Harnessing genetics to build resilient mungbean crops, Trop Ag
October 23, 2025
The Crawford Fund’s Queensland Committee has again partnered with the TropAg International Agriculture Conference to assist 10 young researchers from developing countries attend and present their science at this international conference which will be held in Brisbane from 11-13 November 2025.
Successful conference scholarship candidates must be an Honours or Postgraduate student from a developing country who is currently studying at a Queensland tertiary institute, and they must be an author or co-author on a submitted TropAg 2025 Conference abstract.
In the lead-up to the conference we will be publishing short blog posts written by the young researchers about their work. Here is the another blog. This week, we have also featured the work of Ezinne Echem Okorie and Duc Bui.
By Krishna Chaitanya Alamuru, Centre for Crop Health, University of Southern Queensland
Growing up surrounded by farms, I often observed how plant diseases could quietly diminish the potential of otherwise thriving crops. That curiosity evolved into a passion for understanding how plants defend themselves and how genetics can help us strengthen that natural resilience.
As a PhD researcher at the University of Southern Queensland, I am investigating disease resistance in mungbean (Vigna radiata), a crop vital to both Australian and Asian agriculture. My research focuses on tan spot, caused by Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens, and powdery mildew, which affects plant health under certain conditions. By integrating pathotyping, host range studies, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), I aim to identify genetic loci and molecular markers linked to resistance.
This work supports breeders and geneticists in developing durable mungbean varieties capable of withstanding biotic stresses strengthening sustainable agriculture and food security efforts.
My project forms part of the Broadacre Cropping Initiative (BACI), a collaboration between the University of Southern Queensland and the Department of Primary Industries, Queensland.
Outside research, I enjoy cooking, gardening, and travelling, which help me stay connected to nature and creativity. I also serve as a Central Committee member and Secretary of RAID (Research for Agriculture and International Development) — a Crawford Fund initiative that connects early-to-mid career researchers working to improve agriculture and livelihoods globally.
Receiving a Crawford Fund Scholarship to attend TropAg 2025 is an incredible opportunity to share my research, connect with global experts, and gain exposure that will guide my long-term goal of contributing to crop improvement through genetics, breeding, and plant health research.
