Ramasamy Perumal, PhD

Professor
Sorghum & Millet Breeder

Agricultural Research Center
1232 240th Avenue
Hays, KS 67601

Ph: 785-625-3425

Research

The major focus of sorghum research at KSU, ARC, Hays, KS for the semi-arid regions of Kansas is to increase yield potential through the development of elite parental lines and hybrids with chilling/heat and drought tolerance at pre-flowering and post-flowering stages, lodging and diseases resistance (Fusarium stalk rot, charcoal rot, and grain mold), insect resistance (sugarcane aphids) and herbicide tolerance to minimize the weeds competition and enhanced productivity in Kansas. Also, the program aims to accelerate the breeding process by integrating markers assisted selection (MAS) to develop tannin free chilling tolerant parents though multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional collaboration. Other major priority areas are to: i) develop and commercialize K-State sorghum high yielding hybrids in partnership with private seed industries with improved agronomic characteristics for the direct benefit of Kansas sorghum growers. ii) develop parental lines with improved sorghum specialty traits (high polyphenol and antioxidant) to add value to anti-cancer properties and iii) generate next-generation classical breeders through short-term hands-on training courses every year in collaboration with national and international institutes.

Education

Post Doctoral Associate Sorghum Biotechnoloy, Rockefeller Foundation, Texas A&M University , 1998 - 2000
Ph.D. Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India, 1993
M.S. Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India, 1983
B.S. Agriculture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India, 1981