Dr. (Mrs.) Meenakshi Srinivas served as Acting Director of ICAR-IIHR from 01.07.2008 to 07.02.2009. She earned her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Botany from Bangalore University and her Ph.D. in Botany (Genetics and Cytogenetics) from Bangalore University, with a doctoral thesis on "Production, Identification and Characterization of aneuploids in Solanum viarum Dunal". She joined the ICAR Agricultural Research Service in 1977 and heads the Division of Ornamental Crops, specializing in plant breeding and floriculture crop improvement. She has developed successful hybrid varieties in hibiscus, bougainvillea, croton, rose, and tuberose. Her tuberose hybrids Shringar and Suvasini have been released at the state level.