Dr. Thandra Rakesh

worked as Senior Research Fellow in Agricultural Research Station, Mudhole under the project “ICAR-AICRP on Bt. Cotton paid up trials during 2025-26” for the period from 16.05.2025 to 22.10.2025.

My Research focussed on study on population dynamics of major pest and natural enemies in Cotton, Rice, Chilli in 2-5 year old Natural Farming fields

My doctoral research focuses on identifying chilli germplasms with resistance to thrips under both field and glasshouse conditions. As part of the work, I conducted extensive surveys across four districts of Tamil Nadu to study the thrips species associated with chilli cultivation. The collected thrips were identified and characterized using both morphological observations and DNA barcoding techniques. For resistance screening, I collected diverse chilli germplasms from the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources and the TNAU Ramiah Gene Bank. Field screening was carried out over two cropping seasons using resistant and susceptible checks to identify promising resistant lines. The selected germplasms were then further evaluated under glasshouse conditions through artificial infestation experiments to confirm their resistance. To better understand the resistance mechanisms, I also carried out biophysical, biochemical, and metabolomic studies on the selected chilli lines. The overall objective of this research is to identify valuable resistant donor lines that can be effectively utilized in chilli breeding programmes for the development of thrips-resistant varieties.

During my Master’s degree, I conducted comprehensive field and glasshouse screening of wild rice MAGIC (Multiple Advanced Generation Intercross) populations to identify resistant germplasms against major insect pests of rice. The study focused on key pests including Yellow Stem Borer, Leaf Folder, Brown Planthopper (BPH), and Green Leaf Hopper (GLH). Field screening was carried out under natural infestation conditions using resistant and susceptible checks for comparative assessment. Promising resistant germplasms identified from field trials were further validated through controlled glasshouse screening experiments. In addition, biophysical and biochemical analyses were conducted to investigate the underlying mechanisms associated with pest resistance. The research contributed to the identification of potential resistant donor lines for use in rice improvement and breeding programmes.

As part of the programme I went to rural villages in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh. I practically learned the production and package of practices followed in the cultivation of Banana, Sweet orange, grapes, Marigold, rice and Groundnut

As part of the project I worked in crop production and Post Harvest thematic areas. I practically learned about production technologies in sweet limes, mango grafting and post harvest handling of horticulture commodities

Rakesh, T., R. P. Soundararajan, S. Sheeba Joyce Roseleen, and P. Jeyaprakash

"Evaluation of wild rice MAGIC population for biophysical parameters and yellow stem borer resistance"

Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding

2021 - Vol. 12 (3), pp. 998-1010

T. Rakesh, R. P. Soundararajan, S. Sheeba Joyce Roseleen and P. Jeyaprakash

"Evaluation of Wild Rice MAGIC Population for Resistance against rice leaffolder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenee"

International Journal of Research in Agronomy

2024 - Vol. 7 (2), pp. 441-447

Nitta, A., Natarajan, V., Reddy, A. J., & Rakesh, T.

"Impact of climate change on pest biology, behaviour and their distributions"

International Journal of Environment and Climate Change.

2024 - Vol. 14 (4), pp. 46-56

Rakesh Thandra, N. Chitra, M.Murugan, R. P. Soundararajan, M. Kavitha, D. Uma.

"Chili pestiferous thrips Thrips parvispinus (Karny, 1922) and Thrips tabaci (Lindman, 1889) (Thripidae: Thysanoptera) antennal structural characterisation."

Plant Science Today

2024 - Vol. 11 (4), pp. 1-11

Rakesh, T., Chitra, N., Murugan, M., Soundararajan, R. P., Kavitha, M., & Uma, D.

"Relative abundance and population dynamics of chilli thrips Scirtothrips dorsalis (Hood)(Thripidae: Thysanoptera) and its correlation with weather parameters."

Plant Science Today

2026 - Vol. 13 (1), pp. 2348-1900

M. Jayaveni, YS Johnson Thangaraj Edward, A Suganthi, M Kannan, R Anandham, R Kannan & Thandra Rakesh.

"Synergistic effects of insecticides and lactic acid bacterial formulation on Plutella xylostella (L.) and beneficial coccinellids in cauliflower."

Plant Science Today

2024 - Vol. 12 (1), pp. 1-10

Entomological Society of India, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru

Oral Presentation · Offline · Feb 2024

Studies On Insect Plant Interaction On Major Insect Pests And Natural Enemies In Wild Rice Magic Population

Thandra Rakesh, R.P. Soundararajan, P. Jeyaprakash, S. Sheeba Joyce Rosleen

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Coimbatore

Poster Presentation · Offline · Feb 2025

Relative abundace of Natural enemies in wild rice MAGIC population

Thandra Rakesh, R.P. Soundararajan, Sheeba Joyce Rosleen, P. Jeyaprakash

Pushkaram College of Agriculture Sciences, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu., Pushkaram College of Agriculture Sciences, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu.

Poster Presentation · Online · May 2025

Host suitability of Reduvid bugs, Rhynochoris marginatus (Fab) on Corcyra cephalonica and Galleria mellonella larvae for mass rearing in laboratory conditions

Thandra Rakesh, R. P. Soundararajan, P.Jeyaprakash , S. Sheeba Joyce Roseleen