Home > About > Faculty Profiles > Venu (Kal) Kalavacharla, PhD

Venu (Kal) Kalavacharla, PhD

venu kalavacharlaAssociate Dean for Research, College of Agriculture, Science and Technology
Professor, Molecular Genetics and Genomics, Dept. of Agriculture & Natural Resources
Director, Center for Integrated Biological & Environmental Research (CIBER)
222 Ag. Annex Bldg.
302.857.6453
vkalavacharla [at] desu.edu

Education

May 2001             Ph.D. (Plant Science-Genetics, Molecular Genetics), North Dakota State University

May 1996             M.S. (Plant Science-Genetics, Plant Pathology), University of Manitoba

May 1993            B.Sc (Agriculture), Punjabrao Agricultural University

Research Interests/Area

  • Plant Science – Physiology and Genetics
  • Molecular Genetics

Professional Memberships

  • Delaware BioScience Association
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • American Society for Plant Biology (ASPB)
  • Crop Science Society of America
  • Bean Improvement Cooperative
  • Switchgrass Genomics Consortium

Publications

  1. Todd, A.R.; Donofrio, N.; Sripathi, V.R.; McClean, P.E.; Lee, R.K.; Pastor-Corrales, M.; Kalavacharla, V.K. (2017) Marker-Assisted Molecular Profiling, Deletion Mutant Analysis, and RNA-Seq Reveal a Disease Resistance Cluster Associated with Uromyces appendiculatus Infection in Common Bean Phaseolus vulgaris L.. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18, 1109.
  2. Kalavacharla, V. (Kal), Subramani, M., Ayyappan, V., Dworkin, M. C., & Hayford, R. K. (2017). Plant Epigenomics. Handbook of Epigenetics, 245–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-805388-1.00016-X
  3. Dworkin, M., Xie, S., Saha, M., Thimmapuram, J., & Kalavacharla, V. K. (2017). Analyses of methylomes of upland and lowland switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) ecotypes using MeDIP-seq and BS-seq. BMC Genomics, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-017-4218-0.
  4. Hayford, R. K., Ligaba-osena, A., Subramani, M., Melmaiee, K., Hossain, K., & Kalavacharla, V. K. (2017). Characterization and Expression Analysis of Common Bean Histone Deacetylase 6 during Development and Cold Stress Response. International Journal of Genomics, 2017, 12.
  5. Ayyappan, V., Saha, M. C., Thimmapuram, J., Sripathi, V. R., Bhide, K. P., Fiedler, E., … Kalavacharla, V. K. (2016). Comparative transcriptome profiling of upland (VS16) and lowland (AP13) ecotypes of switchgrass. Plant Cell Reports, 36(1), 1–22. doi.org/10.1007/s00299-016-2065-0
  6. Crampton, M., Sripathi, V. R., Hossain, K., & Kalavacharla, V. (2016). Analyses of Methylomes Derived from Meso-American Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Using MeDIP-Seq and Whole Genome Sodium Bisulfite-Sequencing. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7(April), 447. doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.00447
  7. Melmaiee, K., Kalavacharla, V., Brown, A., Todd, A., Thurston, Y., & Elavarthi, S. (2015). Quantification and gene expression analysis of histone deacetylases in common bean during rust fungal inoculation. International Journal of Genomics. doi.org/10.1155/2015/153243
  8. Ayyappan, V., Kalavacharla, V., Thimmapuram, J., Venkateswara, S., Manoharan, M., Smolinski, T., Thurston, Y., Todd, A., and Kingham, B. Genome wide profiling of histone modifications (H3K9me2 and H4K12ac) and gene expression in rust (Uromyces appendiculatus) inoculated common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). PLOS ONE 10(7): e0132176. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0132176 2015
  9. Melmaiee, K., Kalavacharla, V., Brown, A., Todd, A., Thurston, Y, and Elavarthi S. Quantification and gene expression analysis of histone deacetylaces in common bean during rust fungal inoculation.  International Journal of Plant Genomics. 28;2015:153243. Epub 2015
  10. Melmaiee, K., Todd, A., Lee, R., McClean, P., Schleuter, J., Jackson, S, and Kalavacharla, V. Identification of molecular markers associated with the deleted region in common bean Ur-3 mutants. Australian Journal of Crop Science, 7:354-360. 2013.
  11. Liu, Z., *Crampton, M., Todd, A and Kalavacharla, V. Identification of expressed resistance gene-like sequences by data mining in 454-derived transcriptomic sequences of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). BMC Plant Biology, 12:42. 2012.
  12. Liu, L, Yu, L, Kalavacharla, V. and Liu, Z. A Bayesian model for gene family evolution. BMC Bioinformatics, 12:426. 2011.
  13. Kunjeti, S., Evans., T, Marsh, A., Gregory, N., Kunjeti, S., Meyers, B., Kalavacharla, V. and Donofrio, N. RNA-seq reveals infection related global changes in Phytopthora phaseoli, the causal agent of lima bean downy mildew. Molecular Plant Pathology, 13(5): 454-466 2012
  14. Kalavacharla, V., Liu, Z., Meyers, B.C., Thimmapuram, J. and Melmaiee, K. Identification and analysis of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) transcriptomes by massively parallel pyrosequencing. BMC Plant Biology, 11:135. 2011.​​​​​​​
  15. Melmaiee, K. and Kalavacharla, V. ESTs and their Role in Functional Genomics. In Kole, C and Abbot, A.G. Editors: Principles and Practices of Plant Genomics, Volume 3, Advanced Genomics. Science Publishers, Inc. New Hamsphire and Edenbridge Ltd., British Isles.2009.​​​​​​​
  16. Kalavacharla, V., Hossain, K., Riera-Lizarazu, O., Gu, Y., Maan, S.S. and Kianian, S.F. Radiation hybrid mapping in crop plants. In Sparks, D.L. Editor: Advances in Agronomy, Vol. 102, Burlington: Academic Press, pp. 201-222. 2009​​​​​​​
  17. Michalak, M., …..Kalavacharla, V. et al. High-resolution radiation hybrid mapping in wheat: an essential tool for the construction of the wheat physical maps. International Wheat Genetics Symposium. 2008.​​​​​​​
  18. Kalavacharla, V., Gu, Y., Riera-Lizarazu, O., Maan, S.S. and Kianian, S.F. High resolution radiation hybrid map of wheat chromosome 1D. International Symposium on Molecular Basis of Plant Breeding, Meerut, India. pp-4-11, February 26-28, 2007.​​​​​​​
  19. Kalavacharla, V.S., Gu, Y., Hossain, K., Riera-Lizarazu, O., Vales, I., Maan, S.S., Bhamidimarri, S., Gonzalez-Hernandez, J. and Kianian, S.F. High resolution radiation hybrid mapping of wheat chromosome 1D. Genetics 173: 1089-1099 2006.​​​​​​​
  20. Kalavacharla, V.S., Hossain, K.G., Maan, S.S. and Kianian, S.F.  Nuclear cytoplasmic interactions in wheat.  Recent Res.Devel. Genet. Breeding, 2:71-84 2005.​​​​​​​
  21. Hossain, K.G., Kalavacharla, V.S. et al. A 2148 EST loci map of group 7 chromosomes of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genetics 168: 687 – 699, 2004.​​​​​​​
  22. Lazo, G.R., ….. Kalavacharla, V.S. et al. Development of a 16,009 loci wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) bin-delineated map: expressed sequence tag (EST) generation, unigene analysis, probe selection, and bioinformatics. Genetics 168: 585-593, 2004.​​​​​​​
  23. Munkvold, J.D.,…. Kalavacharla, V.S., et al. Group 3 chromosome bin maps of wheat and their relationship to rice chromosome 1. Genetics 168:639-650, 2004.​​​​​​​
  24. Hossain, K.G., Riera-Lizarazu, O., Kalavacharla, V.S., Isabel-Vales, M., Maan, S.S. and Kianian, S.F. Radiation hybrid mapping of a species cytoplasm specific (scsae) gene in wheat Genetics 168: 415-423, 2004.
  25. Peng, J.H…. Kalavacharla, V.S. et al. Chromosome bin map of expressed sequence tags in homoeologous group 1 of hexaploid wheat and homoeology with rice and Arabidopsis. Genetics 168:609 - 623 , 2004.​​​​​​​
  26. Randhawa, H.S., … Kalavacharla, V.S. et al. Deletion mapping of homoeologous group 6-specific wheat ESTs. Genetics 168:677-686, 2004.​​​​​​​
  27. Miftahudin, K…. Kalavacharla, V.S. et al. Analysis of wheat EST loci on wheat chromosome Group 4. Genetics 168: 651-663, 2004.
  28. Conley, E., … Kalavacharla, V.S. et al. A 2600-loci map of wheat homoeologous group 2. Genetics 168:625-637. , 2004.​​​​​​​
  29. Linkiewicz, A.M.,…. Kalavacharla, V.S. et al. A 2500-loci bin map of wheat homoeologous group 5 provides insights on gene distribution and colinearity with rice. Genetics 168: 665-676 , 2004.
  30. Qi, L., …. Kalavacharla, V.S. et al. A chromosome bin map of 16,000 EST loci and distribution of genes among the three genomes of polyploid wheat. Genetics 168:701-712, 2004​​​​​​​
  31. Wennerlind, E., …..Kalavacharla, V.S. et al. A 2600-locus chromosome bin map of wheat homoeologous group 2 reveals interstitial gene-rich islands and colinearity with rice. Genetics 168:625-637 2004​​​​​​​
  32. Akhunov, E.D….Kalavacharla, V.S. et al. Synteny perturbations between wheat homoeologous chromosomes caused by locus duplications and deletions correlate with recombination rates along chromosome arms. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 100: 10836-10841, 2003.​​​​​​​
  33. Hossain, K.G., Riera-Lizarazu, O., Kalavacharla, V.S., Isabel-Vales, M., Rust, J., Maan, S.S. and Kianian, S.F. Molecular cytogenetic characterization of an alloplasmic durum wheat line with a portion of chromosome 1D of Triticum aestivum carrying the scsae gene Genome 47:206-214, 2003.​​​​​​​
  34. Sorrells, M. E., ….Kalavacharla, V.S. et al. Comparative Genome Sequence Analysis of Wheat and Rice. Genome Research 13: 1818-1827, 2003.​​​​​​​
  35. Akhunov, E.D….Kalavacharla, V.S. et al. The organization and rate of evolution of wheat transcriptome correlate with recombination rates across chromosome arms. Genome Research 13: 753-763, 2003.​​​​​​​
  36. Kianian, S.F., Hossain, K.G., Riera-Lizarazu, O., Kalavacharla, V.S., Vales, M.I and S.S. Maan. Radiation hybrid mapping of a species cytoplasm specific (scsae) gene in wheat. Proceedings of the Tenth International Wheat Genetics Symposium, 1-6 September, Italy, Pp 597-597, 2003.
  37. Gill, B.S., ….Kalavacharla, V.S., et al. A transcriptome map of wheat. Proceedings of the Tenth International Wheat Genetics Symposium, 1-6 September, Italy Pp 597-597, 2003.
  38. Dvorak, J., …Kalavacharla, V.S., et al. New insights into the organization and evolution of the wheat genomes. Proceedings of the Tenth International Wheat Genetics Symposium, 1-6 September, Italy Pp 597-597, 2003.​​​​​​​
  39. Kalavacharla, V.S., Goreham, J., Spaeth, K., Osenga, M., Elias, E.M., Kianian, S.F. Progress towards saturation mapping and BAC contig development for Qfhs.NDSU-3AS a major FHB QTL in durum wheat. National Fusarium Head Blight Forum, 2001.​​​​​​​
  40. Kalavacharla, V.S., Stavely, JR., Myers, JR, McClean, PE.  Crg, a Gene required for Ur-3-mediated rust resistance in common bean, maps to a resistance gene analog cluster. Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions 13:1237-1242, 2000.​​​​​​​
  41. Kalavacharla, V.S., Wu, C., Rimmer, S. R. Genetic analysis for resistance to Albugo candida in Brassica differentials. In “New Horizons for an old crop” 10th International Rapeseed Congress, 1999.

Honors & Awards

  • 2014   Educator of the year (Higher Education), Delaware Biosciences Association
  • 2014   Invited Speaker, International Plant Genomics Congress, London, UK (legume epigenetics)
  • 2014   Invited Speaker, International Plant Genomics Congress, St. Louis, USA (switchgrass epigenetics)
  • 2013   Chair, W2150: Breeding Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) for Resistance to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses, Sustainable Production, and Enhanced Nutritional Value
  • 2012   Invited Speaker, Phaseomics: The Genome, Special Edition, an international conference on common bean genomics, Mexico
  • 2012   Member, International Committee on Phaseomics-planning next steps of bean genomics
  • 2011   Secretary, W2150: Breeding Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) for Resistance to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses, Sustainable Production, and Enhanced Nutritional Value
  • 2011   Faculty Excellence Award for Research/Creative Activities, Delaware State University
  • 2001   Presidential Travel Award, North Dakota State University
  • 1999   Graduate Student Travel Award, College of Agriculture, NDSU​​​​​​​
  • 1998   National Science Foundation EPSCoR Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship

Teaching

  • 2018  Undergraduate and Graduate Course in Molecular Genetics & Genomics 23-375/575, 29-375/575 Delaware State University
  • 2017  Undergraduate and Graduate Course in Plant Genetics & Breeding 29-316/29-516. Delaware State University
  • 2016  Undergraduate and Graduate Course in Plant Genetics & Breeding 29-316/29-516. Delaware State University
  • 2015  Undergraduate and Graduate Course in Plant Genetics & Breeding 29-316/29-516. Delaware State University
  • 2014  Undergraduate and Graduate Course in Molecular Genetics & Genomics 23-375/575, 29-375/575 Delaware State University
  • 2013  Undergraduate and Graduate Course in Plant Genetics & Breeding 29-316/29-516. Delaware State University
  • 2012  Undergraduate and Graduate Course in Molecular Genetics & Genomics 23-375/575, 29-375/575 Delaware State University
  • 2011  Undergraduate and Graduate Course in Plant Genetics & Breeding. 29-316/29-516. Delaware State University
  • 2010  Undergraduate and Graduate Course in Molecular Genetics & Genomics 23-375/575, 29-375/575 Delaware State University
  • 2009  Undergraduate and Graduate Course in Plant Genetics & Breeding. 29-316/29-516. Delaware State University.
  • 2007  Undergraduate and Graduate Course in Molecular Genetics & Genomics. 23-375/575/ Delaware State University. Initiated, co-developed and co-taught new course
  • 2007  Undergraduate and Graduate Course in Plant Genetics & Breeding. 29-316/29-516. Delaware State University. Initiated, developed and taught new course
  • 2006  Graduate Biochemistry Laboratory Bio 501, (three sections, 48 students), Drexel University. Prepared, organized and conducted three laboratory sections with pre-lab lecture.
  • 2006  Chemical & Biological Foundations of Engineering, CBFE III, (lecture and lab, 130 students) Drexel University. Lectured, organized laboratory components and supervised teaching assistants.
  • 2005  Applied Biology 151, (lecture and lab- 125 students), Drexel University, Lectured, organized laboratory components, and supervised teaching assistants.
  • 2005  Fall Quarter, Graduate Biochemistry Laboratory Bio 501, (2 sections, 40 students), Drexel University, Prepared, organized and ran two laboratory sections with pre-lab lecture.
  • 2005  Fall quarter, Biotechnology 212 (23 students), Drexel University. Lectured on principles and methods in agriculture, medical, microbial and animal biotechnology
  • 2005  Summer quarter, Biotechnology 212 (17 students), Drexel University, Lectured on principles and methods in agriculture, medical, microbial and animal biotechnology
  • 2005  Summer quarter, Chemical & Biological Foundations of Engineering, CBFE III, (lecture and lab,48 students), Drexel University, Lectured, organized laboratory components and supervised teaching assistants
  • 2005  Spring quarter, Plant Molecular Genetics & Genomics 480/680, (17 students) Drexel University, Initiated course, Co-taught course, lectured and provided opportunities for discussion and new learning methods
  • 2005  Spring quarter, Chemical & Biological Foundations of Engineering, CBFE III, (lecture and lab, 160 students) Drexel University. Lectured, organized laboratory components, and supervised teaching assistants.
  • 2005  Winter quarter, Applied Biology 151, (lecture and lab- 220 students), Drexel University, Lectured, organized laboratory components, and supervised teaching assistants.
  • 2004  Fall quarter, Graduate Biochemistry Laboratory Bio 501, (three sections, 58 students), Drexel University. Prepared, organized and run three laboratory sections with pre-lab lecture.
  • 2004  Biotechnology, Invited Lecturer, Delaware State University.
  • 2001  Genetics, Invited Lecturer, North Dakota State University.
  • 1995  Plant Disease Control, Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Manitoba.
  • 1994  Plant Disease Control, Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Manitoba.
  • 1994  Crop Science, Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Manitoba.

Additional Information

Funded Grant Proposals ($13.1 Million to DSU)

  • 2018  National Science Foundation-Office of Integrative Activities: Delaware EPSCoR Research Improvement (RII-Track 1) Proposal: Water Security in Delaware’s Changing Coastal Environment (PI-Kent Messer-University of Delaware, Co-PI Kalavacharla-DSU and others,) Awarded $4.25 million; DSU Focus-Marsh grass salinity uptake, oyster aquaculture water quality, environmental sensors; K-16 & graduate training.
  • 2018  USDA Capacity Building Grant Program- Epigenomic and transcriptomic approaches to unravel potential breeding targets for common bean drought tolerance, PI-Mayavan Subramani, Co-PI Kalavacharla, Co-PI-Antonette Todd, Co-PI- Mollee Dworkin​​​​​​​
  • 2017  USDA Capacity Building Grant Program -TSU- Tomato Methylome. Co-PI-Kalavacharla​​​​​​​
  • 2015  USDA Capacity Building Grant Program-Development of Epigenomic Tools in Legumes-Global Understanding of Biotic Stress Methylomes and Transcriptomes in Common Bean. PI-Kalavacharla, Co-PIs-Manoharan (UAPB), Hossain (MSU)-$499,982
  • 2014  USDA Capacity Building Grant Program-Transcriptome Analysis And Genome-Wide Association Studies In Sweet Potato. PI-Manoharan, University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Co-PI-Kalavacharla; Co-PI-Srivastava- Awarded $500,000; DSU Focus-Epigenomics and transcriptomics of seed decline in sweet potato)
  • 2013  National Science Foundation-Directorate of Integrative Affairs: Delaware EPSCoR Research Improvement (RII-3) Proposal: Meeting Delaware’s 21st Century Water and Energy Challenges through Research, Education and Innovation (PI-Sparks-University of Delaware, Co-PI Kalavacharla-DSU and others,) Awarded $20 Million; Total DSU Share-$7 Million; DSU Focus-Molecular genetics & epigenomics of bioenergy crops; abiotic and biotic stress, water quality, research infrastructure; K-16 & graduate training
  • 2012  AFRI-CAP: NEWBio: The Northeast Bioenergy consortium (PI, Richard-Penn State Univ; Co-PI: Kalavacharla and others); Awarded $326,000; DSU leads bioenergy scholars training for consortium
  • 2010  NSF-REU Site: Research experiences for undergraduates in Molecular Genetics & Genomics at Delaware State University. (PI-Kalavacharla; Co-PI-Melmaiee; Collaborators-Delaware Technical & Community College, Wesley College, Delaware Biotechnology Institute); Awarded $343,000; students recruited and trained nationwide; NSF highlight
  • 2010  USDA-CSREES: Terminator-less transgene constructs for efficient gene silencing in crop plants. (PI-Manoharan, University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Co-PI-Kalavacharla; Co-PI-Srivastava- Awarded $500,000; DSU Focus-molecular genetics & genomics of biotic stress
  • 2008  National Science Foundation-Directorate of Integrative Affairs: Delaware EPSCoR Research Improvement (RII-2) Proposal: Building research and education infrastructure to enhance environmental science and its application in Delaware and State of Delaware (PI-Sparks-University of Delaware, Co-PI Kalavacharla-DSU and others,) Awarded $20 Million; Total DSU Share-$4.1 Million; DSU Focus-environmental sciences, plant biology, undergraduate and graduate research
  • 2008  USDA-CSREES: Use of Legume Comparative Genomics for Understanding Common Bean Rust Resistance (PI-Kalavacharla); Awarded $299,899
  • 2008  NSF RET: Teacher Research Experiences in Molecular Genetics & Genomics at Delaware State University (PI-Kalavacharla); Supplement to NSF REU Awarded $17,000
  • 2008  University of Delaware Seed Grant- Development of a Molecular Map in Lima Bean (Phaseolus lunatus) and Identification of Molecular Markers Linked for Disease Resistance to Downy Mildew Caused by Phytophthora phaseoli. (PI-Evans, Co-PI-Donofrio, University of Delaware, Co-PI-Kalavacharla, DSU); Awarded $20,000
  • 2007  USDA-CSREES: Development of Molecular Genetic and Genomic Resources for Disease Resistance in Dry Bean. (PI-Kalavacharla; Co-PIs-Manoharan, University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff; Donofrio-University of Delaware); Awarded $499,809
  • 2007  Delaware EPSCoR Seed Grant: Development and Establishment of Molecular Genetic Resources for Common Bean Rust Resistance. (PI-Kalavacharla; Collaborator-Meyers, University of Delaware); Awarded $35,360
  • 2007  USDA-National Research Initiative Conference Proposal: Evolution of Weediness and Invasiveness: Molecular Genetics Approaches. (PI-Stewart, University of Tennessee; Kalavacharla-Member, Organization and grant writing committee); Awarded $10,000
  • 2007  NSF-REU Site: Undergraduate Research in Molecular Genetics & Genomics at Delaware State University. (PI-Kalavacharla; DSU Faculty-Labreveux, Fox, McIntosh, Ozbay; Collaborators-Delaware Technical & Community College, Wesley College, Delaware Biotechnology Institute); Awarded $230,000
  • 2006  Beckman Genomics Educational Grant: Purchase of a CEQ 8000 XL Capillary Electrophoresis System at Delaware State University (PI-Kalavacharla); Awarded $50,000
  • 2006  Delaware State University Curriculum Development Mini-Grant: Introduction to Molecular Genetics & Genomics (Developer-Kalavacharla); Awarded $3,000
  • 2002  USDA-US Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative: Saturation mapping and contig development for Qfhs.ndsu-3AS, a major Fusarium Head Blight locus in durum wheat (PI-Kalavacharla) Awarded $29,268
  • 2001  USDA-US Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative: Development of a Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) Contig Spanning Major Fusarium Head Blight Quantitative Trait Locus in Durum Wheat (PI-Kalavacharla) Awarded $28,230