Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR)

Discipline: Plant Bio-Chemistry | Designation: Principal Scientist | At DSR Since: 1989

Email: ratnavathi@millets.res.in | Mobile: 09885634810

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Degree	Institute/ University	Year of completion	Subject(s) with major field
Ph D	Osmania University, Hyderabad, AP	1998	Biochemistry
M.Phil	Central University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad	1984	Life Sciences (Biochemistry)
M.Sc	Central University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad	1983	Life Sciences (Biochemistry)
B.Sc	Andhra University, Visakhapatnam	1981	Botany, Zoology and Chemistry

Employment Record & Experience (Starting from the present position)

Designation	Organization	Institution & place of posting	Period (From-to)	Duration (years, months)
Principal Scientist	ICAR	Directorate of Sorghum Research, Hyderabad	28-09-2006 to till date
Senior Scientist	ICAR	National Research Centre for Sorghum, Hyderabad, AP	28-09-1998 to 27-09-2006	8 years
Scientist (Selection Grade)	ICAR	National Research Centre for Sorghum,, Hyderabad, AP	27-7-1998 to 28-09-1998	2 months
Scientist (Senior Scale)	ICAR	National Research Centre for Sorghum, Hyderabad	19-03-1992 to 27-7-1998	6 years, 4 months, 8 days
Scientist	ICAR	National Research Centre for Sorghum, Hyderabad	19-01-1989 to 19-03-1992	3 years
Scientist	ICAR	Central Tobacco Research Institute	19-03-1985 to 18-01-1989	3 years, 10 months

Biochemical studies on sucrose accumulation in sweet sorghum for efficient ethanol production in sweet sorghum (NFBSFARA project upto 2016 as a PI)
Studies on the therapeutic properties and establishing millets as a functional and health food (DBT project as a PI upto 2020)
Research responsibilities on sorghum health foods in sorghum in XII plan
Studies on 1st and 2nd generation fuel ethanol from sweet sorghum

Contributed for the release of the first public sector hybrid of sweet sorghum CSH 22 SS and variety CSV 24SS after establishing the commercialization of use of sweet sorghum cane for fuel ethanol production (Renuka Sugar factory, Belgaum, Karnataka, 2003, Sagar sugars Pvt. Ltd, Nelavoy, Chittoor Dt.2005 and EID parry India pvt ltd, Srikakulam, 2016). Identified suitable microbial cultures, Candida tropicalis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (amylolytic strain) for fermentation of sweet sorghum juice
Developed process for making poha (beaten sorghum) from sorghum using rice flaking machine , extruded sorghum (pasta and vermicelli)and preconditioning of grain for the preparation of pops
High antioxidant activity measured as Ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant activity (AEAA) and DPPH activity was standardized and measured in 127 genotypes and 33 genotypes are with high AEAA activity. Out of these 10 genotypes are having high polyphenolic content also. They are IS 29241, EP 20, IS 28614, SPV 1745, IS 24462, EP 105, IS 14861, IS 30572, IS 19445 and IS 28313.

Elected as member, Scientific panel of FSSAI for cereals, pulses, oil seeds and bakery products, FSSAI, FDA Bhavan, New Delhi (two times2018 and 2020).
Expert member of review committee of BBSRC projects, UK, 2019
Member of special Task force of Food and Nutrition, DBT, 2018.
Expert member of review committee for selection of research projects of DDG Education division of ICAR, New Delhi. (2018)
Invited as expert for a lecture on nutritional and health benefits of millets at Defence Metallurgical Laboratories (DMRL)(2019)
Invited as expert on Mycotoxins for the workshop on dietary exposure of mycotoxins organized at NIN in collaboration with University of Aberdeen, UK during August 2019

Collaborating with Department of Biochemistry, Osmnania University, Hyderabad in the DBT external project
Collaborating with Dr.SudhaVasudevan, Mohan’s diabetic research foundation, Chennai for low glycemic millet foods and their characterization
Collaboration with Dr.Mohana Krishna, IICT, Hyderabad for research on metabolomics of sucrose metabolism in sweet sorghum.

Aruna, C, Ratnavathi, C V, Suguna, M, Ranga B, Praveen, P, Annapurna A, Bahadure, DM and VA Tonapi (2019) Genetic variability and GxE interactions for total polyphenol content and anti-oxidant activity in white and red sorghums (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), Plant Breeding (Accepted)
Vali Pasha, K, Ratnavathi, CV, Ajani J, Raju, D, Manoj Kumar, S and Sashidhar, RB (2018) Proximate, mineral composition and antioxidant activity of traditional small millets cultivated and consumed in Rayalaseema region of South India, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 98:2,652-660(DOI 10.1002/jsfa.8510
RatnavathiCV (2018) Grain Structure, Quality and Nutrition, in Breeding sorghum for diverse end uses Eds. C. Aruna, KBRS Visarada, B.Venkatesh Bhat and VA Tonapi. Elsevier publishers ISBN: 978-0-08- 101879-8, 193-203
Ratnavathi, CV, JV Patil and UD Chavan (2016) Sorghum Biochemistry- An Industrial Perspective, ISBN : 978-012-803157-5 Editors: Ratnavathi, Patil&Chavan-, Elsevier publishers, Oxford: Academic Press , PP 343.
Venkatesh Bhat, C V Ratnavathi, B Dayakar Rao, R Chapke, R Swarna, P G Padmaja, G ShyamPrasad, I K Das, C Aruna, R Venkateswarlu, N Kannababu,Sooganna, S S Rao, AvinashSinghode, HS Talwar, K Srinivasababu and VA Tonapi (2019) Manual on Good Agricultural Practices in Millets.ISBN No 81-89335-88-X ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, 56p

Developing grades and standards for millets and millet food products.
Participated in the training on ‘Advances in HPLC techniques, analysis of vitamins in foods and other applications of HPLC at the 6th Asia Pacific Food Analysis Network (APFAN) workshop on food analysis 4-9 May, 1999 Environmental Toxicology Research Institute at Brisbane, Australia.
Coordinated FAO Sweet sorghum varietal evaluation trial
Training cum discussion programme on ‘Biochemical aspect of grain protein quality and improving nutritional value of sorghum grain’ at Texas A&M University and Purdue University, USA.