Dr. Deepak Sharma: Professor at Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, C.G. India
Dr. Deepak Sharma is a seasoned academic and researcher in the field of Genetics and Plant Breeding, currently serving as a Professor at the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV), Raipur, India. With over 37 years of experience, his career has been dedicated to the development of sustainable agricultural practices, focusing on rice improvement through conventional and modern breeding methods, including radiation-induced mutation breeding. He has significantly contributed to the agricultural research landscape in Chhattisgarh, particularly in the conservation of rice germplasm and enhancing the livelihoods of farmers by improving indigenous rice varieties. He is passionate about empowering agricultural scientists and students, offering expertise on plant genetics, biodiversity, and the rights of farmers in India.
Online Profiles
Dr. Deepak Sharma from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), with a Scopus ID and an ORCID ID provided. He has over 2,700 citations across 2,347 documents and an h-index of 32.
Dr. Deepak Sharma’s research and academic profiles are widely accessible through various online platforms. His Google Scholar and ResearchGate profiles feature a comprehensive collection of his research work, citations, and collaborations. Dr. Sharma’s active engagement in national and international conferences, including the FAO/IAEA International Symposium on Plant Mutation Breeding, has further enhanced his online visibility. His work on the conservation of traditional rice varieties and hybrid rice development is well-documented in both academic and government databases. In addition to academic journals, he is a regular contributor to agricultural extension programs and has an established presence in digital agricultural forums.
Education
Dr. Sharma holds advanced degrees in Plant Breeding and Genetics, where he specialized in rice breeding and genetics. His early academic years were marked by a deep interest in crop improvement through both traditional breeding methods and advanced techniques like mutation breeding. Throughout his educational career, he received mentorship from several renowned scientists, which propelled his research in the field of agriculture. His academic journey has been supplemented with training in mutation breeding technologies in collaboration with esteemed institutions such as Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, and other national agricultural research organizations. His education has provided the foundation for his long-standing contribution to agricultural science and education.
Research Focus
Dr. Sharma’s research primarily focuses on rice genetics, breeding, and mutation breeding techniques. His innovative work on radiation-induced mutagenesis has led to the development of multiple high-yield, disease-resistant rice varieties suited to the diverse environmental conditions of Chhattisgarh. His projects involve improving rice landraces and traditional varieties by enhancing important agronomic traits, such as plant height, lodging resistance, early maturity, and nutritional value. His work also emphasizes the documentation, protection, and commercialization of farmer’s varieties under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPV&FRA). Additionally, Dr. Sharma is deeply involved in biodiversity conservation, studying the nutritional and medicinal properties of indigenous rice varieties. He has been a major player in promoting agricultural sustainability through his research on climate-resilient rice varieties and hybrid rice development.
Experience
Dr. Sharma’s extensive career spans more than three decades, during which he has contributed to numerous educational and research programs at IGKV, Raipur. He started as an Assistant Professor in 1988 and has steadily risen through the ranks to become a Professor and Head of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding. His roles have encompassed research, teaching, extension services, and administration. In addition to his academic duties, Dr. Sharma has also served as the Principal Investigator on various government-funded research projects, including several related to rice hybrid development, germplasm conservation, and seed technology. His leadership in collaborative research with institutions such as BARC and other national bodies has made him a key figure in India’s plant breeding and genetics community.
Research Timeline & Activities
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1986-1998: Dr. Sharma began his career as a Research Associate at JNKV, Jabalpur, working on plant genetics and breeding research, focusing on varietal improvement and disease resistance.
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1998-2006: As a Senior Scientist at IGKV, he was instrumental in advancing the breeding programs for rice, particularly improving traditional landraces of Chhattisgarh using mutation breeding.
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2006-2015: Dr. Sharma served as the Principal Scientist and Head of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding. He led major projects on rice hybrid development, infrastructure for seed production, and the conservation of rice biodiversity in Chhattisgarh.
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2015-Present: As a Professor, Dr. Sharma continues to drive research in mutation breeding, focusing on the development of disease-resistant, high-yielding rice varieties. He also continues to mentor graduate students, guiding Ph.D. and M.Sc. scholars on topics related to crop improvement, agricultural biodiversity, and farmers’ rights. His recent projects include the development of climate-resilient rice varieties and advancing seed production technologies.
Dr. Sharma’s timeline of activities also includes regular participation in national-level research meetings, symposia, and agricultural fairs. His coordination with various funding agencies such as ICAR, NABARD, and PPV&FRA has enabled him to lead impactful research initiatives in both rice genetics and plant biodiversity conservation.
Awards & Honors
Dr. Sharma’s contributions to agriculture have been recognized both nationally and internationally. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research in 2025, honoring his decades of pioneering work in rice breeding and genetics. He was also awarded the Dr. S.K. Vasal Award in 2022 for efficient use of plant genetic resources. Among other accolades, he has received multiple Certificates of Appreciation from the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority for his work in registering farmer’s varieties, as well as Best Scientist Awards from IGKV for his research on rice hybridization and germplasm conservation. His collaborations with BARC and other research bodies have earned him further recognition, solidifying his place as a leading scientist in the field of plant breeding and crop improvement.
Top Noted Publication
Dr. Sharma has authored more than 70 research papers in reputed journals, focusing on plant breeding, rice genetics, and mutation breeding. His most notable publications include works on radiation-induced mutation breeding in rice, improving rice grain quality through induced mutagenesis, and documenting the nutritional and medicinal properties of traditional rice varieties. His research on the conservation of Chhattisgarh’s rice germplasm is widely cited in agricultural and environmental journals. One of his key papers on hybrid rice development has been instrumental in shaping the hybridization strategies for rice cultivation in India, particularly for regions with lowland and irrigated ecosystems. His international collaboration with organizations like FAO/IAEA and BARC has led to significant publications on plant mutation breeding techniques and their applications for crop improvement.
1. Antioxidant Defense and Ionic Homeostasis Govern Stage-Specific Response of Salinity Stress in Contrasting Rice Varieties
Published: March 2024, Plants
DOI: 10.3390/plants13060778
Contributors: Vikash Kumar, Ashish K. Srivastava, Deepak Sharma, et al.
Summary: This study investigates how antioxidant defense mechanisms and ionic balance play critical roles in how rice varieties respond to salinity stress at different growth stages.
2. Next Generation Sequencing Based Forward Genetic Approaches for Identification and Mapping of Causal Mutations in Crop Plants: A Comprehensive Review
Published: October 2020, Plants
DOI: 10.3390/plants9101355
Contributors: Parmeshwar K. Sahu, Richa Sao, Suvendu Mondal, Deepak Sharma, et al.
Summary: This review discusses the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies to identify and map genetic mutations in crop plants, which could help in improving crop traits.
3. Identification of Promising IRRI CMS Lines through OCR in Chhattisgarh, India
Published: July 2020, International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences
DOI: 10.20546/ijcmas.2020.907.034
Summary: This article explores the identification of promising cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) lines of rice through a specific method, OCR (Optical Character Recognition), in Chhattisgarh, India.
4. Identification of Maintainers and Restorers for Development of Medium Slender and Short Grain Aromatic Rice Hybrids
Published: June 2020, International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences
DOI: 10.20546/ijcmas.2020.906.006
Summary: This study focuses on identifying the maintainers and restorers necessary for developing hybrid rice varieties with medium slender and short-grain aromatic properties.
5. Effect of Proton Beam Irradiation on Survival and Seedling Growth Parameters of Indian Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Variety ‘Indira Barani Dhan 1’
Published: 2019, Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding
DOI: 10.5958/0975-928X.2019.00062.0
Contributors: Chauhan A., Kumar V., Iyer P.R., Deepak Sharma, et al.
Summary: This article investigates the effects of proton beam irradiation on the survival and growth of rice seedlings, aiming to understand how radiation affects plant development.
Strengths for an Outstanding Researcher Award
1. Innovative Use of Mutation Breeding for Crop Improvement
Dr. Sharma has pioneered the use of radiation-induced mutation breeding to develop high-yielding, disease-resistant rice varieties. His groundbreaking work in mutation breeding has not only advanced the genetic potential of rice but also contributed significantly to the development of climate-resilient rice varieties that are well-suited for the diverse environmental conditions of Chhattisgarh and other parts of India.
2. Conservation of Indigenous Rice Germplasm
A core strength of Dr. Sharma’s work lies in his commitment to conserving and improving traditional rice varieties. His research on the protection, documentation, and commercialization of farmer’s varieties under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPV&FRA) has ensured the preservation of local biodiversity and empowered farmers by recognizing their role in conserving genetic resources. This aligns closely with sustainable agricultural practices.
3. Leadership in Agricultural Research and Education
With over 37 years of experience, Dr. Sharma has contributed significantly to agricultural research through his roles at IGKV, Raipur, as well as his mentorship to countless Ph.D. and M.Sc. students. His leadership in national and international research projects has fostered collaboration with prestigious institutions like BARC, ICAR, and FAO/IAEA. His ability to bridge academic research and practical extension services has elevated the impact of his work on farming communities.
4. Development of Hybrid Rice Varieties
Dr. Sharma has made pivotal contributions to the development of hybrid rice, focusing on both quality and yield. His work in identifying promising CMS (Cytoplasmic Male Sterility) lines and maintainers/restorers for aromatic and high-quality rice hybrids has greatly advanced hybrid rice breeding in India. This is crucial for increasing rice productivity and meeting the growing demand for food in an evolving agricultural landscape.
5. Advancements in Plant Biotechnology and Nutritional Research
Dr. Sharma’s research extends beyond traditional breeding, delving into biotechnological applications in rice genetics. His recent work on salinity stress response in rice, as well as next-generation sequencing for identifying causal mutations in crops, highlights his role in advancing crop biotechnology. His focus on improving the nutritional and medicinal properties of rice varieties also aligns with global efforts to enhance food security through better-quality, nutrient-rich crops.