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 Central University of Kerala
01 April 2026

Prof. Dennis Thomas T.

Plant Morphogenesis Lab


Brief Profile

Professor Dennis Thomas T., has got his B.Sc and M.Sc. in Botany from MG University, Kottayam. After Completing his M.Sc. he qualified GATE and CSIR-JRF. He completed his Ph.D from the Department of Botany, University of Delhi. After completing his Ph.D he joined St. Thomas College, Palai as an assistant Professor. He has post-doctoral experience from the University of Hamburg, Germany, University of Hokkaido, Japan and Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland. He had been awarded INSA visiting scientist award three times. He also got the prestigious DST-BOYSCAST fellowship. He was awarded visiting professorship by University Hokkaido, Japan. He was awarded DST young scientist project in 2003. Overall he has more than 28 years of research experience and 21 years of teaching experience at the PG level. He joined as Professor in the Central University of Kerala in 2016. He has more than 80 publications in journals and books of national and international repute. His areas of interest include Plant tissue culture, Reproductive biology, Phytochemistry and Antimicrobial study.

63

Publications

1

Projects

12

Students

3

Courses Taught


...
Prof. Dennis Thomas T.
Professor
Department of Plant Science
  
  [email protected]
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Academic Identity
 Google Scholar ID
 ORCID
 Scopus ID
 Researcher ID

 Research

None

 Recent and Major Publications

  1. Thomas TD.,"Effect of gibberellic acid, sugars and abscisic acid on somatic embryogenesis in Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merrill.",Chinese journal of biotechnology,22: 465-471

  2. ThomasTD, Chaturvedi R,"Endosperm culture - A novel method for triploid plant production. Review article-",Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture,93: 1-14

  3. Thomas TD, Michael A,"High frequency plantlet regeneration and multiple shoot formation from cultured immature seeds of Rhynchostylis retusa Blume., an exquisite orchid.",Plant Biotechnology Reports,1: 243-249.

  4. Thomas TD,"2008. The efffect of in vivo and in vitro applications of ethrel and GA3 on sex expression in bitter melon.",Euphytica,164: 317-323

  5. Silpa P, Thomas TD,"High frequency shoot regeneration from flower bud derived callus of Gymnostachyum febrifugum Benth., an endemic medicinal plant to the Western Ghats. Plant Cell Tissue organ Culture",Plant Cell Tissue organ Culture,147:221-228

  6. Sreelekha E, Bini George, Sarojini Sharath S, Thomas TD, Stanisław Wacławek, Miroslav Černík, Vinod V. T. Padi,"Chitosan/gelatin/silver nanoparticles composites films for biodegradable food packaging applications.",Polymers,13: 1680

  7. Angeline C, Toji T, Thomas TD,"Mass multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R. Br. ex Schult. through in vitro shoot organogenesis from callus.",Plant Tissue culture and Biotechnology,30: 27-32.

  8. Deepa AV., Thomas TD,"In vitro strategies for the conservation of Indian medicinal climbers.",In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology - Plant,56:784–802

  9. Kurian E, Thomas TD,"Multiple shoot induction from nodal segments of Spilanthes acmella Murr.",STARS,5:1-9

  10. Bince Mani, Thomas TD.,"Evaluation of antibacterial potential of stem bark of ethnomedicinal tree Pittosporum dasycaulon Miq.",International Journal of Plant Science and Ecology,1:113-118.

  11. Jose S, Thomas TD,"Abiotic stresses increase plant regeneration ability of rhizome explants of Curcuma caesia Roxb.",Plant Cell Tissue Organ Culture,122: 767-772

  12. Cheruvathur MK, Jose B, Thomas TD.,"Rhinacanthin production from hairy root cultures of Rhinacanthus nasutus(L.) Kurz.",In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Plant,51:420-427

  13. Jose S, Thomas TD,"High frequency callus organogenesis, large scale cultivation and assessment of clonal fidelity of regenerated plants of Curcuma caesia Roxb., a rare medicinal plant.",Agroforestry systems,89:779-788

  14. Abraham J, Thomas TD,"An efficient shoot regeneration system for medicinally important Elephantopus scaber Linn.",Crop Breeding and Applied Biotechnology,15:94-99

  15. Thomas TD, Hoshino Y,"Callus induction, high frequency shoot organogenesis and assessment of clonal fidelity in Toreniabicolor Dalzell., an endemic plant to Western Ghats.",Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants,2:188-194

  16. Abraham J, Thomas TD,"Plant regeneration from organogenic callus and assessment of clonal fidelity in Elephantopus scaber Linn., an ethnomedicinal herb",Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants,21:269-277

  17. Abraham J, Thomas TD.,"Isolation, characterization and evaluation of antibacterial activity of a flavanone derivative 8- hydroxyl naringenin from Elephantopus scaber Linn.",World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research,4: 2232-2240

  18. Thomas D, Augustine S, Abraham J, Thomas TD, Prakash JPA,"In vitro antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles prepared using sodium do decylsulfate as stabilizing agent.",Romanian Journal of Biophysics,24:295–303

  19. Cheruvathur MK, Abraham J, Thomas TD.,"In vitro micropropagation and flowering in Ipomoea sepiaria Roxb. an important ethanomedicinal plant.",Asia Pacific Journal of reproduction,4:49-53

  20. Bince Mani, Thomas TD.,"Evaluation of antioxidant potential of Pittosporum dasycaulon Wight and Arn. stem bark.",Food science and Biotechnology,23:539-545

  21. Cheruvathur MK, Thomas TD.,"Plant growth regulators and elicitors increase the rhinacanthin production in hairy root cultures of Rhinacanthus nasutus(L.) Kurz.",Plant Cell Tissue Organ Culture,118:169–177

  22. Kumar KG, Thomas TD.,"Reproductive biology of Pittosporum dasycaulon, a rare medicinal tree endemic to Western Ghats.",Botanical studies,55:15

  23. Thomas D, Abraham J, Vattappalam, Augustine S, Thomas TD.,"Antibacterial Activity of Pure and Cadmium Doped ZnO Thin Film.",Indo American Journal of Pharmaceutical Research,4:1612-1616

  24. Cheruvathur MK, Thomas TD.,"Shoot organogenesis from root derived callus of Rhinacanthus nasutus(L.) Kurz and assessment of clonal fidelity of micropropagted plants using RAPD analysis.",Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology,172:1172-1182

  25. Cheruvathur MK, Thomas TD.,"High frequency multiple shoot induction from nodal segments and rhinacanthin production in the medicinal shrub Rhinacanthus nasutus(L.) Kurz.",Plant growth regulation,74:47-54

  26. Jose S, Thomas TD.,"Comparative phytochemical and antibacterial studies of two indigenous medicinal plants Curcuma caesia Roxb. and Curcuma aeruginosa.",International Journal of Green Pharmacy,8:65-71

  27. Cheruvathur MK, Thomas TD.,"Callus induction and multiple shoot regeneration from in vitro cotyledonary nodal explants of Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz; a potent anticancerous ethnomedicinal plant.",VIRJ for Pure and Applied Sciences,1:81-89.

  28. Cheruvathur MK,Kumar KG, Thomas TD.,"2013. Somatic embryogenesis and synthetic seed production in Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) KURZ.",Plant Cell Tissue Organ Culture,113:63-71

  29. Cheruvathur MK, Najeeb N, Thomas TD.,"In vitro propagation and conservation of Indian sarasaparilla, Hemidesmus indicus L. R. Br. through somatic embryogenesis and synthetic seed production.",Acta Physiologiae Plantarum,35:771-779

  30. Cheruvathur MK, Abraham J, Thomas TD.,"Plant regeneration through callus organogenesis and true-to-type conformity of plants by RAPD analysis in Desmodium gangeticum (Linn.) DC.",Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology,169:1799-1810

  31. Abraham S, Augustine J, Thomas TD,"Asymbiotic seed germination and in vitro conservation of Coelogyne nervosa A. Rich. an endemic orchid to Western Ghats.",Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants,18:245-251.

  32. Cheruvathur MK, Sivu AR, Pradeep NS, Thomas TD,"Shoot organogenesis from leaf callus and ISSR assessment for their identification of clonal fidelity in Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz; a potent anticancerous ethnomedicinal plant.",Industrial Crops and products,40: 122-128

  33. Cheruvathur M.K, Britto J, Thomas TD,"Pulvinus- an ideal explant for plant regeneration in Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb., an ethnomedicinal woody climber.",Acta PhysiologiaePlantarum,34:693-699

  34. Abraham J, Thomas TD,"Antibacterial activity of medicinal plant Cyclea peltata (Lam) Hooks and Thoms.",Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease,S280-284

  35. Kumar KG, Thomas TD,"High frequency somatic embryogenesis and synthetic seed production in Clitoria ternateaLinn. an important medicinal climber.",Plant Cell Tissue Organ Culture,110:141-151

  36. Cheruvathur M.K, Thomas TD,"Callus induction and high frequency plant regeneration in Pseudarthria viscida (L.) Wright and Arn., a rare ethnomedicinal herb.",Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants,17:395-401

  37. Thomas TD, Hoshino Y,"Optimizing embryo and shoot tip derived callus production and high frequency plant regeneration in the model grass Brachypodium distachyon (L.) P. Beauv.",Plant Biosystems,145:924-930

  38. Hoshino Y, Miyashita T, Thomas TD,"In vitro culture of endosperm and its application in plant breeding: approaches to polyploidy breeding.",Scientia Horticulturae,130:1-8

  39. Abraham J, Cheruvathur MK, Mani B, Thomas TD,"A rapid in vitro multiplication system for commercial propagation of pharmaceutically important Cyclea peltata (Lam) Hook &Thoms. based on enhanced axillary branching.",Industrial Crops and products,31: 92-98

  40. Cheruvathur MK, Abraham J, Mani B, Thomas TD,"2010. Adventitious shoot formation from cultured internodal explants of Malaxis acuminata D. Don, a valuable terrestrial medicinal orchid.",Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture,101: 163-170

  41. Cheruvathur M.K, Britto J, Thomas TD,"Callus induction and shoot regeneration from epicotyl explants of ethnomedicinally important Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb.",Iranian Journal of Biotechnology,8:22-29.

  42. Thomas TD, Hoshino Y,"In vitro propagation for the conservation of a rare medicinal plant Justicia gendarussa Burm. f. by nodal explants and shoot regeneration from callus.",ActaPhysiologiaePlantarum,32: 943-950

  43. Thomas TD,"Isolation, callus formation and plantlet regeneration from mesophyll protoplasts of Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merrill. a medicinal plant.",In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Plant,45: 591-598

  44. Thomas TD, Sankar S,"Multiple shoot induction and callus regeneration in Sarcostemma brevistigma Wight &Arn, an endangered medicinal plant.",Plant Biotechnology Reports,3: 67-74

  45. Thomas TD,"The role of activated charcoal in plant tissue culture. (Review article-",Biotechnology advances,26: 618-631

  46. Thomas TD,"High frequency direct bulblet induction from rhizome explants of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn., an endangered medicinal herb.",In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Plant,43: 442-448

  47. Thomas TD,"Pretreatment in thidiazuron improves the in vitro shoot induction from leaves in Curculigo orchioides Gaertn., an endangered medicinal plant.",ActaPhysiologiaePlantarum,29: 455-461

  48. Thomas TD, Maseena EA,"Callus induction and plant regeneration in Cardiospermum halicacabum Linn. an important medicinal plant.",Scientia Horticulturae,108: 332-336

  49. Thomas TD, Philip B,"Thidiazuron induced high frequency plant regeneration via organogenesis from leaf-derived calli of a medicinal climber, Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merrill.",In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Plant,41: 124-128

  50. Thomas TD, Jacob A,"Direct Somatic embryogenesis of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn., an endangered medicinal herb.",Journal of Plant Biotechnology,6: 193-197

  51. Thomas TD, Jose TP,"Thidiazuron induced high frequency shoot organogenesis in callus from Kigelia pinnata L. Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica – now",Botanical Studies,45: 307-313

  52. Thomas TD, Sreejesh PR,"Callus induction and plant regeneration from cotyledonary explants of ash gourd (Benincasa hispida L.).",Scientia Horticulturae,100: 359-367

  53. Jose TP, Thomas TD,"2004. High frequency in vitro regeneration of Kigelia pinnata L. via organogenesis.",Journal of Plant Biology,47: 48-51

  54. Thomas TD,"Embryological observations on unpollinated ovary culture in mulberry (Morus alba L.).",Acta Biologica Cracoviensia series Botanica,46: 87-94

  55. Thomas TD,"In vitro modification of sex expression in mulberry (Morus alba L.) by ethrel and silver nitrate",Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture,77: 277-281.

  56. Thomas TD,"Thidiazuron induced multiple shoot induction and plant regeneration from cotyledonary explants of mulberry.",Biologia Plantarum,46: 529-533.

  57. Thomas TD,"Advances in mulberry tissue culture.",Journal of Plant Biology,45: 7-21

  58. Paul N, Mathew MM, Thomas TD.,"A rapid in vitro propagation procedure for mulberry (Morus alba L).",STARS,2: 31-38

  59. Thomas TD, BhatnagarAK, Bhojwani SS,"Production of triploid plants of mulberry (Morus alba L.) by endosperm culture.",Plant Cell Reports,19: 395-399.

  60. Bhojwani SS, Thomas TD.,"In Vitro conservation of plant genetic resources.",Botanica,49: 47-52.

  61. Thomas TD, Bhatnagar AK, Razdan MK, Bhojwani SS,"A reproducible protocol for the production of gynogenic haploids of mulberry, Morus alba L.",Euphytica,110: 169-173

  62. Kumar A, Thomas TD.,"Conventional breeding in crop improvement.",Botanica,46: 73-76


 Group Members

 Research Projects Undertaken

Hairy root culture of Gymnemasylvestre and Tylophoraindica for enhanced production of pharmaceutical compounds

 KSCSTE

R&D

 Books / Chapters

  • Chapter(s) - Co-Author, (2021). In: Ahmad N, Strnad M (Eds) Meta-topolin: A growth regulator for plant biotechnology and agriculture. Pp. 93-118, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd., ISBN 9780367024994

  • Chapter(s) - Co-Author, (2021). Sarma H et al. (Eds) Engineered nanomaterials for innovative therapies and biomedicine. Pp. Springer Nature Switzerland AG, Springer Nature Switzerland AG, 2523-8027

  • Chapter(s) - Co-Author, (2020). Swamy MK (ed), Plant-derived bioactives. PP. 323-350, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd., 978-981-15-1761-7

  • Chapter(s) - Co-Author, (2020). Swamy MK (ed), Plant-derived bioactives. PP. 167-176, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd., 978-981-13-7205-6

  • Chapter(s) - Co-Author, (2019). Akhtar MS, Swamy MK (eds.), Natural Bio-active Compounds, PP. 31-57, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd., 978-981-13-7205-6

  • Chapter(s) - Co-Author, (2018). Kumar N (Ed.), Biotechnological Approaches for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Pp. 03-25, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd., 978-981-13-0535-1

  • Chapter(s) - Co-Author, (2018). Ahmad N., Faisal M. (Eds) Thidiazuron: From Urea Derivative to Plant Growth Regulator. pp 297-316., Springer, Singapore., 978-9811080036

  • Chapter(s) - Co-Author, (2017). S. Malik (Ed.), Biotechnology and Production of Anti-Cancer Compounds. Pp. 201-230., Springer, Singapore., 978-3-319-53880-8

  • Chapter(s) - Co-Author, (2016). A. Shahzad et al. (Eds.), Biotechnological strategies for the conservation of medicinal and ornamental climbers. pp. 259-290., Springer, Singapore., 978-3-319-19288-8

  • Chapter(s) - Co-Author, (2016). M. Anis, N. Ahmad (Eds.), Plant Tissue Culture: Propagation, Conservation and Crop Improvement . pp 161-195., Springer, Singapore, 978-981-10-1917-

  • Chapter(s) - Co-Author, (2012). Vilanilam J, Antony P, Sunny L (Editors) An introduction to Kerala studies., PP. 737-754., International Institute for Scientific and academic Collaboration, Inc. (IISAC), New Jersey, USA., 978-0-615-45465-8.

  • Chapter(s) - Co-Author, (2005). Chaturvedi SN, Singh KP (Editors) Plant Reproductive and Molecular Biology pp. 38-46., Avishkar Publishers, Jaipur, 81-7910-119-3

  • Chapter(s) - Co-Author, (2001). S. S. Bhojwani and W.Y. Soh (Editors) Current Trends in the Embryology of Angiosperms pp. 489-507., Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands, 978-94-017-1203-3

  • Book - Co-Author, (2021). Razdan MK and Dennis Thomas T (Editors) 2021.Mulberry: genetic improvement in context of climate change., CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA,, 9780367024994

  • Book - Co-Author, (2013). T. Dennis Thomas and Toji Thomas (Editors) Bioprospecting of plant genetic resources., Apex infotech Publishing company, Chennai., 978-81-910911-3-7

    •  Patents

      None

     Miscellaneous

     Membership/Fellowship of other institutions/professionals societies : 
    1.	Life member of the Society for Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology
2.	Life member, Indian mycological society  
3.	Life member, International society for plant morphologists
     Student related co-curricular, extension and field based activities and counseling.
     Contribution to corporate sector-management of the department and institution through participation in academic and administration,committees and responsibilities.
     Other activities/Responsibilities : 
    1	Dean, School of biological sciences	CUK	27/1/2016 to 26/1/2019
(Three years)
2. 	Head, Department of Plant science	CUK	08/1/2016 to 7/1/2019
(Three years)
3.	Member, Academic council	CUK	08/1/2016 to 7/1/2019
(Three years)
4	Member, Admission committee	CUK	08/1/2016 to 7/1/2019
(Three years)
5.	Nodal officer, Foreign students admission	CUK	2016-2018

6. 	Chairperson, Board of studies in Plant science	CUK	08/1/2016 to 7/1/2019
(Three years)
7.	Member, Board of studies in Botany	SH College, Thevera, Ernakulam	2018-21
8	Member, Board of studies in Botany	MA College, Kothamangalam	2018-21
9.	Member, Board of studies in Botany	CMS College, Kottayam	2019-22
10	Member, Board of studies in Botany	SB College, Changanacherry	2018-21
     Any other relevant information, if not given above :

     Contact

    Full Name
    		 Prof. Dennis Thomas T.
    Address
    		 Department of Plant science, Central University of Kerala Tejaswini Hills, Periye P.O., Kasaragod District
    Telphone Number
    (With STD Code)
    PinCode
    		 671316

     Teaching & Research Guidance

    • 1. Plant Tissue culture techniques:Post Graduate
    • 2. Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms and Paleobotany:Post Graduate
    • 3. Plant systematics:Post Graduate