White Rust of Crucifers ― Biology, Ecology and Management

Dr. G. S. Saharan, Ph. D., renowned educationalist, plant pathologist, has contributed in the diverse fields of Plant Pathology including standardization of artificial inoculation techniques, identification of resistance sources, pathogenic variability, genetics of host-parasite interaction, epidemiology and management of several diseases. He has about 250 publications in refereed journals, 6 books and supervised over 11 M Sc/ Ph D students. Prof. Saharan is internationally recognized, a visiting Professor at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (1991 and 1994), Saskatoon Research Station, Canada (1991, 1994, 1997) and Rothamsted Research, UK (1994, 1997). He has been on the panel of Experts of SAUs, ICAR, CSIR, UGC and DBT in India.

Dr. P. R. Verma, Ph. D., a legendary Oilseeds Plant Pathologist, has made immense contributions to the fundamental and applied aspects of Plant Pathology especially pioneered the work on development of a reproducible technique for germination of oospores of Albugo candida, a detached-leaf-culture technique for growing A.candida, a technique to produce stag-heads in artificially inoculated plants. He contributed immensely in identifying source of resistance, evaluation of fungicides, maintenance of races, determining effects of abiotic factors on disease development and development and licensing of world’s first white rust resistant Brassica rapa cultivar Tobin (1980) in Canada. He has published about 250 scientific papers and is the recipient of Fellow (2003), Honourary Fellow (2009) and “RATNA” award by ISMPP and the Life Time Achievement Award (2012) by SRMR. Dr. Verma initiated and founded P.R. Verma M Sc/ PhD students and Smt. Guman Devi Verma Memorial Best Woman Scientist Awards organized by the ISMPP.

Dr. P. D. Meena, Ph. D., is presently working as Senior Scientist (Plant Pathology) at Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research (ICAR), Bharatpur, India. He has made important contributions to the various aspects such as resistance, epidemiology, forecasting, biocontrol for the management of rapeseed-mustard diseases. He has published about 60 research papers, a book and has supervised 9 M. Sc. and co-supervised a Ph. D. student. He has been honored with Fellow of ISMPP, PPAI and Dr PR Kumar Outstanding Brassica Scientist Award (2011) by the SRMR and Best Worker- Scientist for 2012-13 by DRMR.

Dr. Arvind Kumar, Ph.D., is internationally recognized and presently working as Deputy Director General (Education), ICAR, New Delhi, and took innovative measures towards education quality and reforms and strengthening of higher agricultural education in India. He has been the Principal Investigator of Oilseed Project at Pantnagar and coordinated crop improvement programme on rapeseed-mustard at DRMR, Bharatpur, India. It resulted in development of 40 varieties of oilseed Brassica suited for different agro-climatic zone since 2002. He has been a leader of the development of first mustard hybrid based on Mori Cytoplasmic Male Sterility system, two international projects on Brassica improvement in India and genetic enhancement for biotic and abiotic stresses. Developed 3 Indian mustard (NRCDR-2, NRCHB-101, NRCDR-601) and a Yellow Sarson (NRCYS-5-2) varieties and also involved in development of first national variety of mustard – Kranti and PT 303 of Toria. He has published about 300 scientific papers, 8 books and supervised over 40 MSc / PhD students.