Contents
Janaki Ammal
Using plant chromosomes to improve crops and understand their diversity.
Sugarcane breeding · Plant genetics · Conservation
- Born
- 4 November 1897
- Birthplace
- Thalassery, India
- Died
- 7 February 1984
More people
Janaki Ammal
Janaki Ammal was an Indian botanist who studied chromosomes, plant breeding and the distribution of species. Her work ranged from sugarcane in India to garden plants in Britain. She later helped reorganise the Botanical Survey of India and campaigned for conservation.
Early life
Kerala upbringing
Grew up in Thalassery in a household with a strong interest in natural history.
Studies abroad
After studying in Madras, won a Barbour scholarship to the University of Michigan.
Career
- 1931
Doctoral research
Completed her botany doctorate at the University of Michigan.
- 1934–1939
Sugarcane research
Worked at the Sugarcane Breeding Institute in Coimbatore.
- 1939–1951
Research in Britain
Worked with C. D. Darlington at John Innes, then joined the Royal Horticultural Society.
- 1951
Return to India
Returned to help reorganise the Botanical Survey of India.
Contributions
Sugarcane genetics
Studied hybrids and chromosome relationships relevant to crop breeding.
Chromosome Atlas of Cultivated Plants
Co-authored a reference work with C. D. Darlington.
Magnolia experiments
Studied how doubling chromosome sets changed garden plants.
Beyond the lab
Silent Valley
Campaigned to protect Kerala’s forest from a proposed hydroelectric project.
A botanical namesake
Magnolia kobus ‘Janaki Ammal’ commemorates her research at Wisley.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗RHS life and research ↗Photo: Unknown author Unknown author. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
