EDUCATION

B.Sc. (Agri. Hons).,P.A.U.Ludhiana, M.Sc. (Pl. Path.) P.A.U.Ludhiana, PhD (Pl. Path.), P.A.U.Ludhiana

FIELD OF SPECIALIZATION

• Plant Bacteriology; Molecular host-pathogen interactions; Rice Pathology

RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Management of Important bacterial diseases
• Development of detection and diagnostic tools/techniques for bacterial pathogens/diseases
• Bacterial Genetics; population biology and microbial ecology
• Maintenance of bacterial culture repository of approximately five hundred bacterial and actinomycetes cultures belonging to genera Xanthomonas, Pseudomonas, Dickeya, Acidovorax, Erwinia and Streptomyces

RESEARCH PROJECTS

• Development of integrated pest management strategy for minimizing pesticide load in field and vegetable crops-Sub Project II- Plant Diseases” in project entitled Addressing food security through nutritionally enriched improved cultivars and technologies under Swasth Bharat
• Survey and surveillance for maintenance of pest free areas in the state of Punjab for brown rot and ring rot to facilitate export of potato from Punjab to EU
• Characterization, population dynamics and management of Rhizoctonia in different cropping systems
• Testing of agrochemicals against plant pathogenic bacteria-Industry sponsored

SELECTED RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

• Chhabra R, Sharma R, Hunjan MS, Sharma VK, Thankur S and Chauhan SK (2023) Efficacy of botanical extracts on imparting systemic acquired resistance against rice sheath blight incited by Rhizoctonia solani. J Plant Dis Prot (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-023-00722-y (NAAS rating- 7.85)
• Sabhikhi HS, Hunjan MS & Kaur Y (2023). Development of common scab in potato cv. Kufri Pukhraj in Indian Punjab is influenced by scab lesion severity on seed tubers and duration of crop in the field. J Plant Dis Prot (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-023-00719-7 (NAAS rating- 7.85)
• Chhabra R, Sharma R, Hunjan MS, Sharma VK, Sharma P and Chauhan SK (2023) Microstructural and metabolic variations induced by Bipolaris oryzae inciting brown spot disease of rice. Cereal Research Communications (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-023-00351-z (NAAS rating- 7.24)
• Chhabra R, Sharma R, Hunjan MS, Sharma VK, Thakur S, and Chauhan S (2022) Physio-biochemical and histological alterations in response to sheath blight disease of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Journal of Phytopathology, 00, 1– 13. https://doi.org/10.1111/jph.13141. (NAAS rating-7.79)
• Kumar S, Kaur H, Hunjan MS and Kaur K (2022) Biochemical changes induced in the maize leaf sheath upon inoculation with Rhizoctonia solani incitant of banded leaf and sheath blight. Cereal Research Communications. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-022-00310-0. (NAAS rating-6.85)
• Hima D, Sonia K and Hunjan MS (2022) Chemical composition and antibacterial potential of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex DC.) Wight Arn. leaves essential oil against phytopathogenic bacteria of rice and potato. Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants, 25:468-481, DOI: 10.1080/0972060X.2022.2105661 (NAAS rating: 7.70)
• Singh S, Kaushal S, Hunjan MS and Sharma P. (2022) Chemical compositionn and molecular docking studies of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub. leaves and fruits extracts as antifungal agents against rice phytopathogenic fungi. Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection. https://doi.org/10.1080/03235408.2022.2081769 (Impact factor-1.28)
• Hunjan MS, Kumar S, Lore JS and Vera Cruz CM (2022) Efficiency of different Rhizoctonia solani inoculum source against sheath blight screening in rice under field conditions. Tropical Plant Pathology https://doi.org/10.1007/s40858-021-00489-3. (NAAS rating: 7.49)
• Lore JS, Hunjan MS, Jain J, Kumar S, Singh P, Mangat GS, Zaidi NW, Singh US. (2021). Temporal and spatial progression of sheath blight in mega rice varieties of South Asia. Australasian Plant Pathology 50: 609-619. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13313-021-00812-1 (NAAS rating: 7.42)
• Dhanda S, Kaur S, Chaudhary A, Jugulam M, Hunjan MS, Sangha MK and Bhullar MS (2021) Characterization and management of metsulfuron-resistant Rumex dentatus biotypes in North-West India. Agronomy Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20849. (NAAS rating: 8.28)
• Kumar S, Kaur H and Hunjan MS (2021) Genetic diversity and virulence spectrum of Rhizoctonia solani, the incitant of banded leaf and sheath blight of maize. Journal of Phytopathology https://doi.org/10.1111/ jph.13004 (NAAS rating: 7.79)
• Lore JS, Jain J, Hunjan MS, Kamboj I, Zaidi NW and Singh US (2021) Efficiency of axenically grown Rhizoctonia solani inoculum types in evaluating sheath blight development on rice genotypes. Journal of Phytopathology https://doi.org/10.1111/jph.13006 (NAAS rating: 7.79)
• Lore JS, Jain J, Hunjan MS, Singh P and Kumar S (2021) Quantification of yield losses with relation to sheath blight development at different growth stages in mega rice varieties of South Asia. Journal of Phytopathology https://doi.org/10.1111/jph.13005 (NAAS rating: 7.79)
• Hiremath SS, Bhatia D, Jain J, Hunjan MS, Kaur R, Zaidi NW, Singh US, Zhou B and Lore JS (2020) Identification of potential donors and QTLs for resistance to false smut in a subset of rice diversity panel. European Journal of Plant Pathology https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-020-02172 (NAAS rating: 7.74)
• Hunjan MS and Sabhikhi HS (2020) Designing a crop rotation strategy to manage Streptomyces scabies causing potato scab in North India. Journal of Phytopathology1– 9. https://doi.org/10.1111/jph.12911(NAAS: 7.10)
• Dhkal M, Hunjan MS, Kaur Harleen and Pannu P.P.S. (2018) Characterization of Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae causing bacterial leaf streak of maize in Punjab state of India. Journal of Plant Pathology doi.org/10.1007/s42161-018-0138-3 (NAAS rating: 7.27)
• Kumar Adesh, Hunjan, Mandeep Singh, Kaur, Harleen, Dhillon, Harminder Kaur and Singh, P.P. (2017) Biochemical responses associated with resistance to bacterial stalk rot caused by Dickeya zeae in maize. Journal of Phytopathology. DOI: 10.1111/jph.126222. (NAAS rating: 6.93)
• Kaur Harleen, Singh Harpreet, Hunjan MS and Gaganjyot Kaur (2017) Qualitative, quantitative and molecular detection of aflatoxins from maize grains in north-west India. Maydica 62-2017. (NAAS rating: 6.48)
• Dhkal M, Hunjan MS, Kaur Harleen and Kaur Rajwinder (2016) Biochemical basis of bacterial leaf streak resistance in maize. Indian Phytopath. 69(4):373-380. (NAAS rating : 5.90)
• Lore JS, Jain J, Hunjan MS, Gargas G, Mangat GS and Sandhu JS (2015) Virulence spectrum and genetic structure of Rhizoctonia isolates associated with rice sheath blight in the northern region of India. Eur J Plant Pathol DOI 10.1007/s10658-015-0736-2. (NAAS rating: 7.49)
• Hunjan MS, Singh PP and Lore JS (2015) Extracellular polysaccharide production underlining aggressiveness of Xanthomonasoryzaepv. oryzae infecting rice. Indian Phytopath68:120-122. (NAAS rating: 5.90)
• Hunjan MS, Singh PP and Lore JS (2014) Virulence frequencies of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae on different sets of rice differentials under Punjab agroecological zones. Indian Phytopath67: 20-25. (NAAS rating: 5.90)
• Lore JS, Hunjan MS, Singh P, Willocquet L, Srinivasachary S and Savary S (2013) Phenotyping of Partial Physiological Resistance to Rice Sheath Blight. J Phytopathology 161:224–229. (NAAS rating: 7.0)
• Lore JS, Vikal Y, Hunjan MS, Goel RK, Bharaj TS and Raina GL (2011) Genotypic and pathotypic diversity of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the cause of bacterial blight of rice in Punjab state of India. J. Phytopathology 159:479-487. (NAAS rating: 7.4)

Complete list of publications

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=PPKSBQQAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate