Education: B.Sc Agri. (Hons.), PAU, Ludhiana (1998); M.Sc. (Vegetable Crops), PAU, Ludhiana (2000); Ph.D. (Horticulture), Texas A&M University, College Station, USA (2014)

Positions held: Assistant Vegetable Botanist, PAU Ludhiana (2003-2017); Vegetable Botanist (2017-2020); Principal Vegetable Breeder (2020-till date)

Field of Specialization: Vegetable Science

Research Interests:

1. Breeding muskmelon varieties with enhanced yield and quality traits.

2. Identification of varieties suitable for table and processing purpose in potato.

3. Development of resource use efficient crop management strategies in muskmelon and potato.

Ongoing Projects:

1. Varietal evaluation for nutritional quality and processing funded by ICAR, New Delhi (as Co-PI).

2. Development of improved varieties/ hybrids funded by state government (as Co-PI)

3. Screening of germplasm for resistance to Fungal and Viral diseases, and Insect-pests funded by state government (as Co-PI)

4. Evaluation of potato varieties/ hybrids for fresh marketing and processing funded by state government (as Co-PI)

5. Screening of germplasm for resistance to to fungal and viral diseases, and insect-pests funded by state government (as Co-PI)

Selected Research Publications :

1. Sharma, S.P., Leskovar, D.I., and Crosby, K.M. (2019) Genotypic differences in leaf gas exchange and growth responses to deficit irrigation in reticulatus and inodorus melons (Cucumis melo L.). Photsynthetica: DOI: 10.32615/ps.2019.022. (NAAS rating = 7.74 Thomson Reuters Impact Factor- 1.74)

2. Sharma, S.P., Leskovar, D.I., Crosby, K.M., Volder, A. and Ibrahim, A.M.H. (2018) Root distribution patterns of reticulatus and inodorus melon (Cucumis melo L.) under subsurface deficit irrigation. Irrigation Science 36:301–317 (NAAS rating = 7.65 Thomson Reuters Impact Factor- 1.65)

3.Sharma, S.P. and Leskovar, D.I. (2018) Phenotyping root traits for vegetable crop improvement: advanced tools and techniques. Agricultural Research Journal 55(3): 411-420. (NAAS rating = 4.71)

4. Sharma, S.P., Leskovar, D.I., Crosby, K.M., and Volder, A. (2017) Root growth dynamics and fruit yield of melon (Cucumis melo L) genotypes at two locations with sandy loam and clay soils. Soil and Tillage Research 168, 50-62. (NAAS rating = 9.82 Thomson Reuters Impact Factor- 3.82)

5. Sharma S.P., Leskovar D.I., Crosby, K.M., Volder, A. and Ibrahim, A.M.H. (2014) Root growth, yield, and fruit quality responses of reticulatus and inodorus melons (Cucumis melo L.) to deficit subsurface drip irrigation. Agricultural Water Management 136:75-85. (NAAS rating = 9.18 Thomson Reuters Impact Factor- 3.18)

Awards/Honours/Distinctions:

1. Awarded Texas A&M University Dissertation Fellowship, 2013-14

2. Received the Punjab Agricultural University Merit Scholarship in MS, 1999.