Current responsibilities:

• Development of post harvest technologies for Kalmegh and Mandukaparni
• Standardization of Integrated Nutrient Management for lemongrass and palmarosa
• Standardization of organic farming for tulsi
• Modified mass selection of Palmarosa for high yield and quality

Recent 3 major contributions:

• Selection of best fifteen lines in Pamlarosa (Cymbopogon martini var. motia) for high essential oil yield and quality
• Standardization of different methods of vegetative propagation in Asoca (Saraca asoca) for production of quality propagules
• Development of herbal beverages from some medicinal plants by blending with spices and fruit juices

Recent awards and recognitions:

• Elected as “Secretary of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Association of India”
• Served as “Treasurer of Medicinal and Aromatic Association of India” for four years
• Honorary Editor of “Journal of Plant Development Sciences”
• Served as a consultant in a FAO – MADP project on “Good Agricultural and Collection Practices on Medicinal and Aromatic crops”
• Reviewer of “JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL PLANTS” (ACADEMIC JOURNALS)
• Reviewer of “National Academy of Biological Sciences” (Springer Journal)
• Reviewer of “Journal of Tropical Agriculture”
• Recognized as External examiner from University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka
• Recognised as PG teacher from Anand Agricultural University, Anand

Current collaborative activities:

• Nil

Recent most significant publications:

• Smitha GR and Rana VS,(2015), Variations in essential oil yield, geraniol and geranyl acetate contents in palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii, Roxb. Wats. var. motia) influenced by inflorescence development. Industrial Crops and Products 66: 150-160.
• Smitha GR and Rana VS (2014), The effect of viral infection on essential oil content, chemical composition and biomass yield of Mentha cultivars. J. Essential Oil Bearing Plants. (DOI:10.1080/0972060X.2014.963166, in press).
• Smitha GR, (2013), Vegetative propagation of Ashoka (Saraca asoca (Roxb.) de Wilde)- An endangered medicinal plant. Research on Crops, 14(1): 274-283.
• Smitha GR and Umesha K, (2012), Vegetative propagation of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Hemsl.) through stem cuttings. Journal of Tropical Agriculture, 50(1-2): 72-75.
• Smitha GR, Chandre Gowda M, Sreeramu BS, Umesha K, and Mallikarjuna Gowda AP, (2010). Influence of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and quality of makoi. Indian Journal of Horticulture, 67(Special Issue): 395-398.
• Umesha K, Soumya SP, Smitha GR and Sreeramu BS, (2011), Influence of organic manures on growth, yield and quality of makoi (Solanum nigrum L.). Indian Journal of Horticulture, 68 (2): 235-239.
• Murthy G, Umesha K, Smitha GR and R Krishnamanohar, (2010). Effect of growth regulators and bio-inoculants on rooting and growth of vanilla stem cuttings. Indian Journal of Horticulture, 67(1): 90-93.
• Ravi CS, Sreeramu BS, Mallikarjuna Gowda AP and Smitha GR, (2013), Evaluation of makoi (Solanum nigrum L.) germplasm for growth, yield and quality. Journal of Applied Horticulture, 15(2): 133-137.
• Asma Naz, Umesha K, Smitha GR and Chandre Gowda M, (2011), Standardization of post harvest practices in makoi (Solanum nigrum L.), Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Sciences 33(4): 435-438.
• Umesha K, Smitha GR, Sreeramu BS and Waman AA, (2011), Organic manures and bio-fertilizers effectively improve yield and quality in stevia (Stevia rebaudiana). Journal of Applied Horticulture, 13(2): 59-64.
• Umesha K, Murthy G and Smitha GR, (2011), Environmental conditions and type of cuttings on rooting and growth of vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Andrews). Journal of Tropical Agriculture 49(1-2): 121-123.
• Arun Kumar R, Raju B, Umesha K, Smitha GR, and Sreeramu BS, (2011), Integrated nutrient management on dry matter distribution, nutrient uptake, plant and soil nutrient content on Bhumyamalaki var. Niharika (Phyllanthus amarus). Journal of Medciinal and Aromatic Plants Sciences, 33(3): 342-348.
• Arun Kumar R, Raju B, Umesha, K, Smitha GR and Sreeramu, BS, (2011), Integrated nutrient management on growth, yield, quality and economics of Bhumyamalaki (Phyllanthus amarus) – An anti-jaundice plant. Open Access Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 1(2): 34-39.
• Smitha GR, Umesha K, Sreeramu BS, and Waman AA, (2010), Influence of organic manures and bio-fertilizers on growth, yield and quality of long pepper (Piper longum L.). South Indian Horticulture, 58: 139-143.
• Umesha K, Sudhakara HA, Smitha GR, Sreeramu BS and Waman AA, (2010), Soil and plant nutrient status as influenced by organic manures and biofertilizers in coleus (Coleus barbatus Benth.). South Indian Horticulture, 58: 102-105.

Book:

• Smitha GR and Waman AA, (2015), A Handy Guide to Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Jaya Publishing House, New Delhi (In Press).

Extension Bulletins:

• Smitha GR, Thania Sara Varghese and Manivel P, (2015), Cultivation of Palmarosa, ICAR-DMAPR, Anand.
• Smitha GR, Thania Sara Varghese and Manivel P, (2015), Cultivation of Vetiver, ICAR-DMAPR, Anand.
• Smitha GR, Thania Sara Varghese and Manivel P, (2015), Cultivation of Artemisia, ICAR-DMAPR, Anand.
• Smitha GR, Thania Sara Varghese and Manivel P, (2015), Cultivation of Ocimum, ICAR-DMAPR, Anand.

Other professional activities:

• Life member of “Indian Society of Horticulture”, New Delhi
• Life member of “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Association of India”, Anand
• Life member of “National Academy of Biological Science”, Chennai