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Dr. Akshitha H J

Dr. Akshitha H J
Name Dr. Akshitha H J
Designation Senior Scientist
Division Crop Improvement and Biotechnology
Qualification Ph.D.
Specialisation Spices, Plantation, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
Contact akshi.hosahalli10@gmail.com
Areas of Interest Breeding biotic and abiotic stress resistant varieties, plant propagation

  1. Mohammed Faisal, Akshitha HJ, Biju CN. First report of berry rot caused by Neopestalotiopsis australis in bayrum (Pimenta racemosa). Indian Phytopathol. 2025. Epub ahead of print. doi:10.1007/s42360-025-00842-5.

  2. Rajath Gowda KS, Bhoomika HR, Nagaraja NR, Bharath Kumar TP, Akshitha HJ. Biochemical characterization studies in nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) ecotypes. Plant Arch. 2025;25(Suppl 1):2096–2101. doi:10.51470/PLANTARCHIVES.2025.v25.supplement-1.287.

  3. Varshini NV, Bhoomika HR, Kantharaj Y, Ravi CS, Akshitha HJ. Influence of packaging materials on the shelf life and quality of dried ginger rhizomes. Plant Arch. 2025;25:2102–2107. doi:10.51470/PLANTARCHIVES.2025.v25.supplement-1.288.

  4. Shivakumar MS, Sunitha NC, Akshitha HJ, Saji KV, Sasikumar BP. Predictive power of YREMs and BLUPs for selecting superior genotypes in perennial crops: a black pepper case study. J Appl Res Med Aromat Plants. 2024;41:100555. doi:10.1016/j.jarmap.2024.100555.

  5. Alagupalamuthirsoali M, Murugan M, Ashokkumar K, Ankegowda SJ, Vellaikumar S, Srinivasan V, Honnappa Asangi, Akshitha HJ, Faisal MP, Sivaranjani R, Arun Kumar R. Bio-active essential oil components in small cardamom as influenced by weather elements. AMA Agric Mech Asia Afr Lat Am. 2024;55(4).

  6. Akshitha HJ, Shivakumar MS, Ankegowda SJ. Phenological growth stages of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton): detailed identification and description using the extended BBCH scale. Ann Appl Biol. 2024;184(3):391–399. doi:10.1111/aab.12895.

  7. Peeran MF, Biju CN, Rajan G, Ankegowda SJ, Sharon A, Akshitha HJ. Biochemical defence reactions of black pepper varieties against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides incitant of anthracnose disease. J Appl Hortic. 2023;25(1):92–97.

  8. Akshitha HJ, Shivakumar MS, Sivaranjani R, Ankegowda SJ, Mohammed Faisal P, Honnappa Asangi, Balaji Rajkumar M. Effect of different methods of drying on appearance and quality of black pepper. Natl Acad Sci Lett. 2023;46:555–557. doi:10.1007/s40009-023-01311-1.

  9. Alagupalamuthirsolai M, Renuka Suresh, Thankamani CK, Srinivasan V, Sivaranjani R, Krishnamurthy KS, Sarathambal C, Gobu R, Honnappa Asangi, Akshitha HJ, Mohammad Faisal Peeran, Balaji Rajkumar M. Application methodology and physiological insights of melatonin hormone for water stress alleviation in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.). Int J Environ Climate Change. 2023;13(8):219–228. doi:10.9734/IJECC/2023/v13i81947.

  10. Shivakumar MS, Aarthi S, Akshitha HJ, Saji KV, Krishnamurthy KS, Sasikumar B. Characterization of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) varieties and landraces/farmers’ selections for spike and berry traits. J Spices Aromat Crops. 2022;31(2):134–142.

  11. Akshitha HJ, Prasath D, Umesha K, Mohammed Faisal P, Venkataravanappa V. Molecular characterization of ginger genotypes using RAPD and SSR markers. J Hortic Sci. 2022;17(1):95–102.

  12. Sharon Aravind, Akshitha HJ, Muhammed Nissar VA, Kandiannan K, Radha E, Krishnamurthy KS, Nirmal Babu K. An overview of spice varieties developed by AICRP on Spices in the present decade. Indian J Arecanut Spices Med Plants. 2021;23(1):3–12.

  13. Akshitha HJ, Umesha K, Leela NK, Shivakumar MS, Prasath D. Quality attributes and essential oil profiling of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) genotypes from India. J Essent Oil Res. 2020;32(5):456–463. doi:10.1080/10412905.2020.1789000.

  14. Alagupalamuthirsolai M, Ankegowda SJ, Murugan M, Sivaranjani R, Balaji Rajkumar, Akshitha HJ. Influence of light intensity on photosynthesis, capsule yield, essential oil and insect pest incidence of small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton). J Essent Oil Bear Plants. 2019;22(5):1172–1181. doi:10.1080/0972060X.2019.1690587.

  15. Shivran AC, Dhirendra Singh, Priyanka Kumawat, Gothwal DK, Kumawat GL, Akshitha HJ, Muhammed Nissar VA. Response of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) to drip irrigation under different planting patterns in semi-arid Eastern Plain Zone of Rajasthan. Int J Innov Hortic. 2019;8(1):51–55.

  16. Akshitha HJ, Umesha K, Prasath D. Morphological characterization of ginger (Zingiber officinale) using DUS descriptors. Indian J Agric Sci. 2019;89(10):1744–1747.

  17. Akshitha HJ, Prasath D, Umesha K. Association studies for yield and quality traits in ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.). Int J Innov Hortic. 2018;7(2):143–145.

  18. Alagupalamuthirsolai M, Ankegowda SJ, Mohammed Faisal P, Akshitha HJ, Rajkumar B, Chaudhary N. Effect of natural growth enhancer on growth, physiological and biochemical attributes in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.). Int J Curr Microbiol Appl Sci. 2018;Special Issue 6:2857–2866.

  19. Prasath D, Eapen SJ, Sasikumar B, Akshitha HJ, Leela NK, Chitra R, Mahender B, Rao CC, Swargaonkar SL, Nirmal Babu K. A new short duration turmeric variety, IISR Pragati – a boon to Indian farmers. Int J Innov Hortic. 2017;6(1):89–92.

  20. Akshitha HJ, Umesha K. Seed germination studies in Salacia oblonga Wall. Int J Forest Usufructs Manag. 2017;18(1):37–40.

  21. Vijayan AK, Leela NK, Dhanalakshmi M, Akshitha HJ, Rahul R, Utpala P, Nirmal Babu K. Volatile oil composition of four popular varieties of large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.). J Spices Aromat Crops. 2017;26(1):37–43.

  22. Akshitha HJ, Umesha K, Shankarappa TH. Effect of type of cutting, IBA and bioinoculants on rooting in Madhunashini (Gymnema sylvestre Retz.). J Hortic Sci. 2014;9(1):94–97.

  23. Akshitha HJ, Umesha K, Sathyanarayana BN, Waman AJ. In vitro multiplication of Madhunashini (Gymnema sylvestre Retz.). Int J Agric Environ Biotechnol. 2014;7(4):889–894.

Awards

  1. 2012 – University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot
    Gold Medal for M.Sc. (Hort.) in PSMAC.

  2. 2015 – Best Poster Presentation Award
    International Symposium on Underutilized Plant Species: Exploration and Conservation for the Future,
    Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai (5–8 August 2015), International Society for Horticultural Sciences.
    Poster: “Comparison of the volatile oil composition of large cardamom (Amomum subulatum) – a future crop from India”.

  3. 2022 – Best Oral Presentation Award
    National Symposium on Horticultural Crops of Humid Tropics for Nutritional and Livelihood Security,
    CHES, ICAR–IIHR, Madikeri, Karnataka (02–03 December 2022).
    Paper: “Effect of different methods of drying on appearance and quality of black pepper”.

  4. 2024 – Best Oral Presentation Award
    3rd Indian Horticulture Summit cum International Conference 2024,
    Society for Horticulture Research and Development, Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute (RARI), Jaipur (01–03 February 2024).
    Paper: “Identification and description of phenological growth stages of cardamom using extended BBCH scale”.
     

Varieties released

  1. Developer: IISR Pragati (Turmeric); IISR Vajra (Ginger); IISR Manushree (Cardamom); IISR Kaveri (Cardamom).

  2. Co-operator: Mohini (Ginger); Rajendra Dhania-1 (Coriander); NDH 98 (Turmeric); Narendra Saryu (Turmeric); Uttar Rangini (Turmeric); Suruchi (Coriander).

PI

1.    Evolving high yielding, biotic and abiotic stress resistant cardamom lines through selection and hybridization (Institute funded)

2.    Enhancing Production of Quality Planting Material in Cardamom and Black Pepper with Nursery Entrepreneurship Training (Externally funded – RKVY)

Co-PI

1.    Conservation, characterization, evaluation and improvement of Zingiber and Curcuma sp. (Institute funded)

2.    Identification of core collection, characterization, and maintenance of cardamom germplasm (Institute funded)

3.    Production of nucleus planting materials of improved varieties of spice crops (Institute funded)

4.    Pre and post-harvest interventions for quality improvement in major spices (Institute funded)

5.    Development of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi based bioinoculant formulation for growth promotion and disease tolerance in major spices (Institute funded)

6.    DUS project (Externally funded)

7.    Integrating whole genome resequencing transcriptome sequencing and genome wide association analysis for allele mining of yield and quality traits in black pepper and cardamom (Externally funded - NASF)

8.    Establishment of a centre of excellence for spice biotechnology with advanced molecular facilities (Externally funded – RKVY)

  1. Akshitha HJ, Aravind S, Shivakumar MS, Prasath D, Ankegowda SJ, Mohammed Faisal P, Asangi H, Rajkumar MB. Cardamom: a leading spice crop for food, flavor, and health. In: Sabu KK, Kole C, editors. The Cardamom Genome. Compendium of Plant Genomes. Cham: Springer; 2024. p. 1–13.

  2. Prasath D, Akshitha HJ, Shivakumar MS. Genetics and breeding of cardamom. In: Sabu KK, Kole C, editors. The Cardamom Genome. Compendium of Plant Genomes. Cham: Springer; 2024. p. 35–49.

  3. Korikanthimath VS, Ankegowda SJ, Akshitha HJ. Cardamom. In: Ravindran PN, Sivaraman K, Devasahayam S, Nirmal Babu K, editors. Handbook of Spices in India: 75 Years of Research and Development. Singapore: Springer Nature; 2024. p. 1577–1620. doi:10.1007/978-981-19-3728-6.

  4. Prasath D, Srinivasan V, Sial P, Leela NK, Akshitha HJ, Raghuveer S. Ginger. In: Ravindran PN, Sivaraman K, Devasahayam S, Nirmal Babu K, editors. Handbook of Spices in India: 75 Years of Research and Development. Singapore: Springer Nature; 2024. p. 1661–1792. doi:10.1007/978-981-19-3728-6_25.

  5. Ankegowda SJ, Akshitha HJ, Shivakumar MS, Asangi H, Mohammed Faisal P, Rajkumar MB. Propagation techniques in spice crops. In: Karunakaran G, Rajendiran S, Muralidhara BM, Deepak NG, Rani AT, Madhu GS, Arivalagan M, editors. Training Manual on Skill Development in Nursery Management of Horticulture Crops. Chettalli, Karnataka: ICAR-IIHR–Central Horticultural Experiment Station; 2023. p. 124–142.

  6. Nirmal Babu K, Prasath D, Muhammed Nissar VA, Aarthi S, Akshitha HJ, Aravind S. Genetic diversity in Zingiberaceous spices. In: Prabhukumar KM, Thomas VP, Hareesh VS, Dan M, editors. Asian Zingiberales: Resume and Prospects (Prof. M. Sabu Commemoration Volume). Dehra Dun (India): Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh; 2019. p. 133–176.

  7. Nirmal Babu K, Srinivasan V, Akshitha HJ, Muhammed Nissar. Spices: the pride of the East. In: Chowdappa P, George J, Muralikrishna H, Rajesh MK, editors. CPCRI – 100 Years of Scientific Excellence (Centenary Publication). Kasaragod (India): ICAR–Central Plantation Crops Research Institute; 2016. p. 107–115.

  8. Nirmal Babu K, Divakaran M, Pillai GS, Sumathi V, Praveen K, Raj RP, Akshitha HJ, Ravindran PN, Peter KV. Protocols for in vitro propagation, conservation, synthetic seed production, microrhizome production and molecular profiling in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). In: Jain SM, editor. Protocols for In Vitro Cultures and Secondary Metabolite Analysis of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants. 2nd ed. New York: Humana Press, Springer; 2016. p. 387–402.

  9. Nirmal Babu K, Sastry EVD, Saji KV, Divakaran M, Akshitha HJ, Aarthi S, Aravind S, Ravindran PN, Peter KV. Diversity and erosion in genetic resources of spices. In: Ahuja MR, Jain SM, editors. Sustainable Development and Biodiversity 7: Genetic Diversity and Erosion in Plants – Indicators and Prevention. Vol. 1. Switzerland: Springer; 2015. p. 225–261.

  10. Thankamani CK, Utpala P, Akshitha HJ, Aarthi S, Aravind S, Nirmal Babu K. Spices export, marketing concerns, production constraints and future opportunities. In: Chadha KL, Kalia P, Singh SK, editors. Horticulture for Inclusive Growth. New Delhi: Horticulture Society of India, West Wille Publishing House; 2014. p. 702–712.