• Plant-soil-microbiome interactions
• Bio-inoculant technology
• Microbial biofilms
• Microbial volatiles
• Soil health
• Biocontrol
• Mycotoxins, Food quality and HACCP

Patents:

1. Velmourougane, K. Bacterial-based volatiles composition as thrip attractant (Grant No.: 554409; Date: 14.11.2024).
2. Velmourougane, K. Bacterial-based volatiles composition as aphid attractant (Grant No.: 553413; Date: 29.10.2024).
3. Velmourougane, K., Prasad, Y.G. Bacterial-based volatiles composition as beneficial insects attractant (Grant No.: 546146; Date: 26.07.2024).
4. Velmourougane, K., Pooja Verma., Manikandan, A., Prasad, Y.G., Rishi Kumar., Blaise, D. Bacterial-based volatiles composition as whitefly attractant (Grant No.: 541777; Date: 13.06.2024).
5. Velmourougane, K., Pooja Verma., Manikandan, A., Prasad, Y.G. Bacterial-based volatiles composition as jassid attractant (Grant No.: 568707; Date: 15.07.2025).
6. Velmourougane K, Pooja Verma, Manikandan A, Prasad YG. Bacterial-based volatiles composition as Jassid attractant – Filed on: March 13 2026; International application (Australia) No. AU 2024335166. 
7. Velmourougane K, Pooja Verma, Manikandan A., Prasad YG, Rishi Kumar, Blaise D. Bacterial-based volatiles composition as Whitefly attractant – Filed on: March 13 2026; International application (Australia) No. AU 2024330825. 
8. Velmourougane K, Manikandan A, Blaise D, Waghmare VN. Composition comprising pedogenic calcium carbonate solubilizing microorganism and a method preparing the same thereof.  (Application No. 202621032324; Filing date: 24.03.2026).

Technologies developed:

1. Bacterial-based synthetic volatile attractant formulation for whitefly management in cotton
2. Bacterial-based synthetic volatile attractant formulation for jassid management in cotton
3. Bacterial-based synthetic volatile attractant formulation for aphid management in cotton
4. Bacterial-based synthetic volatile attractant formulation for thrip management in cotton
5. Bacterial-based synthetic volatile attractant formulation to enhance beneficial insects/natural enemies in cotton fields
6. Microbially enriched cotton stalk compost as an alternative to farmyard manure in cotton production
7. Microbial consortium for solubilization of pedogenic calcium carbonate to alleviate soil sodicity in calcareous soils to enhance cotton productivity and soil health
8. Microbial consortium to alleviate abiotic stress (drought and waterlogging) in cotton

Trichoderma viride based Azotobacter chroococcum biofilms for enhancing soil health and cotton productivity

• Velmourougane K, Pooja Verma, Rishikumar, K. Rameash, D. Blaise, Pranali Tarachand Bansod, Lalita Rameshwar Harinkhede, YG. Prasad. 2025. Bioprospecting microbial-based volatiles for plant growth promotion and sucking pest management in Bt cotton. National conference on “Emerging Issues and Sustainable Strategies in Plant Health Management: A Global Perspective”, Jan 19-21, 2025, Nagpur (Oral presentation)
• Velmourougane K, Manikandan A, Harinkhede LR, Vaidya JB, Prasad YG. 2024. Microbial dissolution of pedogenic carbonate: An ecofriendly strategy for alleviating sodicity in calcareous soils to enhance soil and cotton productivity. International Conference on “Innovative Technologies for Research & Development for Sustainable Production of Cotton, Oilseeds and Fibre Crops”, Goa, 13-15 Nov. 2024 (Best Oral presentation)
• Velmourougane K, Verma P, Manikandan A, Harinkhede LR, Bansod PT, Vaidya JB, Rishi Kumar, Prasad YG. 2023. Microbial-based volatiles: An eco-friendly and non-chemical approach for sucking pest management in cotton. ACRDN-9, ICAR-CIRCOT, Mumbai, 6-8 Dec 2023 (Oral presentation)

TRAINING ATTENDED 

• MDP on Priority Setting, Monitoring and Evaluation (February 17-22, 2025), ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad
• Multivariate Data Analysis using R (July 22-26, 2024), ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad
• NABL Accreditation of ICAR Laboratories under NABL Assessors Training Course on ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 (Level 1), (10-12^th March 2021 & 21-23^rd Oct 2021), NABL, New Delhi

INVITED LECTURES 

• Delivered an invited talk on “Soil Health at Cross Roads – Microbial Solutions” in the centenary celebration of Central Coffee Research Institute, Balehonnur, Chikmagalur organized by Coffee Board of India, 21st December 2025.
• Delivered an invited talk on “Microbiome and its role in Agriculture Under Climate Change Situations – Prospects and Challenges” in the National conference on “Challenges in Microbiology” organized by Graphic Era University, Dehradun, Uttarkand on 5^th May 2025.
• Delivered an invited lecture on “Role of Microbiome in Agriculture with special reference to Pest Management – Recent Concepts & Strategies” in the training programme on “Chemical Ecology (Exploring Insect-Plant-microbe Interactions)”, organized by Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, India IIHR, Bengaluru, 17-26^th March 2025
• Delivered an invited talk on “Microbiome and its role in soil health and cotton productivity” at Better Cotton Workshop on “Soil Health & Cotton Soil-borne Disease Management”, 5-6 Feb 2025, Hyderabad
• Delivered an invited talk on “Role of microbes/bio-stimulants in coffee based natural farming system” training programme organized by Central Coffee Research Institute, Coffee Board, Karnataka and MANAGE on “Natural farming technologies for climate resilient and sustainable coffee production in shade grown coffee plantations 13^th to 17^th May, 2024.
• Delivered an invited lecture on “Microbiome and its role in agriculture under climate change situations” in MANAGE, Hyderabad & SAMETI, Puducherry sponsored training programme on “Climate smart agricultural technologies” organized by KVK, Puducherry, 12^th June 2023.

Delivered an invited lecture in DBT Sponsored symposia “Microbiome in climate change and food security” on “Microbiome and Its Role in Agriculture Under Climate Change Situations” organized by Amity University, Noida, 1^st March 2023

TRAINING CONDUCTED

ICAR Sponsored Short Course on Insecticide Resistance Management Strategies with Major Emphasis On Cotton Insect Pests from 10 -19 February, 2025. At ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur. 

INVITED LECTURES 

Delivered a lecture on IPM of PBW in cotton for newly appointed Krishi Sevak training programme organized by RAMETI, Nagpur on 6^th Oct., 2023.

Served as guest resource person to deliver lecture on pink bollworm and sucking pest management on 03.10.2024 in season long training programme on integrated pest management in cotton held at Regional central integrated pest management centre (RCIPMC) Nagpur from 27.09.2023 to 26.10.2023. 
Acted as resource person to provide technical training on pesticide classification, cotton pest management using green chemistries, safe handling and disposal of pesticides during Training of Trainers (TOT) Cotton Connect at Ahmadabad, Gujarat from 30^th April to 1^st May 2024.

RESEARCH ARTICLES (not more than 10)

1. Velmourougane K, Prasanna R, Manikandan A, Harinkhede LR, Bansod PT, Vaidya JB, Prasad YG. 2025. Cyanobacterium‑based bacterial and fungal biofilms as economically viable and climate smart biostimulants for Bt‑cotton in rainfed Vertisol. Journal of Applied Phycology https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-025-03671-1 (IF NAAS score 9.0)
2. Velmourougane K, Nasare SB, Verma P, Manikandan A, Harinkhede LR, Bansod PT, Vaidya JB, Gotmare V, Prasad YG. 2025. Volatile Organic Compound Diversity Among Cultivated and Wild Cotton Species Indicates Plasticizer Contamination of Soil. 2025. National Academy Science Letters. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-025-01629-y (NAAS score 7.3)
3. Waghmare RR, Velmourougane K (Corresponding author)*, Blaise D, Manikandan A, Harinkhede LR, Bansod PT, Nasare SB, Vaidya JB, Gotmare V, Prasad YG. 2025. Wild and cultivated cotton species: comparative studies on plant biochemistry, soil biology, and soil nutrient status. Crop & Pasture Science. 76, CP24265. Doi: 10.1071/CP24265 (NAAS score 7.9)
4. Velmourougane K, Manikandan A, Blaise D, Mageshwaran V. 2022. Cotton stalk compost as a substitution to farmyard manure along with mineral fertilizers and microbials enhanced Bt cotton productivity and fibre quality in rainfed Vertisols. Waste and Biomass Valorization. 13(6): 2847-2860. (NAAS score 8.8)
5. Desouza Blaise, K.Velmourougane (Corresponding author)*, Savitha Santosh, Angamuthu Manikandan. 2021. Intercrop mulch affects soil biology and microbial diversity in rainfed transgenic Bt cotton hybrids. Science of the Total Environment. 794: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. scitotenv.2021.148787  (NAAS score 14.0)
6. Velmourougane K, Prasanna R, Supriya P, Ramakrishnan B, Thapa S, Saxena AK. 2019. Transcriptome profiling provides insights into regulatory factors involved in Trichoderma viride–Azotobacter chroococcum biofilm formation. Microbiological Research. 227: 126292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micres.2019.06.002 (NAAS score 12.9)
7. Velmourougane K, Radha Prasanna, Gautam Chawla, Lata Nain, Arun Kumar, Anil Kumar Saxena. 2019. Trichoderma-Azotobacter biofilm inoculation improves soil nutrient availability and plant growth in wheat and cotton. Journal of Basic Microbiology. 59(6): 632-644. (NAAS score 8.7)
8. Velmourougane K, Radha Prasanna, Shashi Bala Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Supradip Saha. 2017. Sequence of inoculation influences the nature of extracellular polymeric substances and biofilm formation in Azotobacter chroococcum and Trichoderma viride. FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 93 (7): doi: 10.1093/femsec/fix066. (NAAS score 9.2)
9. Velmourougane K, Radha Prasanna, Surender Singh, Gautam Chawla, Arun Kumar, Anil Kumar Saxena. 2017. Modulating rhizosphere colonisation, plant growth, soil nutrient availability and plant defense enzyme activity through Trichoderma viride–Azotobacter chroococcum biofilm inoculation in chickpea. Plant and Soil. 421 (1-2): 157-174. (NAAS score 10.1)

Velmourougane K, R. Prasanna. 2017. Influence of L-amino acids on aggregation and biofilm formation in Azotobacter chroococcum and Trichoderma viride. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 123 (4): 977-991. (NAAS score 9.2)

1. Ngangom B, Velmourougane K, Kumar U, Prasanna R. 2025. Protein nanocarriers for the delivery of phytoconstituents.  In: Singh A, Kulhari H, Sahran VA (Eds.) Formulating Pharma-, Nutra-, and Cosmeceutical products from herbal substances: Dosage Forms and Delivery Systems. John Wiley & Sons Inc., Hoboken, New Jersy. pp. 633-639. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119769484.ch22
2. Velmourougane K, Prasanna R. 2023. Climate change, its effect on soil health and role of Bioinoculants in mitigating climate change. In: Surender Singh, Radha Prasanna, Kumar Pranaw (Eds.) Bioinoculants: Biological option for mitigating climate change. Springer. pp. 23-55. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-2973-3_2
3. Velmourougane K, Prasanna R. 2024. Microbial enhancement of phosphorus availability in soil systems. In: Norman Uphoff, Janice E.Thies (Eds.) Biological Approaches to regenerative soil systems, 2^nd Edition, CRC Press. pp. 181-190. DOI: 10.1201/9781003093718-20
4.  Velmourougane K, Prasanna R. 2024. Biological options for stimulating phosphorus availability in soil systems. In: Norman Uphoff, Janice E.Thies (Eds.) Biological Approaches to regenerative soil systems, 2^nd Edition, CRC Press. pp. 345-352. DOI: 10.1201/9781003093718-33
5. Velmourougane K, D. Blaise. 2021. Rhizoengineering: A Strategy to Enhance Soil and Crop Productivity. In: R.N. Pudake et al. (Eds.), Omics Science for Rhizosphere Biology, Rhizosphere Biology, Springer Publishers. pp. 235-262. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0889-6_13
6. Velmourougane K, D. Blaise, S. Savitha and V.N. Waghmare. 2021. Valorization of cotton wastes for agricultural and industrial applications: present status and future prospects. In: Bhat. R. (Eds.) Valorization of Agri-Food Wastes and By-Products, Elsevier Publishers. pp. 665-692. DOI: https://doi.org/10. 1016/B978-0- 12-824044-1.00043-X
7. Blaise D, Velmourougane K, Manikandan A. 2021. Conservation Agriculture in Cotton-Based System: Impact on Soil Properties. In: Jayaraman S., Dalal R.C., Patra A.K., Chaudhari S.K. (eds) Conservation Agriculture: A Sustainable Approach for Soil Health and Food Security. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0827-8_5
8. Velmourougane, K., Garima Saxena., Radha Prasanna. 2017. Plant-Microbe Interactions in the Rhizosphere: Mechanisms and Their Ecological Benefits. In: Plant-Microbe Interactions in Agro-Ecological Perspectives Volume 2: Microbial Interactions and Agro-Ecological Impacts. Eds. Singh, D.P, Bahadur H, Ratna P. Springer. pp. 193-219. doi. 10.1007/978-981-10-6593-4_7
9. Velmourougane, K, Rajeev Bhat. 2017. Sustainability Challenges in the Coffee Plantation Sector. In: Sustainability Challenges in the Agrofood Sector. Eds. Rajeev Bhat. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Sussex, UK. pp. 616-642.
10. Velmourougane, K, Blaise, D. 2017. Soil Health, Crop Productivity and Sustainability Challenges. In: Sustainability Challenges in the Agrofood Sector. Eds. Rajeev Bhat. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Sussex, UK. pp. 509-531.
11. Velmourougane, K, Gopinandhan, T.N., Rajeev Bhat. 2014. Application of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Principles for Ochratoxin-A prevention in Coffee Production Chain. In: Practical Food Safety: Contemporary Issues and Future Directions. Eds. Rajeev Bhat and Vicente M.Gomez-Lopez. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Sussex, UK. pp. 577-592.
12. Velmourougane, K., D.Blaise. 2014. Transgenic cotton and its impact on microbial diversity. In: Bacterial diversity in sustainable agriculture. Eds. D.K.Maheshwari.  Springer International Publishing, Switzerland. pp. 191-204.
13. Velmourougane, K, Venugopalan, M.V, Apeksha Sahu, Tapas Bhattacharya, S.K. Ray, P. Chandran, Jagdish Prasad, K.M. Nair, K.S. Anil Kumar, S. Srinivas, T.K. Sen, Vishakha Dongre and Sarkar, D. 2012. Microbiology of black soil regions of India – Impacts of bio-climates, cropping and land use systems. In: Managing land resources for sustainable agriculture. Eds. Bhattacharyya et al., ISSLUP, NBSS & LUP, Nagpur, Maharashtra, pp. 163- 165
14. Velmourougane. K, Rajeev Bhat. 2009. Improvement of coffee quality through prevention of moulds. In: Frontiers in Fungal Ecology, Diversity and Metabolites. Eds Dr. K.R. Sridhar, I.K. International Publishing House Pvt Ltd, New Delhi. ISBN: 978-81-89866-91-4, pp. 210-226

Velmourougane K, Bharambe PR, Khadi BM. 2008. Biofertilizer technology for sustainable cotton production and soil health. In: Biotechnology: Concepts and Applications. Eds. Dr.Ravishankar Rai, Narosa Publishing house, ISBN: 978-81-7319-902-8, pp.371-388.

International:

1. Oral presentation – “Microbial dissolution of pedogenic carbonate: An ecofriendly strategy for alleviating sodicity in calcareous soils to enhance soil and cotton productivity” in International Conference on “Innovative Technologies for Research & Development for Sustainable Production of Cotton, Oilseeds and Fibre Crops”, Goa, 13-15 Nov. 2024 (Best Oral presentation)
2. Oral presentation – “Microbial biofilms: An eco-friendly agri-input to enhance soil and cotton productivity” in International Conference on Advances in Agriculture and Food System towards Sustainable Development Goals. UAS, Bangalore; August 22-24, 2022 

National: 

1. Oral presentation – “Bioprospecting microbial-based volatiles for plant growth promotion and sucking pest management in Bt cotton” in National conference on “Emerging Issues and Sustainable Strategies in Plant Health Management: A Global Perspective”, Nagpur, Jan 19-21, 2025.
2. Oral presentation – “Microbial-based volatiles: An eco-friendly and non-chemical approach for sucking pest management in cotton” in ACRDN-9, ICAR-CIRCOT, Mumbai, 6-8 Dec 2023.
3. Oral presentation – “Bioprospecting microbial-based volatiles for plant growth promotion and sucking pest management in Bt cotton” in National Symposium on “Paradigm Shift in Cotton Cultivation”, MPUAT, Udaipur, 8-10 Aug 2022.

• Velmourougane K, Prasad Y.G. 2025. Microbial volatile attractants for monitoring and managing sucking pests in cotton. Cotton Statistics & News, 43: 1-5.
• Velmourougane K, Prasad YG. 2025. Microbial Volatile Attractants for Monitoring And Managing Sucking Pests In Cotton. Cotton Statistics & News. Cotton Association of India. 43:2-5
• Velmourougane K, A. Manikandan, D. Blaise. 2022. Microbial dissolution of calcium carbonate: A novel ecofriendly approach to ease soil sodicity. Cotton Innovate 3(1), 2-3.  
• Velmourougane K, Savitha Santosh, Rachna Pande, Dipak Nagrale, P. Nalayini, A. Manikandan, D. Blaise. 2022. Microbial biofilms: An eco-friendly agri-input to enhance soil and cotton productivity. Cotton Innovate 1(2):1-2.
• Velmourougane K. 2021. Cotton stalk compost-an alternative farmyard manure for cotton production. ICRA-Cotton Innovations. 1(1):9.
• Velmourougane K, Blaise D, Pooja Verma. 2021. Bioprospecting microbial volatiles for plant growth promotion and pest management in cotton. Cotton Innovate 7(1): 3-4.

• Velmourougane K, Vinita Gotmare, Pooja Verma, Manikandan A, Waghmare VN. Wild cotton species – Comparative studies on plant biochemistry, soil biology and nutrient dynamics. ICAR-CICR Technical Bulletin: 2026/5. ICAR- Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur – 441108, Maharashtra, India.
• Velmourougane K, Pooja Verma, Manikandan A, Prasad YG, Rishi Kumar, Blaise D, Jimmy Bhardwaj Vaidya, Waghmare VN. Bacterial-based volatile attractant formulation for whitefly management in cotton. ICAR-CICR Technical Bulletin: 2026/6. ICAR- Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur – 441108, Maharashtra, India.
• Velmourougane K, Pooja Verma, Manikandan A, Jimmy Bhardwaj Vaidya, Prasad YG, Waghmare VN. Bacterial-based volatile attractant formulation for jassid management in cotton. ICAR-CICR Technical Bulletin: 2026/7. ICAR- Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur – 441108, Maharashtra, India.
• Velmourougane K, Pooja Verma, Waghmare VN. Bacterial-based volatile attractant formulation for aphid management in cotton. ICAR-CICR Technical Bulletin: 2026/8. ICAR- Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur – 441108, Maharashtra, India.
• Velmourougane K, Pooja Verma, Waghmare VN. Bacterial-based volatile attractant formulation for thrip management in cotton. ICAR-CICR Technical Bulletin: 2026/9. ICAR- Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur – 441108, Maharashtra, India.
• Velmourougane K, Pooja Verma, Prasad YG, Waghmare VN. Bacterial-based volatile formulation to enhance beneficial insects and natural enemies in cotton ecosystem. ICAR-CICR Technical Bulletin: 2026/10. ICAR- Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur – 441108, Maharashtra, India.
• Velmourougane K, Manikandan A, Blaise D, Mageshwaran V, P. Nalayini, Waghmare VN. Microbially enriched cotton stalk compost: an alternative for farmyard manure in cotton production. ICAR-CICR Technical Bulletin: 2026/11. ICAR- Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur – 441108, Maharashtra, India.
• Velmourougane K, Manikandan A, Blaise D, Waghmare VN. Microbial formulation to alleviate soil calcareousness & sodicity to enhance cotton productivity. ICAR-CICR Technical Bulletin: 2026/12. ICAR- Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur – 441108, Maharashtra, India.
• Velmourougane K, Prasanna R, Manikandan A, Jimmy B. Vaidya, Prasad YG, Waghmare VN. Cyanobacterium-based bacterial and fungal biofilm as a biostimulant for cotton production. ICAR-CICR Technical Bulletin: 2026/13. ICAR- Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur – 441108, Maharashtra, India.
• Velmourougane, K. et al. 2014. Biological Properties of Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) and Black Soil Region (BSR). Georeferenced Soil Information System (GeoSIS), NBSS Publ. No. 1067, NBSS& LUP, Nagpur. 98 pp.

1. Member, Indian Society for Cotton Improvement, Mumbai

• Scientist-In-Charge, Priority Setting, Monitoring & Evaluation Cell (PME)
  Scientist-In-Charge, Institute Technology Management Unit (ITMU)
  Chairman, NABL Implementation Committee
  Member Secretary, Project Monitoring & Evaluation Committee (PMEC)
  Member Secretary, Institute Technology Monitoring Committee (ITMC)
  Nodal Officer, ICAR-CICR, EFC preparation (2026-31), Crop science
  Nodal Officer, ICAR-CICR, for startups, schemes and programs
  Assistant Centre Coordinator for ASRB exam at Nagpur
  Member Secretary, QRT (2018-2023)
  
  
  I certify that the above information is correct to the best of my knowledge.
  
  
                                                                                                                           
  (K. VELMOUROUGANE)