies and Field demonstrations for the efficacy of effective natural enemies. During 2020.
Awarded Best Oral Presentation Award at in First International Conference on Biological Control: Approaches and Applications 27-29th September 2018, at Bangalore.
Co-Chairman for the Oral Presentation selection in Technical Session (2019) by Society for Biotic and Environmental Research (SBER), Tripura during National Conference on BIOCON, Salem, Tamilnadu (2019)
Recognized as Chairman for the Poster Presentation in Technical Session (2019): Society, for Biotic and Environmental Research (SBER), Tripura during National Conference on BIOCON, Salem, Tamilnadu (2019)
Best Oral Presentation Awarded in 13th Workshop of the IOBC Global Working Group on Mass Rearing and Quality Assurance, Mövenpick Hotel & Spa, Bangalore, India November 6-8, 2013
Invited to present Biological control of pests and Molecular Entomology at "First Professor T. N. Ananthakrishnan Memorial Lecture & Foundation Award Function held at Madras Christian College, Chennai on 23rd February 2017.
Member of PG board of studies at Agril. Entomology at PAJANCOA, Puducherry 2016.
Subject Editor, Bulletin of Entomological Research, UK
Associate Editor, Indian Journal of Entomology, New Delhi
Special Editor, Journal of Environmental Biology, Lucknow
Recognized as Faculty, Division of Entomology, New Delhi to guide Ph.D students
Publications
Total Number of Publication = 303
Selected Publications
Jyoti, P., Suman, T.C., Selva Babu, S., Nistha, N., Saravanan, S., Veeramanikanta Reddy, N., Gracy, R.G*., Venkatesan, T*., Mohan, M., Subaharan, K*., Girish Kumar, J. and Sushil, S.N. 2026. Molecular and functional characterization of pheromone–binding proteins in Leucinodes orbonalis Guenée . International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 356: 151399; DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.151399
Nicky* R. F., Ashok, K., Venkatesan, T., Wertheim, B. and Mariana, B. 2025. Leveraging advances in RNAi and CRISPR for improved biological pest control. Current Opinion in Insect Science, 73:101453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2025.101453.
Jenifer, S.J., Selva Babu, S., Venkatesan, T*., Gracy R.G., Subramanian, S., Menon, G., Sivakumar, G., Manjunath, C. 2025. Gut microbiota profiling of Apis cerana indica across biodiversity hotspots in the Western Ghats, India. Molecular Biology Reports, 53:35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-025-11152-4.
Subhi, S., Ashok, K., Suman, T.C., Selva Babu, S., Gracy, R.G., Subaharan, K., Mohan, M., Selvaraj, K., Sagar, D., Sushil, S.N. and Venkatesan, T*. 2025. RNAi-mediated effective gene silencing of multiple targets in the Asia-I genetic group of Bemisia tabaci G. (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) using double-stranded RNA through oral delivery. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Technology, 69: 103742: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2025.103742
Manjunatha C., Venkatesan, T*., Nanditha S., Shivakumara K. T., Nishtha N., Mohan M., Gandhi G. R., Ramya R. S., Aditya K., Chikkabidare M. Karthik,Selvababu S., Jyoti Pathak, Girish K. Jha & S.N. Sushil. 2025. Recombinase polymerase amplification assay for sensitive and rapid detection of invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. Scientific Reports, (2025) 15:18026 1| https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02399-9.
Mohan, M.*, Venkatesan, T*. Upasna, S., Selvababu, S., Aneesha, P.J., Ashok, K*., Budhwar Roli, Gracy, G. and Sushil, S.N. 2025. High-quality genome assembly of a cosmopolitan insect predator, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Petersen), Scientific Data, 12:281 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-04571-2
Jyoti P., Selva Babu Selvamani, Subhi Srivastava, Ashwitha G., T.C. Suman, Gandhi, G.R., T. Venkatesan*, Mohan, Anu S., Sanjeev K., Sudhir S., Girish Kumar J., Sushil, S.N. 2024. miR-92a 3p regulates egg fertilization through ribogenesis in the invasive fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda, International Journal of Macromolecules, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.139637
N. Veeramanikanta Reddy, T. C. Suman, Gracy R. Gandhi., Jyoti Pathak| Y. K. Yadu | T. Venkatesan* and Satya Nand Sushil. 2025. Apprehending siRNA Machinery and Gene Silencing in Brinjal Shoot and Fruit Borer, Leucinodes orbonalis. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1002/arch.70029
Nikita Negi, Gandhi Gracy Ramasamy*, Selvababu, S., Nagarjuna Reddy, K.V., Jyoti, P., Venkatesan, T., Mohan, M., and Vinod Kumar, D. and Sushil, S.N. 2024. Identification of cytochrome P450 genes and their expression pattern in different developmental stages of Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part D: Genomics and Proteomics. Volume 52, 2024, 101305, ISSN 1744 117X,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbd.2024.101305
Nareshkumar A., Venkatesan T*. and SN Sushil.2024. Nanoparticle-mediated dsRNA delivery for precision insect pest control: a comprehensive review. Molecular Biology Reports 51:355 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-023-09187-6
Mohan, M., Neenu, A., Selvababu, S., Aneesha, P.J., Upasna, S., Jyoti, P., Venkatesan, T. and Sushil, S.N. 2024. The miniature genome of broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Tarsonemidae: Acari). Scientific Data, 11(1): DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03579-4
Ravindran, K., Ashok, K., Bhargava, C.N.,Venkatesan T.,Asokan, R. 2023. Effectiveness of chitosan nanohydrogel mediated encapsulation of EcR dsRNA against the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Asia-I. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105712
Priyanka D., Venkatesan. T,*, Omprakash Navik, M. Mohan, K. M. Venugopal, Basavaarya, V. Linga, Y. Lalitha, G. Sivakumar and M. Ashwini.2023. Cross-resistance and biochemical mechanismin an insecticide-resistant population of Trichogramma chilonis and its parasitizing efficiency against invasive fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith). Current Science, 124, (1), 10 January 2023.
Aditi A., Gandhi G.R., Jyoti P., Nishtha N, Mohan M., Pratheepa M., Anil Rai, and Venkatesan T*. 2022. Deciphering the Molecular Mechanisms of Insecticide Resistance from the Transcriptome Data of Field Evolved Spinosad Resistant and Susceptible Populations of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) Journal of Economic Entomology, XX(XX), 2022, 1–11
Jyoti, P., Gandhi G.R., Aditi A., Subhi S., Basavaarya, B.R., Mohan M., Venugopal, K.M., Pratheepa M., Anil Rai and Venkatesan.T.* 2022. Comparative Transcriptome Analysis to Reveal Differentially Expressed Cytochrome P450 in Response to Imidacloprid in the Aphid Lion, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Petersen). Insects, 13, 900. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13100900
Nishtha, N., Gracy, R., Ashika, T., Mohan, G., Swathi, R.S., Mohan, M., Malvika, C., Bakthavatsalam, N. and Venkatesan. T*. 2021. Population structure and genetic diversity of invasive fall armyworm after two years of introduction in India. Scientific Reports. (2021) 11:7760 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87414-5
G.T. Kumara , Omprakash Navik , T. Venkatesan,* , Arunkumar Hosamani , Jagadeesh Patil b , M. Mohan c , S.K. Jalali..2021. Performance and field efficacy of indigenous egg parasitoid Trichogrammatoidea bactrae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) against the cotton pink bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in transgenic Bt cotton. Biological Control 170 (2022) 104902
Ashwini, M., Mohan, M., Sivakumar, G. and Venkatesan, T.*. 2021. Enhanced insecticide
resistance spectrum in green lacewing predator, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (strain PTS-8) and
its potential role in the management of sucking pests of cotton. Current Science, 120, (2), 423
428.
resistance spectrum in green lacewing predator, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (strain PTS-8) and
its potential role in the management of sucking pests of cotton. Current Science, 120, (2), 423
428.
Aditi, A., Venkatesan, T*., Gracy, G., Ramya, R.S., Mohan, M. and Anil Rai. 2020. Transcriptome alterations of field-evolved resistance in Pectinophora gossypiella against Bt Bollgard II cotton in India. Journal of Applied Entomology, DOI: 10.1111/jen.12805.
Sindhu, T., Venkatesan, T*., Prabhu, D., Jeyakanthan, J., Gracy, G.R., Jalali, S.K. and Anil Rai. 2018. Insecticide-resistance mechanism of Plutella xylostella associated with amino acid substitutions in acetylcholinesterase-1: a molecular docking and molecular dynamics investigation. Computational Biology & Chemistry: 77: 240-250.
Sindhu, T., Venkatesan, T*., Gracy R. G., S. K. Jalali, and Anil Rai. 2017. Exploring the resistance developing mutations on Ryanodine receptor in DBM and binding mechanism of its activators using computational study. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 121: 59-72.
Ramya, S.L.,Venkatesan, T*., Murthy, K.S., 2016. Detection of carboxylesterase and esterase activity in culturable gut bacterial flora isolated from diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella from India and its possible role in indoxacarb degradation. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology doi:10.1016/j.bjm.2016.01.012.
Venkatesan, T*., Ravi P. More., Reeta, B., Jalali, S.K., Lalitha, Y. and Chandish, R.B. 2016. Differentiation of some indigenous and exotic trichogramatids from India based on internal transcribed spacer-2 and cytochrome oxidase-I markers and their phylogenetic relationship. Biological Control, 101: 130-137.
Prathibha, M., Venkatesan, T*. and Jalali. 2016. Resistance in Meconellicoccus hirsutus in India to selected insecticides and quantification of enzymes imparting resistance. Crop Protection, 89: 116-122.
Books Published
Insect Multi-Omics: Molecular Insight to Crop Pest Management (1st Edition). (Eds: Venkatesan T, Ashok K, Mohan M, Gracy RG, Sushil SN). 2025. 357 pp. Published by Director, ICAR-NBAIR, Bangalore (ISBN 978-81-985383-1-4).
Fighting Pesticide Resistance in Arthropods (Book) Ed. By Mohan, M., Venkatesan, T., Sivakumar, G., 2015; 238 pp Westville, Publishing House, New Delhi; ISBN 978-93-83491-26-1\
ICAR-NBAIR, 2024, Technologies on Biocontrol, Pheromone and Insect Derived Resources for Agribusiness(Compiled & edited by K. Subhaharan, Amala, U., T. Venkatesan, A. Kandan, Ashika T.R. & S.N. Sushil). 105 pp Published by Director, ICAR-NBAIR, Bangalore; ISBN No. : 978-81 927161-6-9.
Technology Developed and Commercialized
1. Developed Pesticide Tolerant Strain of aphid lion, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi, an important predator of sucking pests (PTS-8) and Commercialized to Private Industries
2. Developed Multiple insecticide tolerant strain of egg parasitoid T. chilonis for the management of fall armyworm (MITS-FAW) and commercialized to private industries.
3. Developed Multiple Insecticide tolerant strain of T. chilonis and commercialized to private industries.
4. Developed High temperature tolerant strain of egg parasitoid T. chilonis and commercialized to private industries.
