Janaki Ammal

Janaki Ammal (1897-1984) was a botanist, who was recognised for her investigations into plant breeding, genetics, and cytogenetics. Her pivotal work on determining chromosome numbers in plants played a vital role in the selection of plants for cross-breeding, ultimately contributing to the development of high-yielding varieties of sugarcane, eggplant, and magnolias. Janaki Ammal's pioneering work had a transformative effect on agriculture, contributing to increased food production and sustainability. She was awarded Padma Shri in 1977 for her outstanding contributions to science.