Dr. R. Victor J Ilango, Deputy Director & Director In-charge joined the Institute in 1989. His research area includes clonal selection, grafting, development of biclonal seed stocks, mechanization of cultivation practices, pruning and harvesting techniques and weed control. Currently he is involved in Package of Agronomic Practices on Japanese model to suit Mechanization in south Indian Tea Plantation & Tea Genome Sequencing. He is a recognized guide for the M Phil and Ph.D., programmes in the field of Plant Genetics by Bharathiar University, Coimbatore.
Dr.P.Nepolean joined the UPASI-TRF, TRI in 2010 and appointed as the Plant Pathologist of the division since Sep 2015. Currently handling three NTRF funded projects namely the effect of black tea against Breast Cancer, Biodegradation of agrochemicals and Microbial metabolites against tea diseases. He was honoured with the “Best Scientist Award” in the area of Plant Pathology and Microbiology by Nature Science Foundation. He served about ten years in UPASI TRF-TRI, in the field in tea disease and nutrient management (IDM & INM), new molecule evaluations and demonstration of beneficial microbes in the tea ecosystem. He is guiding three Ph.D. students under Bharathiar University.
Dr. S. Ashokraj is working as Biotechnologist in Plant Physiology and Biotechnology Division. He has completed his Doctoral degree in Republic of Korea and his M.Phil., & M.Sc. degrees in Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. His area of specialization includes Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Plant Stress Biology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Functional Genomics, Bioinformatics, Plant tissue culture, Marker assisted selection (MAS) for plant breeding and evaluation of Plant Growth Regulators for their bio-efficacy in tea. He has more than nine years of research experience in Plant Science and Microbiology which includes around 10 publications in SCI/SCIE indexed and other peer reviewed journals. He is a recognized guide by Bharathiar University, Coimbatore for conducting Ph.D. program in Biotechnology.
Mr. K. Balasubramanian joined institute in 1986 and presently working as a ‘Chemist’ in NABL accredited laboratory of UPASI TRF-Regional Centre. Coonoor. He has 36 years of wide experience in research, analytical and quality systems. He has been working as a Head-Quality Assurance of the GLP laboratory of the institute for five years and further he was serving as the ‘Quality Manager’ of the NABL accredited, FSSAI, CIB and Tea Board certified laboratories of our institute for four years. He was heading Soil Chemistry Division for three years and Pesticide Residue Division of our institute for about one year. He has been the author and co-author of many research papers of soil chemistry division which includes latest Revised Manuring Recommendation for Tea in South India.
Dr. T. Raj kumar working as a Chemist in Chemistry Division since August 2020. After the Post-graduation in Chemistry, he started his career as a Soil and Sugar Chemist (Asst. Manager) in R&D Centre of E.I.D Parry India Ltd. (Sugar Factory), Karur for more than three years and relieved on 2013 for his doctoral programme.He has completed his Doctoral dissertation in Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai on February 2019 in the area of nanomaterials and their applications. Before entering the UPASI TRF, he worked as a National Post-Doctoral Fellow (under the scheme of DST-SERB, New Delhi) in Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune. He published more than 12 number of articles in a reputed pre-reviewed international journals. Currently, he is focusing the field trials in organic/conventional tea gardens with soil amendments and foliar nutrients for thesustainable tea cultivations. He is also covering the research works which are related to the nano-fertilizers and their impacts in tea fields.
Dr. P. Murugesan working as an Advisory Officer at Regional Centre, Coonoor since April 2020. After the Post-graduation in Chemistry, he started his career as a Production supervisor (Plant Incharge) in Ellak Chem Industries Pvt Ltd, Dharmapuri. After he served as an officer Production in Chemplast Sanmar Ltd, Mettur. Then he moved to Carboline India Pvt Ltd, Chennai as executive quality control. Finally, he joined as an Assistant Advisory officer at UPASI TRF, Regional centre, Coonoor in March 2011. He has completed his Ph.D. at UPASI Tea Research Institute in 2020 in Tea brew quality. He has held the Technical manager responsible for NABL till March 2020. He published more than 10 articles in reputed peer-reviewed international journals. At present, he is focusing on analytical and advisory services, Field and Factory trials related to nutritional and quality development at the Regional centre, Coonoor and he is holding the responsibility of Quality Manager for NABL since April 2020.
Dr. K. Poobathiraj is working as a Tea Technologist and Head in Tea Technology Division at Regional Centre, Coonoor since May 2021. He joined the institute in 2007 as a Senior Research Fellow (2007 – 2012) and worked as Assistant Chemist (2012 -2020) and Chemist (2020- 2021) in soil chemistry division. He got his doctoral degree in the topic of “Studies on humic acid and its influence on tea” in the year 2016. He has been working with various departments like plant and soil chemistry department (2012-2018), pesticide residue department (2018-2020) and presently he is focusing his research on tea quality and manufacturing aspects. He has more than 14 years of experience in both research and analytical works and published more than 10 publications. His analytical experience involves analysis of soil and plant nutrients, agrochemicals, pesticide residues, heavy metals, tea quality and tea FSSAI parameters. Besides, he has been designated as a ‘Technical Manager’ to implement standards of ISO 17025: 2017 in our NABL accredited laboratory of Regional Centre, Coonoor.
Dr. M. Sivakumar working as a Pesticide Residue Chemist& Head in Pesticide Residue Division since August 2020. He did his Doctoral dissertation (under the scheme of Chinese government Full scholarship (2010-2015) in Peking University, Beijing, Chinain the area of nanomaterials for biomedical applications. Further, he worked as a Post-Doctoral Fellow for the period of two years (under the scheme of Shanghai government funding (2018-2020), China) in ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China. He published 2 articles in a reputed pre-reviewed international journals. Currently, he is focusing his research on the pesticide residues and heavy metals challenging the quality of domestic and exported teas of south India to maintain the standards of EU, Codex, Japan, EPA and FSSAI. He is also conducting residue studies on new pesticide molecules for registration purpose in tea as per the norms given by Central Insecticide Board of India (CIB) and Tea Board of India.
Mr. P.Sankaranarayanan joined in the institute in 1987 in an ICAR project on the “bio-ecology of flush worm”. Later he worked in various Regional Centres and retired from the Regional Centre, Vandiperiyar as Sr.Advisory Officer in 2015. Currently he is working as Consulting Advisory Officer in the Regional Centre, Koppa.
Mr.S.Ranjith Kumar has completed his Master Degree in Botany specialization in Microbiology at the American College, Madurai. He has joined the service to UPASI Tea Research Foundation as Assistant Advisory Officer in Regional Centre, Munnar during the year 2007 and he is in Advisory Officer of UPASI Regional Centre, High Range from 2015. He has conducted different types of field experiments and evaluated number of agro products. He is specialised in tea planting and tracing out contour lining for replanting and replacement planting. He has the special skills in imparting practical and in-house training on various aspects of cultural operations on tea to the field Executives, staff and workers.
Dr. T P Rabeesh is working as an Entomologist and Head in the Division of Entomology. He has completed his doctoral degree from Sacred Heart College, Thevara, Cochin recognized by M.G University Kottayam and Masters degree from University of Calicut. Before his joining he was worked in various colleges and Rice research station Moncompu, Allepey. His area of research includes insect Taxonomy, Systematics, Crop Protection etc. He has more than 10 years of research experience in the field of Entomology and Zoological studies includes various National and International publications in peer reviewed journals. Currently he is handling one NTRF funded project.
Advisory Centers
Mr. K.G. Udaya Bhanu, M.Sc., Deputy Director, Advisory Services joined the Institute in 1982 in an ICAR sponsored project entitiled “Bio-ecology of shot hole borer”. He is in the advisory wing of the TRF for the past 28 years in different capacities. Currently, he heads Advisory Centre, Coonoor.
Mr. M.A. Subair, joined the institute during 1988 as Technical Assistant and he also served as a Advisory Officer in the Regional Centre, Meppadi, Wayanad. He had served ten years as Assistant Advisory Officer in the Regional Centre, Gudalur before he was promoted and transferred to Meppadi. He is currently working as Advisory Officer at Regional Centre, Gudalur.
Mr. R. Kumaraguru joined in UPASI TRF during 1988 and served as Chemist till 2011. Presently he is working as advisory officer, UPASI, Regional Centre Meppadi. He was involved in both research and analytical work. He was well versed in NABL accreditation programme of the chemical lab and standardized the procedures of BIS methods for quantification of agro chemicals. His area of interest is conducting experiment to evaluate various agricultural products, and to evaluate the productivity in tea besides its suitability for their application / adaptation.
PAST DIRECTORS / CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICERS
Dr. B. Radhakrishnan, started his career in the Entomology Division of UPASI Tea Research Institute in 1983. He served as Advisory Officer and Senior Advisory Officer in the Regional Centres in Wayanad and Munnar. He also served as Assistant Director (Advisory Services) in the Regional Centre, Coonoor. He has Masters Degree in Entomology from University of Madras. He is the first Ph.D from UPASI Tea Research Foundation affiliated to the Bharathiar University. He has over 28 years of research and advisory experience in UPASI Tea Research Institute. He has published more than 100 research papers in National and International journals. He is a member of the editorial board of Indian Society for Plantation Crops. Specialised in Entomology, his areas of research are organic farming, sustainable agriculture and IPM. He has been instrumental in getting GI certification for Nilgiri Orthodox tea.
Dr. P. Mohan Kumar joined the TRF in May 2006 and before assuming the office of Director he served as Director (since June 2008), Joint Director and Additional Director of the institute. After his Post Graduate Degree in Genetics and Plant Breeding from Kerala University, he obtained Ph.D (Ag.) from Bose Institute, Kolkata University and specialized in Plant Biotechnology. He worked as a Scientist in Tropical Botanic Garden, Trivandrum for two years and then joined the R&D unit of M/s TATA Tea Limited in Munnar, Kerala where he worked for over 20 years both in their south and North Indian units. He served as a member of Board of studies for the Biotechnology Department in the Kerala University (1995-98) and in the Research Advisory Council of Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat, Assam (2004-06). Currently he is a member of board of studies in the Botany division of Bharathiar University, Coimbatore and Biotechnology Division of KSR College, Thiruchencode. He is also a member of different committees of Tea Board. He has been conferred the fellow of the Indian Society of Plantation Crops for his outstanding research work in plantation crop. His field of interest is Agronomy, breeding and biotechnology of plantation crops. He has over 35 publications to his credit and co-guided two Ph.D students. He has been recognized by Bharathiar University, Coimbatore as a Research Guide leading to Doctoral Degree.
Dr. N. Muraleedharan, served as Director of the institute from 1997-2008. He joined the institute in 1980 after six years of service as Scientist in the Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. He obtained his Ph.D from the Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, affiliated to Madras University in 1976 under the able guidance of the world renowned Entomologist Prof. T. N. Ananthakrishnan. Before becoming the Adviser (2008 – 2011) of the institute, he has served the TRI in different capacities such as Director, Joint Director, Assistant Director, and Head of the Division of Entomology. His pioneering work on shot hole borer management is a landmark in plant protection in tea. His studies on IPM further contributed to the reduction of pesticide load in tea in south India. Many of his findings and recommendations are widely adopted by the tea industry. He has successfully guided eight students for Ph. D. He has more than 200 publications and a couple of books to his credit. His monograph on “Pest management in tea” is an important source of reference on pests of tea in South India. He is member of different committees of Tea Board, Coffee Research Advisory Council and Bureau of Indian Standards. He is a Fellow of the Indian society for Plantation crops.
Dr. A. Abdul Kareem joined the Institute as Director in 1995 and worked for a brief period of one year. He left the services to take over the prestigious post of Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore in 1996.
Dr. V. S. Sharma served as Director of the institute during 1991-1995. He joined the institute in 1972 as Head of Botany Division and was later promoted to Deputy Director and Joint Director. He had done extensive work on clonal selection, harvesting, bringing up of young tea, nursery grafting and weed control. He retired from the services of UPASI in 1995.
Dr. V. Agnihothurudu served as Director of the institute from 1988 to 1991. His contributions to the understanding of tea diseases are well known. He had also worked as Mycologist at the Tocklai Experimental Station, Jorhat and as Technical Advisor to Rallis Agrochemicals Research Station, Bangalore. In 1991 he retired from the services of UPASI.
Dr. K. K. Krishnamoorthy joined as Director of the institute in 1984, after serving as Agronomist, Soil Scientist and Dean of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. He left the services of the Institute in 1988.
Dr. C. S. Venkata Ram a well renowned scientist and Director of UPASI Scientific Department joined the organization in 1958 as Plant Pathologist. He served in various capacities in the Department and he was Director of the Institute from 1974 to 1982. His most significant contribution is the development of control measures against blister blight, which was threatening the very existence of the tea industry in south India.
Dr. K. S. Venkataramani joined the UPASI as a Botanist in 1948. He pioneered the work on tea clonal selection and vegetative propagation. His significant contribution to the tea industry is a set of outstanding tea clones combining high yields with quality, and resistant to drought and diseases. Many of these clones are extensively planted in south India. He was appointed as Chief Scientific Officer, later re-designated as Director of Research in 1965 and was principally responsible for the organization and development of the Research Station at Cinchona during its years of infancy.Mr. S. Ananda Rau took over from Mr. Peter de Jong as the first Indian Chief Scientific Officer in 1957, to implement the expansion programme. As the first Entomologist in the Department from 1931, he saved the tea industry in south India from being completely swept out by the tea mosquito bug by introducing effective field control measures against this pest in the mid forties.
Mr. Peter J. de Jong joined as Chief Scientific Officer when the blister blight epidemic posed a serious threat to the tea industry. With great dynamism and farsightedness Mr. de Jong directed field trials for the economic control of the disease, also fostered laboratory investigation on copper fungicide formulations for comparative efficiency against the blister blight pathogen. His significant contribution was the publication on “Manuring of Tea in India compiling the essence of the departmental findings on potassium and other major elements in tea nutrition. Mr. de Jong did much ground work for the expansion of the Scientific Department.
Mr. W. W. Mayne served as Chief Scientific Officer of the Department during the Second World War. As a scientist of unusual percipience, with thoughts as clear as a mountain brook, his monumental work on coffee leaf rust races is a household word among plant pathologists.
Mr. J. D. Manning was appointed Chief Scientific Officer in 1938 and served the Association with distinction during his tenure, with a break of five years when he was on active service. With his prime interest in agronomy he roused consciousness among the planters on the need to conserve and rehabilitate soils. As an agriculturist, he was the first to initiate a number of long term field experiments on pruning, manuring and plant protection. He also published a number of helpful advisory circulars on various aspects of tea culture, clarified ambiguities and incorporated new working procedures.
Dr. W. S. Shaw was the first Tea Scientific Officer of UPASI. He did pioneering work on tea chemistry with particular stress on tea tannins and adulteration of tea; on the latter subject, he published two excellent papers. Much ahead of his time and with very modest resources, he produced instant tea on bench scale. His work on tea waste as a manure was also an important contribution falling in line with the overwhelmingly manifest preference for organic manures.
Past Senior Scientists
Dr. K.B.W. Jones joined as Asst. Chief Scientific Officer in 1927. He did pioneering work on withering, fermentation and other aspects of tea manufacture also involved in the studies on tea chemistry. He published a book “Tea Manufacture in South India.
Mr. M. K. Subba Rao joining as Mycologist in 1931, he carried out fundamental research on various disease causing fungi of tea and shade trees, based on which control measures were formulated. His investigations on the physiology of pruning and recovery form the basis for recommendations on pruning. He also initiated the studies on blister blight control and his publication on this subject, as well as on pink disease of tea, are important contributions.
Mr. V. Jayaraman joined as the first Soil Chemist of the Department, and made outstanding contributions to a better understanding of manuring and introduced balanced manuring in tea fields. He adduced conclusive proof that defoliation and decline of tea in South India are caused by potash starvation and this represents a classical work in tea research, quoted extensively in text books and literature throughout the world.
Dr. N. R. Ananthakrishnan was the Entomologist of the Department from 1959-1964. His work on red spider mite control is worth mentioning. He resigned from the services in 1964.
Mr. R. Padmanaban joined the UPASI Scientific Department as Research Assistant in the Botany Division in 1965. He was associated with Dr. K. S. Venkataramani in the clonal selection work. He was promoted as Advisory Officer in the year 1970 and was in charge of the Nilgiri Advisory Centre till August 1975. Subsequently he resigned and joined the services of Tea Research Association.
Dr. G. N. Rao joined the Institute as Entomologist in 1964 and became Deputy Director in 1975. He had done extensive work in the field of plant parasitic nematodes and mite control in tea. He retired from the services of the Association in 1979.
Mr. P. Haridas joined the Institute in 1969 as Assistant Botanist. His work on weed flora of tea is noteworthy. He was Advisory Officer, High Range when he resigned in 1984.
Dr. K. Raman joined the Institute in 1980, as its first Plant Physiologist. He set up the Division of Plant Physiology and initiated work on tea tissue culture and other aspects of tea plant physiology. He left the services of UPASI in 1986.
Mr. G. Boriah joined the Institute in 1975. He was Advisory Officer in Meppadi when he resigned in 1987. Currently, he is Director of Tea Development, Tea Board, Kolkata.
Dr. S. Natesan was appointed as Research Assistant in Chemistry Division in 1977. He did pioneering work in plant nutrition along with Mr. Ranganathan and was responsible for bringing out manuring recommendations on tea. He left the Department in 1988 when he was Chemist.
Mr. V. Ranganathan joined as Chemist during the year 1968 and served as in various capacities as Deputy Director and Joint Director in the institute. He had done extensive work in the field of soil and plant nutrition and published over 100 scientific papers in national and international journals. He was responsible for introducing the concept of “Expansion ratio manuring in south Indian tea. In 1989 he retired from services of the UPASI.
Dr. S. Ramasamy the Tea Technologist joined the Institute in 1975. During his tenure a mini manufacturing unit was constructed and all the manufacturing aspects were studied. Split CTC process for quality improvement, UV-fermentation for microbial load free final product, optimization of withering and fermenting conditions, carbonated bottled tea beverage, solar energy for tea processing, and regulation of reconditioning process during tea manufacture were achieved. He was heading the Tea Technology Division when he resigned in 1989.Mr. V. Govindarajulu joined the Department in 1970. He worked in various in almost all the Regional Centres. When he resigned in 1992 he was Senior Advisory Officer at Vandiperiyar.
Mr. S. Udayakumar joined in the advisory service in 1983. He played an important role in the initial establishment of UAPSI-KVK. He was Advisory Officer, Karnataka when he resigned in 1994.
Mr. P. Swaminathan joined the UPASI in 1967. He worked in almost all the planting districts of south India. He played an important role in establishing Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in UPASI for the benefit of small tea growers and was the first Training Organizer of KVK. He has been primarily responsible for improving the yield of the small growers in the Nilgiris. In 1994, he retired from services as Deputy Director.
Mr. M. Surendra Mohan joined the Institute in 1974. He worked in various capacities in almost all the planting districts. When he left from the services in 1995 he was the Senior Advisory Officer at the Regional centre Vandiperiyar.Mr. V. Ramasamy joined the Institute in 1990 as Technologist after his M. Tech. in Anna University. His booklet on CTC manufacture was widely appreciated by Planters. He resigned from the Services in 1995.
Dr. L. Manival joined the Institute in the year 1989 as HOD of Plant Physiology Division. Earlier, he served as Physiologist in the Tocklai Experimental Station, Jorhat, Assam. He did extensive work on the use of plant growth regulators in tea and photosynthesis. He retired from the services of TRI in 1996.
Dr. N. Satyanarana joined the Institute in 1976 and served the TRI nearly 20 years. His research efforts there mainly focused on clonal seed stocks. He was heading the Botany division when he resigned in 1996.
Dr. B. Chandra Mouli joined the Institute in 1974. He has contributed to the understanding and management of tea diseases especially in the introduction of triazole fungicides against blister blight. He was heading the Plant Pathology division when he resigned in 1996.
Mr. C. P. Devasahayam Joseph joined the Department in 1968. He had served in almost all the Regional Centres. When he retired from services in 1997 he was Senior Advisory Officer in Coonoor.
Dr. S. Marimuthu joined the Institute in 1990 as Research Associate. He was heading Plant Physiology Division when he resigned in 2000. He did extensive work on the role of enzymes in tea processing.
Dr. D. P. Verma joined the Institute as Head of soil chemistry in 1990. Earlier, he served in the research projects of ICRISAT, Hyderabad, World Bank and UNDP-FAO in Yemen and Sudan. Along with Mr. Palani, he revised recommendations on “Manuring of tea in south India”. He resigned from services in 2001 when he was Deputy Director of the Institute.
Mr. J. B. Hudson was the Assistant Director (Extension) at the Regional Centre, Coonoor, The Nilgiris. He joined the Department in 1976 and served in various capacities in the Regional Centres at Munnar and Coonoor. He has done extensive work on tea cultivation and published several articles. He left the TRF in 2005.
Dr. S. Ramu had worked as a Senior Scientist, Head of Krishi Vigyan Kendra joined in 1984. He was involved in the transfer of technology to the small tea growers in the Nilgiris. The tea quality up gradation programme was the major contributuion of Dr. Ramu at the time of his resignation. He left from the services in 2005.
Dr. R. Selvasundaram joined the Entomology department in 1984. He was involved in basic and applied aspects of tea pest management. He was heading Entomology division and worked on semiochemicals. He obtained his doctorate in 1990 under the guidance of Dr. N. Muraleedharan. He resigned from the services in 2006.
Dr. K. N. Manikandan Residue Chemist joined the Institute in 1996. He has completed his Ph.D on pesticide residues in tea under the guidance of Dr. N. Muraleedharan. His research area includes pesticide residues and heavy metal in tea. He could able to fix safe harvest intervals and MRL’s for pesticides in tea. He was Dy. Quality Manager of the Institute and he resigned from the services in 2007.
Dr. Spurgeon Cox joined the Institute in 1984 and worked as Advisory Officer of Nilgiri- Wayanad. His main interest is agronomy of tea. Earlier he worked in the Botany division of the TRI. He resigned from the services in 2007.
Dr. U.I. Baby, Plant Pathologist, joined the Institute in 1992. His area of specialization is microbial plant pathology and worked on chemical and biological control of tea diseases, host-pathogen interaction, soil microbiology, microbiology of tea, Aerobiology and biofertilizers. He resigned from the services in 2007.
Dr. S. Venkatesan joined the Institute in 1996. He has completed his Ph.D on soil test –crop response studies. His work on nitrogen use efficiency by tea plants and usage of citric acid for P fertilization are noteworthy. His research area includes soil and plant enzymes, plant nutrition and geographic information system. He was heading the division as a Senior Soil Chemist when he resigned from the services 2007.
Mr. S. N. Prasad joined the Institute in the year 1975. He was working as Advisory officer in the Regional Centre, Coonoor. Earlier he had worked at the TRI and the Regional Centre, Gudalur and superannuated in 2007.
Mr. R. Sashidar joined the Institute in 1978. He has worked at Coonoor, Meppadi, Karnataka and Vandiperiyar. He was serving as Senior Advisory Officer at the Regional Centre, Munnar when he resigned from the Services in 2008.
Dr. R. S. Senthilkumar joined the Institute in 1997. He was heading the division as a Senior Tea Technologist when he resigned from the services in 2008.
Dr. S. Babu joined the TRF in 2003 as Senior Plant Breeder. He resigned from the services in 2009.
Dr. V.K. Senthurpandian joined the TRF in 2002 as Senior Chemist and Head of Plant Chemistry Division. He resigned from the services in 2009.
Dr. A. K. Azad Mandal joined the TRF in the year 2004 as Sr. Scientist in Plant Physiology Division. He left TRF in 2010.
Mr. S. Murugesan, joined the Institute in 2001. He was heading the Tea Technology Division when he resigned in 2010.
Dr. A. Babu worked as Senior Entomologist and served upto 2011.
Dr. A. Nishadh joined the institute in 2008 as an Assisant Specialist in the Tea Technology Division . He left TRI in 2012.
Dr. R. Premkumar joined in 1982 in the Plant Pathology Division and Superannuated in 2014.
Dr. Siby Mathew joined the institute in 1992. He served as a Senior Advisory officer upto 2014.
Dr. R.Shanmugapriyan joined the institute as Entomologist in 2007 and served upto 2015.Mr. P. Sankaranarayan joined in the institute in 1987 in an ICAR sponsored project on the “Bio-ecology of flushworm infesting tea”. He served as an Advisory Officer.
Dr. R. Raj Kumar joined in the Physiology Department and served upto 2015.
Dr. S. Muthu Kumar joined UPASI TRF-TRI Valparai in 2012 as Entomologist and served upto 2015.
Dr. K. K. Srikumar joined UPASI TRF-TRI Valparai in 2014 as Entomologist and served upto 2017.
Dr. V. A. Shanmugaselvan, Sr. Residue Chemist joined the Institute in 2009 and served upto 2015.
Dr. K. N. Chandrashekara joined UPASI TRF-TRI in 2012 as Senior Biotechnologist and served upto 2017.
Mr. N. Palani, served as the Head Quality Assurance unit upto 2018.
Mr. N. Manigandan served as the Tea Technologist upto February 2020.
Mr. G. Venkateswaran joined the Institute in the year 1986 and served as Senior Advisory Officer and Quality Manager at Regional Centre, Coonoor.
Dr. P. Mahendran, joined the institute in the year 2018. He served as the Entomologist upto October 2020.
Mr. J. Durairaj has joined the services of UPASI-KVK during January 1985 after his post graduation in Botany. He was involved in UPASI-Tea Board Small Tea Growers Developmental Programme and Quality Upgradation Programme for small tea sector during his tenure at UPASI-KVK. Currently, he is serving as Deputy Director, UPASI TRF Regional Centre, Vandiperiyar since August 2008 and coordinating the CFC-Tea Board project on “Organic Tea Cultivation”. He is a co-author of two books and a booklet on “Guidelines on Tea Culture in south India, Hand book on Tea Cultivation and Ready Reckoner on Tea”. His main area of interest is Economics of tea cultivation.News & Events
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News Letter June 2021
Newsletter-June 2021 Newsletter December 2021 Latest Annual report
Read MoreMRL 31 JANUARY 2023
MRL 31 January 2023
Read MoreVACANCY 2023
Junior Research Fellow position for the project : AI Based Imaging Solution for Detection of Pest attack in Tea Leaves using Aerial Imaging funded by National Tea Research Foundation (NTRF). Fellowship: 25000/-+ 15% HRA Upper age limit : 28 Wanted a Post Graduate in Zoology/Entomology…
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Read MoreDr. C.S. Venkata Ram Memorial Annual Tea Colloquium
Dr. C.S. Venkata Ram Memorial Annual Tea Colloquium will be announced later.
Read MoreResidue analysis in other crops
31-05-2013
The Pesticide Residue Division is equipped with state-of-art instruments viz., Gas Chromatograph, High Performance Liquid Chromatograph, GCMS, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, etc., Our lab is GLP certified by National GLP Compliance Monitoring Authority, Govt. of India for the execution of Pesticide Residue Studies. We are accredited…
Read MoreMonthly circular – April 2014
07/04/2014
Monthly Circular April -2014 WEATHER Weather data recorded in March 2014 at the TRF observatory are given below, along with the corresponding figures for March 2013. Year Total Rainfall mm Mean Sunshine hr/day Mean Temperature ° C Mean Relative Humidity % at Mean Evaporation…
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Articles
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Publications
Radhakrishnan,B., K. K. Srikumar, Smitha, K. B. Suresh. 2018. Evaluation of Sulfoxaflor 50%WG against Tea mosquito bug, Helopeltistheivora Waterhouse (Hemiptera: Miridae). Pestology. 42 (3), 31-36. Radhakrishnan, B. 2018. Recent issues on pesticide residues and other contaminants in Tea. Planters chronicle. 114(1): 4-11. Radhakrishnan B. and…
Read MoreLatest
12/12/12
The principal landmark in the history of tea research in south India, was the establishment of a Tea Experimental Station in Gudalur in 1926. During the last seven and half decades, this research organisation. Now known as the UPASI Tea Research Foundation (UPASI TRF), had…
Read MorePublications and Library
01/02/05
Annual Report is the one among the major publications of UPASI TRF. Annual report of each year is released by September of the following year. Other publications include Research Highlights and half yearly Newsletters. The Bulletin of UPASI TRF is an occasional publication. The Handbook…
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Conferences Seminars
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INTERACTIVE SESSION
DATE: March 25th 2023
PLACE: Coimbatore
Read MoreDATE: 22nd Jannuary, 2021
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Read MoreDATE: 06-08 May 2013
PLACE: Valparai
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Read MoreTGLIA
DATE: 2013
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Research Activities
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Pesticide Residue
Of late, considering the constant usage of pesticides and to monitor the residues in the final produce, a well equipped test facility was established at UPASI TRI in 1994. The pesticide residue laboratory is accredited by National Accreditation Board for testing and calibration Laboratories (NABL)…
Read MoreBotany
The Tea Research Institute at Valparai has seven divisions namely Botany, Soil Chemistry, Entomology, Pesticide Residue, Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Plant Physiology & Biotechnology and Tea Technology. Botany Research activities of Botany Division include plant improvement, cultivation practices and weed research. Plant improvement programme was…
Read MoreSoil Chemistry
Chemistry Division is involved in research pertaining to soil-plant nutrients of tea besides extending analytical service to the industry. The research activities include investigations on physico-chemical properties of soil, soil-plant interactions, response of tea to major, secondary and micronutrients and their interactions. The research work…
Read MoreEntomology
Entomology Division involve in basic and applied aspects of insect pests, particularly, biology, ecology and evolving control measures. The division evolved and recommended physical, chemical and biological method of tea pests control. In the past, extensive studies on bioecology, crop loss due to major pests…
Read MorePathology & Microbiology
In the division of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, research is carried out on diseases of tea and biofertilizers. Among the tea diseases, blister blight is the most important leaf disease caused by the pathogen, Exobasidium vexans affecting the tender harvestable shoots of tea resulting in…
Read MorePhysiology & Biotechnology
Plant Physiology Division was established in 1980 which has been primarily concentrated on crop productivity. The division strives for excellence in applied research in tea productivity and bush health besides biotechnological studies. The research undertaken extends over a wide range of research programmes having collaborative…
Read MoreTea Technology
Besides offering the analytical services and involving in inter laboratory ring test to validate the test methods, Tea Technology Division is concerned about quality of final produce in accordance with PFA Act requirements, storage studies, value added products and manufacturing aspects. The laboratory has been…
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REGIONAL CENTERS