Dr. Veena. G.L.

Dr. G. L. Veena has made significant contributions to horticultural research through crop improvement, germplasm conservation, fruit quality evaluation and post-harvest technology. Her early research involved screening more than 150 mango and guava hybrids, leading to the identification of nutritionally superior genotypes, including carotenoid-rich mango selections and lycopene-rich soft-seeded guava types with enhanced nutritional value.

She conducted extensive exploration and conservation of the unique Appemidi mango germplasm of the Western Ghats and established valuable genetic resources at the ICAR-IIHR Gene Bank. Her research on fruit sap and leaf volatile profiling identified key aroma compounds responsible for the characteristic flavour of Appemidi, providing useful biochemical markers for early selection in breeding programmes and reducing the juvenile phase in cultivar evaluation.

At ICAR-Directorate of Cashew Research, she has played a key role in the development and release of three improved cashew varieties— Nethra Jumbo-1, Nethra Ubhaya and Nethra Jumbo-2. She has also registered four unique cashew germplasm accessions, standardized in vitro pollen germination and cryopreservation protocols, reported the unique Purple Cashew genotype, and identified the high-juice genotype NRC-301 for future breeding and commercial utilization.

Dr. Veena has successfully developed several value-added technologies for efficient utilization of cashew apple and sprouts, including cashew apple pomace powder cookies, fruit bars, crisps, muffins, liquid jaggery and other innovative products, several of which have been commercialized. She has also secured four copyrights and established an advanced horticulture laboratory equipped with modern analytical instruments such as HPLC, GC-MS, UV-Visible Spectrophotometer and extrusion facilities through an RKVY-funded project worth approximately ₹1.50 crore, significantly strengthening horticultural research infrastructure at the institute.