Applications of Biotechnology in Plant Pathology

Prahlad Masurkar, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, India. Dr. Masurkar research mainly focuses on rice pathology, false smut disease, molecular biology, and genetic diversity. He has over 10 research papers in national and international reputed journals and 30 articles published in various magazines/bulletins. He has attended seminars and symposia. He received one best poster award at the IPS-2019, Varanasi, conference and one second best oral award at IPS-2021 at ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack, India. He received his BSc (Agriculture) degree from M.P.K.V., Rahuri, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra (ICAR-NTS); his MSc (Agriculture) from J.N.K.V.V., Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh (ICAR- JRF); and his PhD degree from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, where he secured a UGC fellowship (2016-2020). He qualified for ICAR-NET in Plant Pathology. During his PhD tenure, he also worked as a Young Professional-II at the ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack Odisha, India.

Adesh Kumar, PhD, is currently working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology in the School of Agriculture at Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India. His areas of research interest are fungal pathology, biological control of phytopathogens, mycology, seed pathology, plant microbe interaction and fungal decomposition. He has to his credit over 50 research and review papers published in journals of national and international repute. He has also published one lab manual, two books, more than 10 book chapters, as well as over 20 patents and 10 copyrights. He has guided 13 master students and is currently guiding several master and PhD students. Dr. Kumar has been awarded an Excellence in Research Award. He served as a member of the scientific societies Indian Phytopathological Society and Indian Science Congress Association. He earned his MSc (Agriculture) from the Department of Plant Pathology, CSA University, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh); and PhD (Agriculture) from the Department of Plant Pathology, CSA University, Meerut (Uttar Pradesh), during 2008 and 2012, respectively.

Vipul Kumar, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India. He has published more than 50 research papers and 19 book chapters in reputed journals and books. He also published two books and six patents in bioformulations of Trichoderma. He worked for several years as a senior research fellow in Niche Area of Excellence program sponsored by ICAR New Delhi. He has guided 10 MSc and two PhD plant pathology students. He has conducted several training and workshops on Trichoderma formulation and their applications. Dr. Kumar completed his MSc (Agriculture) and PhD degrees from C.S Azad University of Agriculture & Technology Kanpur, UP, India. He has qualified four times ICAR NET in Plant Pathology.