K. G. Adiyodi

摘要

K. G. Adiyodi, a pioneer in the field of invertebrate endocrinology passed away after a massive heart attack on 28 May 2001. Born in 1938 at Karivellor, a village in North Malabar area of Kerala, Adiyodi had his primary education in a local school. He graduated with B Sc Honours in 1958 and took his MA degree from Madras Christian College, Chennai in 1968. He obtained his Ph D in insect reproductive physiology from Kerala University, Thiruvananthapuram in 1970 under the able guidance of K. K. Nair, a doyen in the field of invertebrate endocrinology. Subsequently, he held appointments in Calicut University as Reader (1970-1977) and Professor in invertebrate reproductive physiology (1988-1991). After his marriage to Rita Adiyodi (nee Rita Gomez), Adiyodi began working on crustacean molting and reproductive physiology. Using a field crab Paratelphusa hydrodromous as the reproductive model, Rita and Adiyodi made significant contributions on endocrine regulation of molting and reproduction. Their review article on endocrine regulation of molting and reproduction in Crustacea, published in Biological Reviews in 1971 was a benchmark in the evaluation of the interrelationship between the two phenomena in these arthropods. The hypothesis they proposed on the interplay between the eyestalk neuropeptides to regulate reproduction and molting in decapod crustaceans is holding good even today.