Ongoing Research Activities

a)  Identification of high yielding genotypes of Lentil.

b)  Identification of high yielding genotypes of Chickpea.

c) Identification of high yielding genotypes of Linseed among locally available germplasm.

d) Selfing and crossing program for developing high yielding fiber and seed containing Linseed.

e) High yielding Chia seed production with other desirable traits.

f) Identification of high yielding genotypes of Muskmelon including other desired traits.

g) Development of cracking resistant high yielding Muskmelon genotype.

h) Development of summer tomato by crossing with wild type Tomato.

Research Interest

  1. Genomic Selection and Molecular Breeding
  • Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS): Using molecular markers to identify specific genes for traits like disease resistance early in the plant’s life cycle.
  • Genomic Prediction: Using complex statistical models to predict the “breeding value” of a plant based on its entire genome, significantly speeding up the selection process.
  • Haploid Breeding: Creating “doubled haploids” to reach complete genetic purity in one generation rather than six or seven.
  1. Precision Genome Editing (CRISPR= Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)
  • Gene Knockouts and Silencing: The simplest use of CRISPR is to “break” a gene that is causing a negative trait.
  • Precise Base Editing and Prime Editing: Modern research is moving beyond just “cutting” DNA to “rewriting” it letter by letter.
  1. Multiplexing: Editing Multiple Traits at Once
  • Pathway Engineering: Researchers can now target 10 or 20 different genes simultaneously to overhaul a complex metabolic pathway, such as increasing the oil content in seeds or improving the efficiency of photosynthesis.
  • De Novo Domestication: By editing just 4–6 key genes in a wild plant (like a wild salt-tolerant grain), researchers can keep the wild plant’s resilience while giving it the high-yield traits of a domesticated crop in a single generation
  1. Climate Resilience and Abiotic Stress
  • Drought and Heat Tolerance: Identifying the physiological mechanisms that allow plants to maintain yield during water shortages and in extreme temperature.
  • Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE): Breeding crops that require less nitrogen or phosphorus fertilizer, reducing both costs and environmental runoff.
  1. High-Throughput Phenotyping (HTP)
  • Drone and Satellite Imaging: Using multi-spectral cameras to measure plant health, biomass, and water stress across thousands of plots simultaneously.
  • Root Phenotyping: Using X-ray tomography or specialized “rhizotrons” to study the “hidden half” of the plant—the root system—to improve water uptake.
  1. Biofortification and Nutritional Quality
  • Nutrient Enhancement: Increasing the levels of Iron, Zinc, or Vitamin A in staple crops like rice, cassava, and sweet potatoes to combat global malnutrition.
  • Flavor and Post-Harvest Life: Developing varieties that taste better or stay fresh longer on grocery shelves, reducing food waste.
  1. G×E Analysis: Researching “Genotype by Environment” interactions to understand why a specific variety thrives in one soil type but fails in another.