Dr Subramanian has made significant contributions on taxonomy of Fungi imperfecti. His systematic exploration of the hyphomycete flora of India led to the discovery of many new and interesting genera. He has proposed a new system of classification of Hyphomycetes based on conidium ontogeny. His studies on and original interpretations of conidium ontogeny based on cell-wall relationships have led to the formulation of a terminology based on new concepts. Dr Subramanian is well known for his work on soil mycology and soil-borne plant diseases, and for his contributions to knowledge on the systematics, distribution and ecological behaviour of soil Fusaria, and on the nutritional physiology, mainly nitrogen utilization of plant pathogenic species of Fusarium and Drechslera.