Plant Pathology

Prof. (Dr.) L.P. Awasthi, Dean School of Agriculture, R N B Global University, Bikaner, India, formerly Research Scientist/Professor, Amity University and Professor and Head, Department of Plant Pathology, N.D. University of Agriculture & Technology, Faizabad (U.P.) India, is a distinguished agriculture scientist with a strong background in molecular plant virology, resistance breeding, disease diagnosis and their management strategies, with a proven ability to undertake independent or collaborative scientific studies, as demonstrated by successfully completing mega research projects, funded by various international organizations. With extensive professional experience, he has taught and conducted research for more than 50 years; published more than 400 research papers in foreign and Indian journals of repute; edited/authored ten books; published a number of popular articles, laboratory manuals and contributory chapters for different books; guided M.Sc. (Ag.) and Ph.D. students; and has been working as an editor/referee in the editorial boards of many Indian and foreign journals of repute.

Professor Awasthi visited Karl-Marx University, Leipzig, University of Berlin, Institute of Plant Pathology, Ascherslavan, and Haale University, Germany as a visiting professor for higher studies. He has been a member of the Phytosanitary certificate issuing authorities, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage, Government of India and is currently special invited member in the state-level Pest and Disease Surveillance Advisory Unit, Government of Uttar Pradesh, India.

Prof. Awasthi has long been associated with many professional societies, and was conferred Plant Pathology Leadership Award by the Indian Phytopathological Society, and Outstanding Virologist Award by the International Virological Association for outstanding contribution to, scientific excellence in and distinguished services for the cause of Plant Pathological Research, Education and Technology dissemination, which has impacted the science of Plant Pathology in the country.

Dr. Siddhartha Das was born in the Purulia district of West Bengal, India on 8 April 1988. He received his B.Sc degree in Botany from The University of Burdwan in 2009 and postgraduate degree from Guru Ghasidas University, India in the year of 2011. In 2012 he passed his Bachelor of Education degree from Kalyani University. After that he joined the Department of Microbiology, Dinabandhu Andrews College, Calcutta University as a guest lecturer. With his boundless research enthusiasm, he joined the Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibers (CRIJAF) as a senior research fellow. He was awarded his Ph.D. degree from Visva Bharati University for a collaboration with Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya in 2018. He was awarded the Prof. M.J.Narasimmhan Merit Academic Award by the Indian Phytopathological Society (IPS), jointly with Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya in 2017. He is an active member of the Indian Phytopathological Society, the Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology, the Plant Protection Association of India, the Indian Mycological Society etc. Dr. Das completed his postdoctoral research in The Institute of Plant Science, Department of Ornamental Plants and Agricultural Biotechnology, The Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Israel in 2020-21. He has participated in several national and international seminars-symposium, workshops and wrote several national and international research papers. Dr. Das is currently working as an assistant professor at the Department of Plant Pathology, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Odisha.

Richard F. Lee grew up on a farm in Kansas, USA. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Botany from Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas, and his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Plant Pathology from Kansas State University. Following a PostDoc at the University of California Davis, he accepted a virology position at the University of Florida, Citrus Research and Education Center, Lake Alfred, FL where he was promoted to Professor of Plant Pathology. In 2003 he accepted a position as Supervisory Research Plant Pathologist at the USDA ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Citrus and Dates, Riverside, CA. He has experience in research, extension, and teaching. He received the Award of Excellence from the University of Florida for advising graduate students. His research has focused on the control of graft-transmissible diseases of citrus and development of innovative diagnostic methods of diseases by the use of traditional approaches combined with cutting-edge molecular methods. He has published over 300 refereed scientific papers, three books, and numerous book chapters. He spent a year with the United Nation's Food and Agricultural Organization where he promoted clean stock programs in the Caribbean Basin and contributed to the development of databases for agriculture (Ecoport.org). He was instrumental in the organization of five international workshops and training programs on citrus tristeza virus and the brown citrus aphid in the Carribbean Basin area. He has been an active member of the American Phytopathological Society, the International Organization of Citrus Virologists, and the InterAmerican Citrus Network.

Dr. Sudeepta Pattanayak did her B.Sc (Agriculture) and M.Sc in Plant Pathology at Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar. Currently, she is pursuing her Ph.D. from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. Previously, she served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology, MS Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha during 2018-20. During this period, she gained versatile experience in academic as well as developmental activities like organizing workshops for farmers and students, field exposures, organic farming farm management and mushroom unit in-charge. Her job role focused on production of various edible mushrooms and their modern cultivation technologies. She has participated in many national and international conferences and seminars. She has published many articles in national and international journals and many book chapters. Dr. Pattanayak very recently completed her research as visiting research scholar at Curtin University, Australia, under the NAHEP-CAAST programme.