Crop Improvement

Dr. Pankaj Kumar is presently working as Assistant Professor (Biotechnology), Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India. Formerly, he has worked as SERB- National Post Doctoral Fellow (DST Young Scientist Scheme) at Council of Scientific & Industrial Research - Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh. India. Dr. Kumar is working on plant secondary metabolite enhancement through cell and tissue engineering approaches; Identification of molecular cues linked with enhanced metabolites using comparative transcriptomics approach and also working on hydro-aero cultivation of medicinal plants for industrial importance. During Doctoral Studies; he (research team) has generated technology at Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan for developing insect pest resistant transgenic plants in economically important vegetable crops of cauliflower cv. Pusa Snowball, cabbage cv. Pride of India and broccoli cv. Solan Green Head (with cryIAa gene) for insect pest resistance. He has been awarded DST INSPIRE JRF/SRF Fellowship, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India for Ph.D. full doctoral program. He has qualified ICAR AICE-SRF (PGS), ICAR ASRB National Eligibility Test (NET). He has published 32 research/review papers in various journals of International and National repute, contributed 13 book chapters and 5 popular articles. Dr. Kumar has received many awards from various societies and scientific organizations for his scientific contribution i.e. Young Scientist Award Biotechnology-2018 by Society for Plant Research, Young Scientist Award -2019 by the Society of Tropical Agriculture, New Delhi, India, Excellence in Research Award -2019 by Agro Environmental Development Society, India. etc.

Dr. Ajay Kumar Thakur is presently working as Senior Scientist (Biotechnlogy) at ICAR-Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. He has obtained his graduation, PG and Doctoral degrees from Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan, H.P. He got induced into Agricultural Research Services (ARS) in 2008. He has published 40 research/review papers in various journals of International and National repute, authored one book 'Agricultural Biotechnology at a Glance', contributed 8 book chapters and 22 popular articles. He has developed high efficiency plant regeneration and genetic transformation protocols in a number of crops including Populus ciliata, P. deltoides, Punica granatum, Capsicum annum and Cucumis sativus. Dr. Thakur is associated with Brassica juncea improvement programme using biotechnological interventions from last eleven years. He has developed a core set of SSR markers for B. juncea genomics and is presently working on germplasm characterization and association mapping of various agronomically important traits in this oilseed crop. He has also filed one patent and associated in the development of a high yielding Indian mustard variety Giriraj, a white rust resistant Indian mustard genetic stock DRMR MJA 35, which is a Moricandia system- based cytoplasmic male sterile line of B. juncea, and a multiple disease (Alternaria blight, white rust and powdery mildew) resistant Indian mustard genetic stock, DRMRIJ 12-48. Dr. Thakur has received many awards from various societies and scientific organizations for his scientific contribution. He is also an elected Member of Plant Tissue Culture Association of India.