Qualification:
PhD: Botany
Specialization : Tissue culture of high-value Ornamental Plants like Orchids and Anthuriums, economically important crops like banana, Pepper and certain medicinal plants and insectivorous plants like Nepenthes etc.. Using Tissue culture Techniques. Using the Technology mass production, micropropagation and protocols were standardized for developing large quantity of good quality planting materials from elite mother plants with in a short period of time and space.
As a Technical Officer, I am engaged in various external funded projects as well as In-house projects in Commercial TCU, through which successfully in vitro propagated and established about 52 varieties of Orchids, 22 varieties of Anthurium, 20 varieties of banana cultivars, certain medicinal plants and insectivorous plants like Nepenthes khasiana. Among these, 50% of them were initiated by using our own protocol. Now as Co-PI of one In-house project and one externally funded project entitled “Micro propagation and cultivation of the orchids and hybrids for on farm conservation and income generation in Kerala through cluster formation”, I could supervise the development of standardized protocols for in vitro culture of Orchids (7 varieties) whose mass production is going on successfully. With an aim to promote innovation among farmers/nurserymen, I actively participated in Contract Multiplication Programmes of the Unit envisaging production facility for multiplying plants like Orchids, Anthurium, Certain medicinal Plants and edible bananas of their choice. This facility was utilized by many growers. Under this programme, could generate income for the institution through plant sale and also through Training programmes. I am also actively participated in presenting short demonstration classes to School/College/ University students, NGOs, Floriculturists and others who visited the Unit.
Ongoing Projects
- 2021-2024: “Micro propagation and cultivation of the orchids and hybrids for on farm conservation and income generation in Kerala through cluster formation”. Co-PI. Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.
- 2022-: "Germplasm Conservation, Conventional & Non-Conventional Multiplication, Maintenance and Sustainable Utilization of Medicinal, Ornamental, Bamboo and Crop Related plants from Western Ghats and Andaman /Nicobar Islands – Tissue Culture". Co-PI. Govt. of Kerala.
- 2017-2022: "Germplasm Conservation, Conventional & Non-Conventional Multiplication, Maintenance and Sustainable Utilization of Medicinal, Ornamental, Bamboo and Crop Related plants from Western Ghats and Andaman /Nicobar Islands – Tissue Culture". Co-PI. Govt. of Kerala.
- 2013-2016: “High-Tech Micropropagation unit for mass production of economically important plants”. Co-PI. Rashtreeya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Govt. of India & Department of Agriculture, Govt. Of Kerala.
- 2003-2006: “Tissue culture techniques for mass multiplication of selected economically important Bamboos”. Western Ghats Development Programme (WGDP). Govt. of Kerala.
- 2003-2006: "Collection, Micropropagation and re-introduction of some endemic Zingibers of Western Ghats, Kerala”. Western Ghats Development Programme (WGDP). Dept. of Planning and Economic Affairs, Govt. of Kerala.
- 2000-2016: “Micropropagation of commercially important Banana and other Taxa”. Co-PI. Govt. of Kerala.
- 2000-2016: "Standardization of Tissue Culture Techniques and Mass Production of Ornamentals". Co-PI. Govt. of Kerala.
- 1995-2000: “Tissue culture assisted Floriculture of self employment and income generation of economically weaker women in selected village and Panchayath of Kerala”. Technical Officer. Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.
Publications
- Radhika B. J., Ravichandran P., Satheeshkumar K. (2016). A novel in vitro approach for enhanced production of Musa Paradisiaca L. (cv. Nendran) using split sucker explants. International Journal of Advanced Research (IJAR), 4(8), 696-703.
- Bejoy Mathew, Dan Mathew, Anish N. P., Anjana R. G. Nair, Radhika B. J., Manesh K. (2012). Micropropagation of an Indian Ginger (Curcuma vamana Sabu & Mangaly): A Wild Relative of Turmeric. Biotechnology, 11:333-338.
- Bejoy Mathew, Anish N. P., Radhika B. J., G. Mohanadasan Nair (2012). in vitro Propagation of Ochlandra wightii (Munro) Fisch. - An Endemic Reed of Southern Western Ghats. Biotechnology, 11:67-73.
- Bejoy Mathew, C. Satheesh Kumar, Radhika B. J., Joemon Jacob (2004). Asymbiotic seed germination and early seedling development of the dove orchid Peristeria elata Hook. J. Orchid Soc. Ind., 17:75-79.
- Bejoy Mathew, Dan Mathew, Anish N. P., Githa Ann George, Radhika B. J. (2010). Induction of Multiple Shoots in Amomum hypoluecum Thwaites - A Threatened Wild Relative of Large Cardamom. Journal of Applied Horticulture, 12:46-49.
Position: Technical Officer Gr. V
Mobile No: 9497010259
Email: radhikabj1967@gmail.com
Work Experience
The individual has played a crucial role in standardizing protocols for in vitro cultures of Anthurium (12 varieties), Orchids (22 varieties, including hybrids/species), and Vanilla planifolia (about 50,000 plants) as part of externally funded projects in floriculture. Additionally, they have contributed significantly to the completion of projects involving micropropagation of Zingibers and bamboos as a Technical Officer.
Under the project “High-Tech Micropropagation unit for mass production of economically important plants,” the individual successfully carried out contract multiplication of Orchids and Banana cultivars. Large-scale propagation of Anthurium (16 varieties), Orchids (20 varieties), and Banana (15 varieties) plants was achieved under two in-house projects aimed at income generation.
In the role of Technical Officer and Unit-in-Charge, they are supervising an in-house project focused on multiplying plants from the Western Ghats and Andaman/Nicobar Islands. This project has successfully propagated and established 17 varieties of Orchids, 4 varieties of Anthurium, and 20 varieties of Banana.
As a Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) in an externally funded project aimed at on-farm conservation and income generation through orchid multiplication, the individual has supervised the development of standardized protocols for in vitro culture of Orchids (7 varieties), leading to successful mass production.