Professor Maruthi Gowda is a molecular plant virologist and vector entomologist with 20 years of research experience in plant-virus-insect interactions, especially those involving geminiviruses, potyviruses and their whitefly vector, Bemisia tabaci, infecting cassava, vegetables and other staple food crops in the tropics.

He began his research career in India in 1996 when he identified sources of resistance to the economically important tomato leaf curl disease. He then moved to the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Greenwich in 1998 to undertake PhD on cassava mosaic disease, which has caused devastating losses, famine and food shortages to subsistent farmers in Africa. Following completion of his PhD in 2001, Professor Gowda joined the university as a post-doctoral fellow. He was promoted to research fellow and subsequently senior research fellow.

Currently, as a Professor in Molecular Plant Pathology, Professor Gowda leads a core team of researchers (seven PhDs) investigating the reasons for the recent outbreak of cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) in the eastern and southern African region. He employs multi-disciplinary research, from field epidemiology to molecular biology and tissue culture to functional genomics, to better understand plant-virus-vector relationships and mechanisms of disease resistance to enable developing improved disease control strategies. He was the first to identify whitefly B. tabaci as the natural vector of cassava brown streak ipomoviruses (CBSIs). He has also developed robust low-cost diagnostic tests for CBSVs and cassava mosaic viruses, which are adapted in several African laboratories.

Through a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded multi-partner project (5CP, 2012–16), Professor Gowda developed a highly sensitive virus-indexing programme for cleaning virus-infected cassava landraces and contributed to the conservation of germplasm. Through the Grand Challenges Explorations grant (2011–13), also from the Gates Foundation to work on an innovative idea for controlling whiteflies using endosymbiotic bacteria. He is an integral member of two African cassava whitefly projects (ACWP phase I 2014-2018; ACWP phase II 2012-2022). Other sources of funding for his research came from European Union (CassavaGMarkets project, 2012–16), African Union (LimitCBSD project, 2012–15, and DualCassava 2018-2021) and other sources.

He is an active member in the plant virology community, both in the UK and overseas. In the UK, he was a member and chair of the Plant Virology Committee of the Association of Applied Biologists and co-hosted the 2007 and 2016 AAB symposia ‘Advances in Plant Virology’ at the University of Greenwich.

1. Jayasinghe WH, Akhter MS, Nakahara K Maruthi MN, 2021, Effect of aphid biology and morphology on plant virus transmission. Pest Management Science. DOI 10.1002/ps.6629.
2. Kavil SP, Otti G, Bouvaine S, Armitage A, Maruthi MN, 2021, PAL1 gene of the phenylpropanoid pathway increases resistance to the Cassava brown streak virus in cassava. Virology Journal 18, 184. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-021-01649-2
3. Masinde E, Kimata B, Ogendo JO, Mulwa RMS, Mkamilo G, Maruthi MN, 2021, Developing dual-resistant cassava to the two major viral diseases. Crop Science (In press) DOI: 10.1002/csc2.20374. IF1.8 Q1.
4. Perez-Fons L, Ovalle TM, Maruthi MN, Colvin J, Lopez-Lavalle LAB, Fraser PD, 2020, The metabotyping of an East African cassava diversity panel: A core collection for developing biotic stress tolerance in cassava. PLoS ONE 15(11): e0242245. IF2.7 Q1.
5. Wang HL, Lei T, Wang X-W, Zhu D-T, Rao Q, Cameron S, Liu Y-Q, Zhao J-J, Shan H-W, Maruthi MN, Colvin J, Liu S-S, 2020. A newly recorded Rickettsia of the Torix group is a recent intruder and an endosymbiont in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Environmental Microbiology 22, 1207–1221. IF4.9 Q1.
6. Wang HL, Lei T, Xia W-Q, Cameron SL, Liu Y-Q, Zhang Z, Maruthi MN, De Barro P, Navas-Castillo J, Omongo CA, Delatte H, Lee K-Y, Patel MV, Krause-Sakate R, Ng J, Wu S-L, Fiallo-Olivé E, Liu S-S, Colvin J & Wang X-W, 2019, Insight into the microbial world of Bemisia tabaci cryptic species complex and its relationships with its host. Scientific Reports 9, Article number: 6568. IF3.9 Q1.
7. Ally HM, El Hamss H, Simiand C, Maruthi MN, Colvin J, Omongo CA, Delatte H, 2019, What has changed in the outbreaking populations of the severe crop pest whitefly species in cassava in two decades? Scientific Reports 9:14796 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-50259-0. IF3.9
8. Maruthi MN, Whitfield C, Otti G, Tumwegamire S, Kanju E, Legg JP, Mkamilo G, Kawuki R, Benesi I, Mhone A, Zacarias A, Munga T, Mwatuni F, Mbugua E, 2019, A method for generating virus-free cassava plants to combat viral disease epidemics in Africa. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 105:77-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmpp.2018.09.002 6 Q2.
9. Macfadyen S, Paull C, Boykin LM, DeBarro P, Maruthi MN, Ghosh S, Otim M, Kalyebi A, Vassão DG, Sseruwagi P, Tek Tay W, Delatte H, Seguni Z, Colvin J, Omongo CA, 2018, Cassava whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), in sub-Saharan African farming landscapes: a review of the factors determining abundance. Bulletin of Entomological Research 108: 565-582. (Doi:10.1017/S0007485318000032). IF2.2 Q2.
10. Tumwegamire S, Kanju E, Legg JP, Shirima R, Kombo S, Mkamilo G, Mtunda K, Sichalwe K, Kulembeka H, Ndyetabula I, Saleh H, Kawuki R, Alicai T, Adiga G, Benesi I, Mhone A, Zacarias A, Nicosa N, Matsimbe SF, Munga T, Ateka E, Navangi L, Maruthi MN, Mwatuni F, Ngudo G, Mwangangi M, Mbugua E, Ndunguru J, Rajabu C, Mark D, 2018, The process and lessons of exchanging and managing in-vitro elite germplasm to combat CBSD and CMD in Eastern and Southern Africa. Food Security 10: 351-368 (https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-018-0779-2). IF2.0 Q1.
11. Maruthi MN, Jeremiah SC, Mohammed IU, Legg JP, 2017, The role of the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), and farmer practices in the spread of cassava brown streak ipomoviruses. Journal of Phytopathology 165:707–717. IF1.1 Q2.
12. Masinde EA, Mkamillo G, Ogendo JO, Hillocks R, Mulwa RMS, Kimata B, Maruthi MN, 2018, Genotype by environment interactions in identifying cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) resistant to cassava brown streak disease. Field Crops Research 215: 39-48. IF4.3 Q1.
13. Ghosh S, Bouvaine S, Richardson SCW, Ghanim M, Maruthi MN, 2018, Fitness costs associated with infections of secondary endosymbionts in the cassava whitefly species Bemisia tabaci. Journal of Pest Science 91:17–28.3 Q1.
14. Xie W, Chen C, Yang Z, Guo L, Yang X, Wang D, Chen M, Huang J, Wen Y, Zeng Y, Liu Y, Xia J, Tian L, Cui H, Wu Q, Wang S, Xu B, Li X, Tan X, Ghanim M, Qiu B, Pan H, Chu D, Delatte H, Maruthi MN, Ge F, Zhou X, Wang X, Wan F, Du Y, Luo C, Yan F, Preisser EL, Jiao X, Coates BS, Zhao J, Gao Q, Xia J, Yin Y, Liu Y, Brown JK, Zhou XJ, Zhang Y, 2017. Genome sequencing of the sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci MED/Q. GigaScience 6(5):1-7. doi:10.1093/gigascience/gix018.9 Q1.
15. Webb SE, Adkins S, Maruthi MN, Legg JP, 2016, Ipomoviruses, pp 435-440. In: Vector-mediated transmission of plant viruses (Ed. JK Brown). American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, USA. pp 510. ISBN: 978-0-89054-535-5.
16. Anjanappa RB, Mehta D, Maruthi MN, Kanju E, Gruissem W, Vanderschuren H, 2016, Characterization of brown streak virus–resistant cassava. MPMI 29 (7), 527–534. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-01-16-0027-R IF3.6
17. Mohammed IU, Ghosh S, Maruthi MN, 2016. Host and virus factors affecting reversion to cassava brown streak disease in cassava. Plant Pathology 65, 593–600. Doi: 10.1111/ppa.12458. IF2.3 Q1.
18. Otti G, Bouvaine S, Kimata B, Mkamillo G, Kumar PL, Tomlins K, Maruthi MN. 2016. High throughput multiplex real time PCR assay for the simultaneous quantification of DNA and RNA viruses infecting cassava plants. Journal of Applied Microbiology 120, 1346-1356. IF3.0 Q1.
19. Ghosh S, Bouvaine S, Maruthi MN. 2015. Prevalence and genetic diversity of endosymbiotic bacteria infecting cassava whiteflies in Africa. BMC Microbiology 15:93 DOI 10.1186/s12866-015-0425-5. IF3.1 Q2.
20. Maruthi MN, Bouvaine S, Tufan HA, Mohammed IU, Hillocks RJ (2014) Transcriptional response of virus-infected cassava and identification of putative sources of resistance for cassava brown streak disease. PLoS ONE 9(5): e96642. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096642. 7 Q1.
21. Legg J, Somado EA, Barker I, Beach L, Ceballos H, Cuellar W, Elkhoury W, Gerling D, Helsen J, Hershey C, Jarvis A, Kulakow Kumar PL, Lorenzen J, Lynam J, McMahon M, Maruthi M N, Miano D, Mtunda K, Natwuruhunga P, Okogbenin E, Pezo P, Terry E, Thiele E, Thresh M, Wadsworth J, Walsh S, Winter S, Tohme J, Fauquet C, 2014. A global alliance declaring war on cassava viruses in Africa. Food Security 6:231–248. DOI 10.1007/s12571-014-0340-x. 0 Q1.
22. Mohammed IU, Abarshi MM, Muli B, Hillocks RJ, Maruthi MN. 2012. The symptom and genetic diversity of cassava brown streak viruses infecting cassava in East Africa. Advances in Virology: Volume 2012, Article ID 795697, 10 pages doi:10.1155/2012/795697. IF2.1 Q2.
23. Abarshi MM, Mohammed IU, Jeremiah SC, Legg JP, Lava Kumar P, Hillocks RJ, Maruthi MN. 2012. Multiplex RT-PCR assays for the simultaneous detection of both RNA and DNA viruses infecting cassava and the common occurrence of mixed infections by two cassava brown streak viruses in East Africa. Journal of Virological Methods 179: 176– 184. IF1.7 Q3.
24. Omongo CA, Kawuki R, Bellotti AC, Alicai T, Baguma Y, Maruthi MN, Bua A, Colvin J, 2012, African cassava whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, resistance in African and South American cassava genotypes. Journal of Integrative Agriculture 11, 327–336. IF1.9 Q1.
25. Mbanzibwa DR, Tian YP, Tugume AK, Patil BL, Yadav JS, Bagewadi B, Abarshi MM, Alicai T, Changadeya W, Mkumbira J, Muli MB, Mukasa SB, Tairo F, Baguma Y, Kyamanywa S, Kullaya A, Maruthi MN, Fauquet CM, Valkonen JPT, 2011. Evolution of cassava brown streak disease-associated viruses. Journal of General Virology 92:974-987. IF3.3 Q1.
26. Legg JP, Jeremiaha SC, Obiero HM, Maruthi MN, Ndyetabula I, Okao-Okuja G, Bouwmeester H, Bigirimana S, Tata-Hangy W, Gashaka G, Mkamilo G, Alicai T, Lava Kumar P. 2011. Comparing the regional epidemiology of the cassava mosaic and cassava brown streak virus pandemics in Africa. Virus Research 159: 161–170. IF2.7 Q1.
27. Patil BL, Ogwok E, Wagaba H, Mohammed IU, Yadav JS, Bagewadi B, Taylor NJ, Kreuze JF, Maruthi MN, Alicai T and Fauquet CM. 2011. RNAi mediated resistance to diverse isolates belonging to two virus species involved in cassava brown streak disease. Molecular Plant Pathology 12: 31-41. IF4.3 Q1.
28. Abarshi MM, Mohammed IU, Wasswa P, Hillocks RJ, Holt J, Legg JP, Seal SE and Maruthi MN, 2010. Optimization of diagnostic RT-PCR protocols and sampling procedures for the reliable and cost-effective detection of Cassava brown streak virus. Journal of Virological Methods 163: 353–359. IF1.7 Q3.
29. Shankarappa KS, Sriharsha, Rangaswamy KT, Aswathanarayana DS, Prameela HA, Kulkarni RS, Muniyappa V, Rao AM, Maruthi MN. Development of tomato hybrids resistant to tomato leaf curl virus disease in South India. Euphytica 164: 531-539. IF1.6 Q1.
30. Shankarappa KS, Rangaswamy KT, Raghavendra N, Rekha AR, Aswatha Narayana DS, Lakshminarayana Reddy CN, TCB Chancellor, Maruthi MN, 2007. Development of silverleaf assay, protein and nucleic acid based diagnostic techniques for quick and reliable detection and monitoring biotype B of the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). Bulletin of Entomological Research 97: 503-513. 2 Q2.
31. Maruthi MN, Rekha AR, Muniyappa V. 2007a. Pumpkin yellow vein mosaic disease is caused by two distinct begomoviruses; complete viral sequences and comparative transmission by an indigenous and B-biotype Bemisia tabaci. EPPO Bulletin 37: 412-419. IF0.9 Q3.
32. Maruthi MN, Rekha AR, Mirza SH, Alam SN, Colvin J. 2007b. PCR-based detection and partial genome sequencing indicate high genetic diversity in Bangladeshi begomoviruses and their whitefly vector, Bemisia tabaci. Virus Genes 34: 373-385. IF1.5 Q2.
33. Maruthi MN, Rekha AR, Sseruwagi P, Hillocks RJ. 2007c. Mitochondrial DNA variability and development of a PCR diagnostic test for Bemisia afer (Priesner & Hosny) populations. Molecular Biotechnology 35: 31-40. IF2.2 Q2.
34. Alicai T, Omongo C, Maruthi MN, Hillocks RJ, Baguma Y, Kawuki R, Bua A, Otim-Nape GW, Colvin J. 2007. Re-emergence of cassava brown streak disease in Uganda. Plant Disease 91: 24-29. IF3.0 Q1.
35. Colvin J, Omongo CA, Govindappa MR, Stevenson PC, Maruthi MN, Gibson G, Seal SE, Muniyappa V. 2006. Host-plant viral infection effects on arthropod-vector population growth, development, and behaviour, with epidemiological and management implications. Advances in Virus Research 67: 419-452. IF2.7
36. Maruthi MN, Manjunatha B, Rekha AR, Govindappa MR, Colvin J, Muniyappa V. 2006. Dolichos yellow mosaic virus belongs to a distinct lineage of Old World begomoviruses; it’s biological and molecular properties. Annals of Applied Biology 149: 187-195. IF2.0 Q1.
37. Sseruwagi P, Maruthi MN, Colvin J, Rey MEC, Brown JK, Legg JP. 2006. Colonization of non-cassava plant species by cassava whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) in Uganda. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 119: 145-153. IF1.6 Q1.
38. Maruthi MN, Rekha AR, Cork A, Colvin J, Alam SN, Kader KA. 2006. A novel begomovirus with distinct genomic and phenotypic features infects tomato in Bangladesh. Plant Pathology 55: 290. IF2.3 Q1.
39. Sseruwagi P, Legg JP, Maruthi MN, Colvin J, Rey MEC, Brown JK. 2005. Genetic diversity of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) populations and presence of the B biotype and a non-B biotype that can induce silverleaf symptoms in squash in Uganda. Annals of Applied Biology 147: 253-265. 0 Q1.
40. Maruthi MN, Alam SN, Kader KA, Rekha AR, Cork A, Colvin J. 2005. Nucleotide sequencing, vector transmission and screening for resistance against two newly described begomoviruses infecting tomato in Bangladesh. Phytopathology 95: 1472-1481. IF3.2 Q1.
41. Rekha AR, Maruthi MN, Muniyappa V, Colvin J. 2005. Occurrence of three genotypic clusters of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and the rapid spread of the B-biotype in South India. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 117: 221-233. IF1.6 Q1.
42. Maruthi MN, Hillocks RJ, Mtunda K, Raya MD, Muhanna M, Kiozia H, Rekha AR, Colvin J, Thresh JM. 2005. Transmission of Cassava brown streak virus by Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). Journal of Phytopathology 153: 307-312. 1 Q2.
43. Maruthi MN, Seal S, Colvin J, Briddon RW, Bull SE. 2004b. East African cassava mosaic Zanzibar virus - a recombinant begomovirus species with a mild phenotype. Archives of Virology 149: 2365-2377. IF2.2 Q2.
44. Colvin, J., Omongo, C. A., Maruthi, M. N., Otim‐Nape, G. W., Thresh, J. M. (2004). Dual begomovirus infections and high Bemisia tabaci populations: two factors driving the spread of a cassava mosaic disease pandemic. Plant Pathology 53(5), pp. 577–584. 3 Q1.
45. Maruthi MN, Colvin J, Gibson G, Thwaites RM, Banks GK, Seal SE. 2004. Reproductive incompatibility and cytochrome oxidase I gene sequence variability amongst host-adapted and geographically separate Bemisia tabaci Systematic Entomology 29: 560-568. IF3.9 Q1.
46. Maruthi MN, Czosnek H, Vidavski F, Tarba S-Y, Milo J, Leviatov S, Venkatesh HM, Padmaja AS, Kulkarni RS, Muniyappa V. 2003a. Comparison of resistance to Tomato leaf curl virus (India) and Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (Israel) among Lycopersicon wild species, breeding lines and hybrids. European Journal of Plant Pathology 109: 1-11. 3 Q1.
47. Maruthi MN, Muniyappa V, Green SK, Colvin J, Hanson P. 2003b. Screening tomato and sweet-pepper genotypes resistance to Tomato leaf curl Bangalore virus and its vector Bemisia tabaci. International Journal of Pest Management 49: 297-303.1 Q2.
48. Muniyappa V, Maruthi MN, Babitha CR, Colvin J, Briddon RW, Rangaswamy KT. 2003. Characterisation of pumpkin yellow vein mosaic virus from India. Annals of Applied Biology 142: 323-331. IF2.0 Q1.
49. Maruthi MN, Colvin J, Seal S, Gibson G, Cooper J. 2002. Co-adaptation between cassava mosaic geminiviruses and their local vector populations. Virus Research 86: 71-85. 7 Q1.
50. Maruthi MN, Colvin J, Seal S. 2001. Mating compatibility, life-history traits, and RAPD-PCR variation in Bemisia tabaci associated with the cassava mosaic disease pandemic in East Africa. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 99: 13-23. IF1.6 Q1.

Professor Gowda is passionate about using advanced molecular technologies to mitigate pest and disease problems in the tropics, especially those of cassava in Africa. He is currently interested in gaining greater understanding of cassava brown streak disease, which is epidemic in eastern Africa, its negative effects on the poor and devising ways to control the disease. He is working to identify natural sources of resistance to viruses and their insect vectors using high throughput sequencing (RNA-Seq) to identify, characterise, map and understand the mechanism of resistance genes with the aim of developing durable resistance to the disease.

Another complementary and exciting area of his research includes using endosymbiotic bacteria as bio-control agent against whitefly, the vector of cassava viruses. Professor Gowda’s team is identifying certain strains of bacteria that can reduce reproduction and increase mortality of whiteflies. If successful, this self-perpetuating bio-control strategy is expected to reduce cassava whitefly numbers significantly, which has great potential to achieve marked decrease in cassava disease incidences. The knowledge generated can also contribute to the greater understanding of how vector-borne diseases affect human beings.

Professor Gowda’s aim is to take holistic approaches to find solutions for cassava pest and disease problems for increased food security of the poor in eastern Africa.

VIRTIGATION: Emerging viral diseases in tomatoes and cucurbits: implementation of mitigation strategies for durable disease management, 2021-2025.

Tomato and cucurbits are among the most produced vegetable crops in the world (182 and 84 million metric tons in 2017). These crops are affected by emerging viruses, such as begomoviruses and tobamoviruses, which reduce crop value both quantitatively and qualitatively while increase production costs due to the use of pesticides to control them. Virtigation will enable a deeper understanding of the effect of climate change on plant-virus-vector interactions, develop reliable diagnostic, and control methods including vaccines for plants and biopesticides against virus vectors, as well as integrated pest management strategies. The project will also establish a pipeline for rapid mitigation of emerging crop diseases by developing advanced diagnostic tools enabling early detection of virus variants associated with hyper-virulence and/or expansion to new host species. We will use web-based bioinformatics tools to take advantage of virus and vector sequencing data to identify ecological and environmental factors conducive to increased virulence of existing and emerging viral diseases. New diagnostics methods combined with web-based meta-analysis will help prevent the entry and spread of begomovirus and tobamovirus-associated diseases in Europe and in other regions through introduction of improved quarantine measures. Novel methods to control viral diseases, including biological treatments to limit transmission by seeds and vectors as well as cross-protection strategies, will be developed to rapidly reduce losses associated with viral diseases in tomato and cucurbit production. Natural resistances against viruses and vectors will be investigated and introgressed into preferred varieties to provide a durable mitigation strategy. We will embed research and implementation activities in a multi-actor co-creation and co-design approach with stakeholders for ensuring research activities and products meet the core needs and expectations of the value chain. From our strategies, we anticipate reducing up to 80% losses caused by begomoviruses and tobamoviruses in Europe, Israel and India, where the project will be implemented. This project is funded by the European Commission, led by the KU Leuven University in which Professor Gowda is leading the work package 4.

Dual-resistant cassava for climate resilience, economic development and increased food security of smallholders in eastern and southern Africa (DualCassava), 2018-2021.

This African Union-funded multi-partner project is similar to LimitCBSD project except the focus now is to mitigate the impact of CMD, CBSD and drought in subsistence farmers in Tanzania and Malawi. The researchers will first carry out socio-economic research to understand the impact of the two diseases and drought on the poor. They will then distribute drought-resistant virus-clean cassava varieties to farmers in drought-prone areas as a way of crop diversification to mitigate the impact of drought. They will also screen new cassava lines for viruses to identify most resistant varieties and use state-of-the-art next generation sequencing for identifying genes that are contributing to resistance. This information will be used for developing molecular markers for integration into breeding programmes. The successful implementation of this project will significantly improve the capacity of local partners in controlling both CMD and CBSD and minimize the impact of drought on farmers in drought-prone areas. Total value of the project USD1.2 million.

African cassava whitefly project: outbreak causes and sustainable solutions project, 2014-2018.

Professor Gowda is a Co-PI in this mega project http://cassavawhitefly.org/ led by NRI. He is contributing to three key areas of research and development; to identify natural sources of resistance to African cassava whitefly species in local and exotic cassava lines, and to investigate the role of endosymbionts on whitefly biology, virus transmission and population ecology to understand the phenomenon of whitefly super abundance in African countries.

Building Local Capacity for Surveillance Diagnosis, Characterisation and Control of Cassava Viruses in Northern Nigeria, 2014-2017

Professor Gowda is a Co-PI in this PEARL project led by the Kebbi State University of Science and Technology in Nigeria. Main aim of the project is to build human and physical capacity through training and setting up a virus diagnostic laboratory that is capable of carrying out surveillance, diagnosis and characterization of viruses affecting cassava in northern Nigeria. University researchers, postgraduate students, extension workers and quarantine officers will be trained to identify cassava diseases in the field and also using diagnostic molecular techniques in the lab. Field surveys will be conducted in the nine states of the northern Nigeria to determine the prevalence of CMD including the recently introduced severe strain East African cassava mosaic virus-Uganda (EACMV-Ug) in the region. The EACMV-Ug resistance levels of Nigerian cassava varieties and local land races grown by farmers will be evaluated in field trials. As pre-emptive preparedness, the Nigerian cassava germplasm will be tested for resistance to another important viral disease, the cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) in East Africa through collaborations. CBSD is currently restricted to Eastern Africa but poses greatest threat to cassava production in West Africa through potential inadvertent introductions. Local quarantine officials will be trained and awareness will be created on the potential dangers of introducing CBSD to Nigeria. Added value of this proposal is to build capacity for cassava disease surveillance in northern Nigeria, an area that has long been neglected but equally important for food security and economic development of the farmers. The long term benefits of this investment can be to use the laboratory set up as a strategic point for disease surveillance in West Africa for cassava as well as other important food crops such as yams and legumes. NRI contract value £166K.

Improving the Livelihoods of Smallholder Cassava Farmers Through Better Access to Growth Markets (CassavaGMarkets), 2012-2016.

This multi partner project, led by NRI, funded by the European Commission is aiming to improving the livelihoods of smallholder cassava farmers through better access to growth markets (CassavaGmarkets). Dr Gowda is leading one of the seven work packages of this project, to better understand the epidemiology of CBSD in the disease endemic areas of southern Tanzania. Research will be carried out to identify disease resistant varieties for this region and the next generation sequencing will be used for identifying CBSD resistant genes. Total value of the project Euros 3.5 million.

New cassava varieties and clean seed to combat CMD and CBSD project (5CP), 2012–2016.

Professor Gowda is a partner in this multi-partner project, led by IITA and funded by the Gates Foundation. The project, implemented in five eastern African countries, aims to identify CBSD resistance in 25 elite cassava lines in five target countries and develop a commercial seed system for cassava. Professor Gowda's role is to develop a virus indexing programme for cleaning 25 lines from virus infection using a combination of tissue culture, thermotherapy and chemotherapy, and virus diagnosis. As part of this project, the researchers have successfully developed a virus indexing programme for the African cassava viruses and so far cured over 40 cassava lines from virus infections. Methodologies developed at NRI have wider applications beyond the scope of 5CP as they will contribute in preventing virus-susceptible cassava varieties from extinction and the spread of virus-infected plants to new regions. The NRI component of this project is successfully delivered now. NRI contract value in the project USD 222K.

Limiting the impact of cassava brown streak disease on smallholders, women and the cassava value chain (LimitCBSD). 2012–2015.

Professor Gowda is leading this African Union-funded multi-partner project to mitigate the impact of CBSD in Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi. The main aim of the project is to better understand the recent disease outbreaks in east Africa and devise effective control strategies. The researchers will first carry out socio-economic research to understand the impact of the disease on the poor, in particular on woman farmers who are the main workforce for cassava cultivation. They will then screen new cassava lines for viruses to identify resistant varieties and use state-of-the-art next generation sequencing for identifying genes that are contributing to resistance. This information will be used for developing disease resistance molecular markers for integration into breeding programmes. The successful implementation of this project will significantly improve the capacity of local partners in controlling the disease. Total value of the project Euros 620K.

Whitefly control using Wolbachia, 2012–2013.

This highly innovative Gates Foundation-funded project to control the agricultural pest whiteflies using endosymbiotic bacteria called Wolbachia was led by Professor Gowda. This was a pilot project which ran for 18 months, but Phase II was not funded. Research, however, continued on this interesting topic through a University of Greenwich PhD studentship. Wolbachia infects over 75% of the earth's insect population, and are shown to negatively affect the lifecycles of certain insect species and can also reduce pathogen transmission by them. Certain strains of Wolbachia are therefore used as potential bio-control agents for controlling diseases of medical importance (eg. dengue viruses) transmitted by mosquitoes. Since whiteflies are naturally infected with Wolbachia, the researchers are investigating whether a similar strategy can be employed to reduce the high whitefly populations on cassava in Africa. If successful, this strategy has huge potential for controlling whiteflies and the viruses they transmit since it comes at no-cost to the farmers, is self-perpetuating and can be implemented together with existing control strategies. For this reason, it can be part of an IPM package for the sustainable control of both whiteflies and virus diseases. The most exciting aspect of this research, apart from controlling cassava virus diseases, is the generation of fundamental knowledge that can contribute to better understanding of vector-transmitted pathogens of medical importance. Total value of the project USD 100K.

Head of the Plant Health research group. Responsible for the implementation and delivery of externally funded projects, supervising PhDs and MSc students and junior members of staff.

• Hind Rattan Award-2020 for outstanding contributions in the field of science while keeping the flag of India high as a non-residential Indian. Awarded by the Non-residential Indian society in association with the Indian Diaspora abroad and the ministry of external affairs, Government of India.
• Chair of the AAB Virology committee – 2015-2018
• Editor of VirusDisease – 2010 - 2018
• Convenor of the AAB Virology committee meetings, panel member, 2007-2018
• Promising Young Researcher Award from the Higher Education Funding Council of England - 2005
• UK Department for International Development scholarship for higher education (fully funded PhD scholarship to study in the UK) - 1998

Member of:

• Biological and Genetic Modification Safety Committee, UoG, 2008-present
• Association of Applied Biologists, 2001- present
• European and International Whitefly Studies Network (EWSN), 2000-present
• ssDNA virus and Geminivirus study groups, 2001 - present
• Working Group on Legume and Vegetable Viruses (IWGLV), 2005-present
• British Society for Plant Pathology, 1999-2000