Karthik Putta

Area of focus:

• Drive projects to success by meeting the milestones outlined in the project plan.
• De-risk lead chemistry, and optimize across the necessary parameters.

Key tasks:

• Responsible as a scientist (Biology) and project leader to develop a working hypothesis and execute experiments across multiple functions and projects, aimed at the discovery of novel and safe crop protection chemistry.

Area of focus:

• De-risk lead chemistry to align with product concepts, and advance projects through discovery- pre-development.

Key tasks:

• Established the herbicide screening capabilities (Lab - Greenhouse) at the new headquarters and research facility in Mystic, CT.
• Identify the key limitations for lead chemistry, and optimize across the necessary parameters.
• Characterize, source, or collaborate to access herbicide-resistant weed populations to test lead chemistry.
• Contribute to the design of field experiments that are scientifically relevant, while promoting a business case.
• Engage with various external partners to advance lead molecules.

Area of focus:

Established a tiered herbicide screening pipeline to efficiently produce lead molecules.

Key tasks:

• Developed whole-plant herbicide assays to support discovery, lead generation, and lead development.
• Validated multiple targets and herbicide lead molecules for their commercial potential.
• Developed a screening funnel to identify resistance-breaking compounds.
• Managed workflows through a global network of contract and academic researchers for herbicide lead molecule generation.

Area of Focus:

• Designed experiments to develop key recommendations on novel and commercial herbicide products for their efficacy and safety on weeds/crops

Key tasks:

• Developed strategies to mitigate resistance issues for products- synergism with other commercial inhibitors, season long herbicide program that complements company portfolio etc.
• Herbicide resistance mechanism studies-Physiological, biochemical and molecular assays.

Area of Focus:

• Herbicide resistance mechanism studies in key weed species -Palmer amaranth, Common waterhemp & Italian ryegrass

Key tasks:

• Investigated the HPPD, PSII, ALS resistance mechanisms in Palmer amaranth-Physiological & molecular assays
• Investigated the EPSPS resistance mechanism in Italian ryegrass-Molecular and cytogenetic assays
• Molecular biology lab and Greenhouse management

Area of Focus

• Herbicide resistance mechanism studies in Palmer amaranth, Common waterhemp & Italian ryegrass

Key tasks:

• Investigated the basis of glyphosate resistance in Italian ryegrass
• Investigated the basis of HPPD resistance in Amaranth sp.

Area of Focus:

• Large scale characterization of herbicide resistant weed populations sourced from different countries

Key tasks:

• Characterized several hundred key weed populations both phenotypically in the greenhouse and genotypically in the lab to understand the extent of resistance for products in key chemistry projects.
• Implemented the Syngenta In season quick test (RISK) for rapid screening of herbicide resistant key weed populations.
• Supported molecular work to effectively bulk resistant weed populations for projects.
• Supported molecular work to effectively identify key genes responsible for herbicide metabolism.

Area of focus:

• Enhancement of in-vitro transformation efficiency in barley and potato using Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated method

Relevant techniques:

• Bacterial gene transfromation, Plant gene transformation, In-vitro sterile media preparation, Explant sterilization and isolation