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Bengaluru based Scientist bags Distinguished Asian Mycologist Award, 2019


Dr. D Joseph Bagyaraj (78), former Head of the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, University of Agricultural Sciences (GKVK), Bengaluru is a proud recipient of the “Distinguished Asian Mycologist Award, 2019.
Currently, he is INSA Honorary Scientist and Chairman, Centre for Natural Biological Resources and Community Development, Bangalore continuing research in microbiology, especially mycorrhizal fungi promoting plant growth, and taking the results to society.

Dr. D Joseph Bagyaraj

Further application of mycorrhizal fungi along with selected beneficial bacteria reduced the use of fertilizers and pesticides, thus reducing the environmental pollution. In 2016 he was the only scientist from India invited by FAO to contribute to the Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas on mycorrhizal fungi which promote growth, nutrition, and yield of crops important in Agriculture, Horticulture, and Forestry

Mycology – a branch of Microbiology deals with the study of fungi. Fungi range from single-celled (yeasts) to multicellular (mushroom) organisms. Some are beneficial to man as yeasts are used in the preparation of bread, wine, beer, etc.; mushrooms being edible and some fungi promoting the growth of crop plants. Some are harmful causing diseases of plants, animals, and humans.
Most of the mycologists working in India are Members of the Mycological Society of India. Asian Mycological Association (AMA) is a web of mycologists from 26 Asian countries including Australia and New Zealand.
Asian Mycological Association organizes conferences once in 2 years. The recent conference was held at Mie University, Japan from October 1-4, 2019.

Asian Mycological Association invites nomination for a distinguished mycologist from each of the 26 countries for the “Distinguished Asian Mycologist Award”. Mycological Society of India nominated Dr. D. Joseph Bagyaraj for this award from India.
A committee of 5 members from different countries evaluated the applications based on research publications, international and societal impact of the research work with special reference to the upliftment of the current understanding and future directions of fungal research.


This year there were 5 nominations one each from India, China, Iran, Thailand, and Japan. The evaluation committee announced Dr. D Joseph Bagyaraj as the recipient of the “Distinguished Asian Mycologist Award, 2019”.

-Manohar Yadavatti

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