Delaware State University
Plant Molecular Breeding Lab
Principal Investigator
Dr. Kalpalatha Melmaiee
Dr. Kalpalatha (Latha) Melmaiee is an Associate Professor and Director of the Plant Molecular Breeding Laboratory at the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware, USA. Her research utilizes classical genetics, plant breeding, cutting-edge genomics, molecular biology, and biotechnology tools. The overarching goal of her research is to develop climate-resilient genotypes in crop plants. She has more than 35 years of research experience working with various crops, from sorghum, pearl millet, corn, rice, beans, blueberries, strawberries, industrial hemp, and sugar maple.
Dr. Melmaiee is a recipient of the Fulbright Specialist Award in 2022 to visit Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), India, to share her expertise with the faculty and researchers at TNAU. She received an ICAR-IDP visiting professor in 2023 to visit and teach at TNAU for three weeks. Melmaiee also received Faculty excellence in advising in 2022 and research in 2019 from Delaware State University. Dr. Melmaiee has mentored over 200 undergraduates, 25 graduate students, and postdoctoral associates. She assisted in hosting several Norman Borlaug Fellows and hosted international visiting scientists from various countries of Africa, the Caribbean, and the Indian subcontinent.
She obtained her Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University and had postdoctoral training at the University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University, and Delaware State University (DSU). She has been working at DSU since 2008 in various capacities. Born in a farming family, Dr. Melmaiee is passionate about agriculture and serving agricultural communities across the globe.
Staff
Dr. Krishnanand P. Kulkarni
I am Krishnanand Kulkarni (Ph.D. in Biotechnology), and presently working as a postdoctoral research associate with Dr. Kalpalatha Melmaiee in the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Delaware State University (DSU), Dover. My research at DSU focuses on genetic mapping of QTLs/genes for heat stress tolerance in blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) plants. This study is expected to greatly facilitate breeding blueberries adaptable to variable environmental conditions.
Contact: kkulkarni@desu.edu
Dr. Amaranatha (Amar) R. Vennapusa
Amar obtained his Ph.D. in Botany from Sri Krishnadevaraya University, India, in 2016, where his research was focused on developing herbicide-resistant rice transgenics through a multigene stacking approach, as well as characterizing genes involved in crop plant stress tolerance. Later, he joined as a postdoctoral fellow at Kansas State University, USA, where his research was focused on crop improvement for temperature stress tolerance, herbicide resistance, and weed management. He joined Dr. Melmaiee’s lab at Delaware State University in October 2020, where his current research focuses on enhancing fruit rot disease resistance in strawberries and climate resilience traits in industrial hemp and sugar maple. He integrates a range of approaches in his research, such as advanced phenotyping, omics, and genetic engineering technologies, such as transgenics and genome editing, for crop improvement. Besides his core research, he is also involved in teaching and outreach activities focused on vegetable gardening and supporting small farm communities. A lifelong plant enthusiast, Amar grew up in an agricultural family, which sparked his rooted passion for plants and agriculture. This background continues to inspire his work on crop plants and his commitment to supporting the farming community.
Contact: avennapusa@desu.edu
Graduate Students
Mekhai E. Abrams:
My name is Mekhai Abrams, and I joined the Plant Molecular Breeding Lab in 2023 as a research technician, and now I am a PhD candidate enrolled in the Integrative Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences program at Delaware State University. I am a Historically Black Graduate Institutions (HBGI) fellow and an active member of the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) organization. My graduate research is focusing on improving the drought stress tolerance in sorghum using a functional genomics approach. I have a strong interest in plant physiology, stress tolerance mechanisms, and crop improvement. As an aspiring researcher, I am passionate about making a difference in the world one day!
Contact: meabrams19@students.desu.edu
Richmond Kofi Appiah:
Richmond Kofi Appiah is a dedicated agricultural researcher specializing in plant genetics and crop improvement. Richmond is currently pursuing his Master of Science in Agriculture at Delaware State University. His research focuses on molecular breeding techniques, including Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequence (CAPS) markers in Blueberry for heat stress tolerance. He is an engaged member of professional organizations, including the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS). Before joining Delaware State University, Richmond earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Biotechnology from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. He was an intern at the Ghana Cocoa Board further honed his skills in product quality analysis, regulatory compliance, and production efficiency optimization. Richmond also has industry experience, having worked as a Traceability Officer at Agroecom Ghana Limited. In this role, he ensured quality control and compliance in the cocoa supply chain, monitored shipments, and prepared traceability reports for international exports.
Contact: rkappiah23@students.desu.edu
Zuhra A Khan
Zuhra Khan is a graduate student in the Molecular Plant Breeding Lab at Delaware State University. She earned her bachelor’s in bioinformatics from the Capital University of Science and Technology, Pakistan. During her undergraduate studies, she researched the Construction of a Functional Cancer Map for Tumor Characterization and performed a Toxicogenomic Analysis of DEET, a widely used mosquito repellent. Currently, under the mentorship of Dr. Kalpalatha Melmaiee and Dr. Krishnanand Kulkarni, her graduate research focuses on the genome-wide identification and characterization of heat stress tolerance gene families in blueberry, specifically the HSF, NAC, and HSP gene families. Her work includes comparative phylogenetic analyses with related species to investigate these genes' evolutionary dynamics and regulatory roles under heat stress. Her research aims to contribute to the functional validation and breeding of heat-tolerant blueberry cultivars, promoting sustainable fruit production in the context of climate change.
Contact: zakhan24@students.desu.edu
Surya Krishna Sakthivel
Surya K. Sakthivel earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and a Master's in Genetics and Plant Breeding from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. He later worked as a Junior Research Fellow at the ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute before joining Delaware State University. His current research in the Plant Molecular Lab focuses on enhancing the postharvest fruit quality and fruit rot resistance in strawberries through CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing.
Contact: ssakthivel23@students.desu.edu
Undergraduate Students
Lauren Waller:
Hi! My name is Lauren Waller and I’m currently a senior in the undergraduate program at Delaware State University and majoring in plant science. I joined the Plant Molecular Breeding Lab in 2023 to assist in the Dr. Melmaiee’s USDA-NIFA funded research programs. My research focuses on exploring exotic vegetable options for small scale farmers and gardeners in Delaware, aiming to expand crop diversity and market opportunities. I have experience in horticulture, greenhouse management, and dendrology and I have done my internship at Winterthur Garden and Museum. I am very passionate about plant molecular breeding, sustainable agriculture, and the conservation of plant biodiversity and I am dedicated to developing innovative solutions for global food security. As an active member of MANRRS, the Environmental Alliance, and Lions Club, I strive to bridge the gap between scientific research and community outreach. In the long term, I aim to contribute to the development of climate-resilient crop varieties and work on breeding programs that support both small-scale farmers and large agricultural industries in adapting to changing environmental conditions.
Email: lawaller19@students.desu.edu
Anthony B. Mirto
Anthony (Tony) joined the Plant Molecular Breeding Lab in 2023 as an undergraduate student, contributing to a variety of ongoing research projects. His primary focus has been involving research projects on improving the heat stress tolerance in industrial hemp and biotic stress tolerance in strawberries. During his time in the lab, he has gained hands-on experience across multiple areas in lab, greenhouse and field research and he presented his research findings at several national and international conferences. Looking ahead, he plans to begin his Ph.D. in Fall 2025, aiming to build upon his current research foundation. Anthony is passionate about continuing his scientific journey through research and potentially inspiring others by teaching and sharing the knowledge and skills he has acquired.
Nefertiti S. Griffin
Hello, my name is Nefertiti Griffin (TiTi), I am a senior at Delaware State University majoring in Plant Science in the undergraduate program, with a passion for plant breeding and food security. I joined the Plant Molecular Breeding lab in Spring 2024; I have been assisting in research projects focusing on improving the climate resilience in small fruit crops and exotic vegetable extension research. As a USDA 1890 scholar and a Marie Clark Taylor fellow, I am dedicated to advancing urban agriculture. I am also an active member of several campus organizations, including the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS). My long-term goal is to become a plant breeder and establish my own farm to provide fresh, nutritious food to underserved communities.
Collaborators
Dr. Sathyanarayana Elavarthi
Associate Professor
Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources
Delaware State University
Dr. Nicholi Vorsa
Professor
Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry
Research and Extension
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Dr. Umesh K. Reddy
Professor of Genetics and Genomics Department of Biology
West Virginia State University
Dr. Kim Lewers
Strawberry - Research Plant Genetist
Genetic Improvement for Fruits & Vegetables Laboratory
Beltsville, MD
Dr. Jayesh Samtani
Assistant Professor and Small Fruit Extension Specialist
Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Centers
Virginia Tech
Dr. Rose Ogutu
Assistant Professor and Horticulture Extension Specialist
Delaware State University
Dr. Toktam Taghavi
Assistant Professor
Virginia State University
Alumni
Byron Manzanero
Greetings, my name is Byron Manzanero, a Master's candidate at Delaware State University. I work in the Molecular Plant Breeding lab under the supervision of Dr. Kalpalatha Melmaiee. My research encompasses the initial stage of molecular plant breeding which is the identification of potential breeding stock with genes in interest. To be specific, my project focuses on the evaluation of genetic diversity of a wild blueberry population with the use of SNP's (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) and next generation sequemcing. The project results will hopefully help create new blueberry varieties that are more productive and resistant to the everchanging environment allowing the industry to continue growing and prospering
Rosalyn Battle
I am graduate student in Plant Molecular Breeding lab. I am studying the effects of potassium-silicate foliar spray on strawberry plants grown in a high tunnel environment. Silicate is the second most abundant mineral in soil and some plant species can absorb it through their root system using silicate transporters. Silicon accumulates in plant cell walls in the form of phytoliths, thin sheet like structures that will prevent pest and diseases from penetrating plant cuticles. In addition, silicon treated plants demonstrate a greater ability to withstand abiotic and biotic stresses.
Email: rdbattle12@students.desu.edu
Lungowe Mulozi
She is from Zambia. She received her undergraduate bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resource Management from Earth University (Costa Rica) under the prestigious Mastercard Foundation Scholarship. She is currently a graduate student researcher at Delaware State University U.S.A. She is working on a research project in the Molecular Plant Breeding Laboratory under the advisory of Dr. Kalpalatha Melmaiee and Dr. Sathya Elavarthi Her graduate research project will be based on the analysis of the genes responsible for drought tolerance in two genotypes of sugar maple trees (Acer saccharum). Maple trees are an important specie for landscapes and maple syrup production in Canada and North America.
Email: lmulozi19@students.desu.edu
Diarra Aicha
Diarra Aicha, 2018 graduate of Delaware State university. Obtained a bachelor degree in Agriculture focusing on Plant Science; Agronomy. She worked as undergraduate research assistant and now she is the recipient of bridge to doctoral program scholarship for her master studies. She started her masters program in Fall 2019. She is working on evaluation of brassinosteroids for improving the resistance against Botrytis and Anthracnose in Strawberries. As a research technician for the past eight months, she assisted researchers by providing research and administrative laboratory support services. Responsible for; purchases, inventory and upkeep of all laboratory equipment and ensures the compliance of safety regulations while ensuring efficiency, effectiveness and quality control of lab facilities.
Email: daicha@desu.edu
Venkata Hemanth Limmada
Venkata Hemanth Limmada obtained bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, India. Currently, he is a graduate student at Delaware State University, pursuing Master's degree in Plant Sciences. He started working in the Plant Molecular Breeding Lab under the supervision of Dr. Kalpalatha Melmaiee, since January 2021. His research focuses on the evaluation of Strawberry germplasm against Botrytis and Anthracnose. This study includes systematic infection using fungal spore suspension and phenotyping the resistant traits and understanding the biochemical (antioxidants) and genome level responses.
Aditi Anand Muppavaram
Hello, I am Aditi Anand Muppavaram, an undergraduate majoring in biological science with concentration in Health professions. I work in the Plant Molecular breeding lab under the supervision of Dr. Kalpalatha Melmaiee. Being an Undergraduate, I am learning and assisting graduate students with DNA extractions, measurements and collection of Data.
Wayne E. Piper
I am Wayne E. Piper, an undergraduate majoring in plant science. I work with Dr. Melmaiee to establish field trials and blueberry nursery plot at DSU outreach center.