Education: B. Sc. Agri. (Hons.) from PAU Ludhiana; M. Sc. (Plant Pathology) from PAU Ludhiana; Ph.D (Plant Pathology) from PAU Ludhiana
Positions held: Plant Pathologist
Field of Specialization: Seed Pathology
Research Interests: Antifungal seed priming; management of disease threats in seed production of field and vegetable crops
Research Projects: National Seed Project
Selected Research Publications:
Sharma A B, Sidhu A, Manchanda P, Ahuja R (2022) 1, 2, 4 triazolyldithiocarbamate silver Nano conjugate: potent seed priming agent against bakanae disease of rice (Oryza sativa). European Journal of Plant Pathol. 162(4):825-41. doi.org/10.1007/s10658-021- 02439. (NAAS: 7.91).
Sharma A B, Singh N, Singh TP (2023) Association of Pseudomonas oryzihabitans with grain discoloration, panicle blight and chaffiness of rice in North India. Crop Protection 167106188 (IF: 3.04; NAAS: 9.04).
Khepar V, Sidhu A, Sharma A B (2023) Nano materialzed zinc sulfide-meerschaum biomatrix efficiently suppressed Fusarium verticilloides with augmented rice seed quality benefits during storage. Pest Management Science https://doi/ 10.1002/ps.7194 (NAAS: 10.46).
Khepar V, Sidhu A, Sharma A B, Sharma P (2023) Zinc sulfide nano aqua formulation as anti-fungal nano priming agent against phytopathogens of paddy seeds: in silico, in vitro and seed treatment studies. European J Plant Pathol. 165 (3): 509-524. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-022-02623-6 (IF: 2.22, NAAS: 8.22).
Poonia B K, Sidhu A and Sharma A B (2022) Cyclo (L-proline-L-serine) dipeptide suppresses seed-borne fungal pathogens of rice: Altered cellular membrane integrity of fungal hyphae and seed quality benefits. Journal of Food and Agricultural Chemistry: 70 (7): 2160-2168. doi=10.1021/acs.jafc.1c07659. (NAAS: 11.28).
Awards/Honours/Distinctions:
Best Research Paper Award for paper entitled “Seed coating with sodium alumino silicate margosa composite – A proficient technique to reduce Fusarium toxins inciting grain discoloration of rice during storage” by Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology at Anand Agricultural University, Anand Gujrat.
Best Research Paper Award for paper entitled “ZnS-Sepiolite nanocomposite as ecofriendly biodegradable and assimilative storage tool against seed borne fungi of rice” by Himalayan Phytopathological Society at DYSPUHF, Nauni, Solan | 
