Dr. Maganti Sheshu Madhav honoured with Dr. MV Reddi Award for Outstanding Research in Agricultural Sciences 2026

Dr. Maganti Sheshu Madhav, Director of ICAR–NIRC, Rajahmundry, has been awarded the Dr. M.V. Reddi National Award 2026 for his pioneering contributions to rice genetics, genomics, and crop improvement, including cloning of resistance genes and sequencing of major rice pests and pathogens.

Hyderabad: For his pioneering and sustained contributions to plant genetics, molecular breeding, genomics, crop improvement, technology development, and scientific human-resource development, Dr. Maganti Sheshu Madhav has been conferred Dr. M.V. Reddi National Award for Outstanding Research in Agricultural Sciences – 2026.

Dr. Maganti Sheshu Madhav, Director, ICAR–National Institute for Research on Commercial Agriculture, Rajahmundry, is an eminent agricultural scientist and distinguished rice geneticist whose pioneering contributions to plant genetics, molecular breeding, functional genomics, and biotechnology have significantly advanced the development of high-yielding and stress-resilient rice cultivars.

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Born in Karimnagar, Telangana, Dr. Madhav received his undergraduate education in Agricultural Sciences from A.P. Agricultural University, Hyderabad, followed by postgraduate studies at Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat. He obtained his doctoral degree from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, and subsequently pursued postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Prof. G.L. Wang at The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.

Over a distinguished scientific career spanning more than 27 years in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, he has made significant contributions to fundamental, strategic, and translational agricultural research.

Among his landmark scientific contributions are the cloning and molecular characterization of the rice blast resistance genes Pi54 and Pi68(t) and the identification of superior alleles of Pi54, Pita, and Pib. His team generated the complete genome sequences of the yellow stem borer and the sheath blight pathogen Rhizoctoniasolani, opening new avenues for genome-enabled approaches to pest and disease management.