In Memoriam
Tadimeti Raja Rao (1930-2022): A Superb Plant Physiologist and Wonderful Mentor

By : Govindjee Govindjee, Harbans Kehri Kaur, Sheo Mohan Prasad, G.S.R. Murti

Page No: 475-484

Abstract
We honour here Tadimeti Raja Rao (1930-2022), a wonderful human being – who was a friend to many and a superb plant physiologist of our time. His research began with discoveries in organic acid metabolism in plants, and on the effects of virus infection on nitrogen metabolism. Raja Rao (also spelled as ‘Rajarao’) followed this research by providing novel and practical information on the effects of several growth regulators (hormones) on the physiology of many plants, particularly sugarcane, guava, Indian gooseberry, and gladiolus, among others. During his later academic life, he gave unique and valuable guidance to many for the improvement of ‘crop production’ which was vital for plant biotechnology. We end this tribute to Raja Rao with Reminiscences from his family (Sarada, his wife, and Visweswara Rao and Srinivasa Rao, their sons); his friends from Allahabad (Rajni Govindjee and Raj Prasad), and two of the co-authors (Sheo Mohan Prasad and G. S. R. Murti# ).

Authors :
Govindjee Govindjee : Department of Plant Biology, Department of Biochemistry, and Center of Biophysics & Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Harbans Kehri Kaur & Sheo Mohan Prasad : Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
G. S. R. Murti : Formerly at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta lake post, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JPSR.2022.38.02.3