Maankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan, Indian agronomist and plant geneticist (Kumba Konam, Tamil Nadu 07 August 1925 –

Recognized as a world leader on resources conservation and agriculture 

Authored 254 papers

Presented a new concept of the species relationship within the tuber-bearing Solanum in his PhD thesis, University of Cambridge (1952)

Found genetic relationships between a number of wheat and rice strains

Elucidated the role of infection in heredity

Standardized techniques for overcoming interspecific incompatibility barriers

HONOURS

Albert Einstein World Award of Science (1986)

World Food Prize (1987)

Genus Swaminathania Loganathan & Nair 2004 (Bacteria)