Dr Naresh Kumar Arora, Principal Fruit Scientist, has 22 years’ experience of research, teaching and extension in horticulture. He contributed to the development of guava hybrids viz. Punjab Safeda, Punjab Kiran and Punjab Apple Guava were released by PAU for commercial cultivations in Punjab and adjoining area. Dr Arora has also involved in evaluation and recommendation of grape variety ‘Superior Seedless’ and ‘Kagzi’ variety of bael for commercial cultivation included in the ‘Package of Practices for cultivation of fruits by PAU. Besides he has associated with development of 14 ago-production technologies (Grapes, guava, citrus and Bael) included in Package of practices for cultivation of fruits published by PAU. He has handled three externally funded research projects as PI/ Co-PI. He has published 60 research papers, 6 book chapters, 8 papers in proceedings of conference/seminars, 4 bulletins and 4 practical manuals. He has participated in 22 national and international seminar/conferences and received one best paper award in the 7th horticulture congress. He taught Hort. 101, Hort 103, Hort. 206, Hort. 301 and Hort. 504 and FSC. 503 courses to UG and PG students. He has guided 12 M.Sc. and Ph.D students as major advisor. He has delivered more than 100 extension lectures/ Radio/ T.V talks for dissemination of technologies. In recognition of his services, farmers’ awarded him S. Swaran Singh Virk memorial award in 2018.

Projects accomplished

• • Advancement in ripening and quality improvement in Flame Seedless in grapes funded by UGC, New Delhi (PI)
  • Whole genome and transcriptome sequence based SSR and SNP markers development in guava (Psidium guajava L.) for linkage mapping and trait association funded by DBT (Co-PI)
  • Front line demonstration on rejuvenation of senile orchards in Punjab, MIDH, New Delhi (Co-PI)

• Popularization of fruit nutrition garden in Punjab, MIDH, New Delhi (Co-PI)

Ongoing Projects

• Crop improvement & development of production technologies for guava and grapes
• RNA interference technology for insect resistance and genomics assisted improvement of shelf life in guava funded by DBT (Co-PI)
• Front line demonstrations on eco-friendly technologies and mulching in guava, MIDH, New Delhi (Co-PI)

Selected Research Publications (maximum upto 5): 

• Maan SS, Brar JS, Mittal A, Gill MIS, Arora NK, Sohi HS, Chhuneja P (2023) Construction of Genetic Linkage Map and QTL mapping of fruit quality traits in guava (Psidium guajava L.). Frontiers of Plant Science 14, 1788 (NAAS Rating: 12.63)
• Arora NK, Arora R, Kaur Gagandeep and Gill MIS (2022) Effect of time of pruning and hydrogen cyanamide application on harvesting time and fruit quality in grapes (Vitis vinifera L.). Agric Res J 59 (5): 896-902 (NAAS Rating 5.44)
• Thakur Sujata, Yadav I S, Jindal M, Sharma P K, Dhillon G S, Boora RS, Arora NK, Gill MIS, Chhuneja P and Mittal Amandeep 2021. Development of Genome-Wide Functional Markers Using Draft Genome Assembly of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Allahabad Safeda to Expedite Molecular Breeding. Front. Plant Sci.12: 708332. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.708332 (NAAS Rating: 10.40)
• Kaur S, Arora NK, Gill KS, Sharma S and Gill MIS 2019.  Hexanal formulation reduces rachis browning post-harvest losses in table grapes cv. Flame Seedless. Scientia Horticulturae 248: 265-73. (NAAS rating 7.76)
• Sarah M, Kaur Nirmaljit, Arora NK and Mahal AK (2018) Field reaction and metabolic alterations in grape (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties infested with anthracnose. Scientia Horticulturae 235: 286-293. (NAAS rating 7.75)

Awards/ Honours/ Distinctions: 

1. Received “Swaran Singh Virk Memorial Award-2018” for services to the fruit growers of Punjab in the field of horticulture from Baag Parivar, Kotkapura, Punjab (June 21, 2018). 
2. Awarded with university merit scholarship in M.Sc and  Ph.D. 
3. Received a “Best paper presentation award” for the paper entitled “Protected cultivation of Table grape varieties under subtropical conditions of India” during 7th Indian Horticulture Congress 2016 organized by Horticulture Society of India, from November 15-18, 2016, at IARI, New Delhi.