Biography
Toppur Seethapathy Sadasivan, Indian mycologist and plant pathologist (Madras 22 May 1913 – Chennai 18 August 2001)
ACHIEVEMENTS
Developed concepts such as competitive saprophytic ability and rhizosphere effect
Elucidated the rhizosphere effect in which root exudates promotes the growing and survival of specific pathogens
First demonstrated the fungal toxin fusaric acid in vivo leading to name it vivotoxin
First to demonstrate fusaric acid in wilting cotton plants
First demonstrated that the toxins of the blast fungus induced “green islands” in rice leaf tissues
Put forward definitive evidence of ionic imbalance in wilted plants in the form of excessive excretion and enhanced transpiration resulting in loss of potassium and accumulation of divalent cations
HONORS
Sadasivania Subramanian 1957 (Fungi)
