• BEST POSTER AWARD presented to Rajesh, M.K., Radha, E., Sajini K.K. and Anitha Karun for the paper entitled, Polyamine-induced plantlet regeneration from plumular explants of dwarf cultivars of coconut displayed at the Poster Session of International Conference on Coconut-Biodiversity for Prosperity held at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod from 25th-28th October, 2010.

• Awarded DR. S.K. BALLAL and M/S MONSANTO INDIA AWARD and GOLD MEDAL for best Ph.D student in Biotechnology in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during the convocation held at Coimbatore on 13.11. 2007

• Awarded YOUNG INVESTIGATORS PROGRAMME IN BIOTECHNOLOGY 2009 by Kerala Biotechnology Commission. A project entitled, ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RESISTANCE GENE ANALOGUES FROM COCONUT was sanctioned under the programme

• Dr. R.L. NARASIMHA SWAMY MEMORIAL AWARD presented to Radha, E., Anitha Karun, Rajesh, M.K. and Nancy J. Mariya for the best original paper displayed at the Poster Session of PLACROSYM XVIII held at National Research Centre for Cashew, Puttur, Karnataka from 10th-13th December, 2008.

• Awarded Department of Biotechnology (DBT) RAPID GRANT SCHEME FOR YOUNG INVESTIGATORS in 2007. A project entitled

• A repeatable protocol was standardized for regeneration of complete plantlets via organogenesis and embryogenesis from plumular tissues of West Coast Tall cultivar of coconut. Plantlets have been successfully established in the field.

• A repeatable protocol was standardized for regeneration of complete plantlets via organogenesis and embryogenesis from plumular tissues of dwarf cultivars of coconut (Chowghat Green Dwarf, Malayan Orange Dwarf and Malayan Yellow Dwarf).

• Intensive browning of explants is a major problem encountered during in vitro propagation of coconut. The use of polyamines (putrescine and spermine) in the culture media was found to completely control browning of adult palm meristems in culture. The tissues were found to remain fresh even after a year in culture in polyamine containing medium.

• Degenerate primers were designed and used to amplify genes induced during somatic embryogenesis in coconut and arecanut. Amplicons of expected sizes were cloned and sequenced. Sequences showed homology to somatic embryogenesis receptor kinase-like gene (SERK) and BABY BOOM from other crops have been deposited in NCBI.

• Genetic survey of ten Indian coconut landraces was carried out using microsatellite markers. The amount of genetic variability present within these landraces and their population structure were deduced.

• West Coast Tall, Chowghat Green Dwarf and Malayan Green Dwarf coconut palms from root (wilt) endemic areas of Southern Kerala were characterized using microsatellite markers and their population structure deduced.

• Transcripts induced during water stress in coconut identified using differential display (DDRT-PCR) technique. Several differentially expressed transcripts were significantly homologous to stress regulated genes/proteins isolated from other plant species.

• Genome-wide analysis was carried out to identify the frequency and abundance of microsatellites from completely sequenced genomes of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus cereus. Sequences flanking the microsatellite regions were then used to design primer pairs to amplify the microsatellite region.

• Two software’s for coconut cultivar identification using molecular marker data derived from isozymes and microsatellite analysis were developed.

• Phylogenetic studies on indigenous palms were carried out using four nuclear DNA sequences viz. intron 4 of phosphoribulokinase (PRK), intron 23 of the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and resistance gene Analogues (RGAs).

• In silico designed EST-SSR primers were validated for their use as molecular markers in cocoa.

• Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) were cloned and characterized from coconut red palm weevil using the degenerate primer approach.

• Resistant Gene Analogues (RGAs) and WRKY genes were cloned and characterized from coconut and arecanut using a degenerate primer-PCR approach.