In February 2004, Dr Abhishek Sharma joined Punjab Agricultural University as Assistant Virologist and presently he is working as Principal Virologist.  His main area of research is detection, identification and characterization of phytoviruses infecting vegetables.  He is actively involved in screening of vegetable germplasm against prominent and emerging viruses of the region.  He is also looking after All India Coordinated Research Project (Vegetable Crops) at PAU. He is associated in release of virus resistant varieties/hybrids of chilli, tomato, pumpkin and other vegetables. Hitherto he has guided seven MSc., three Ph.D students and hosted two CV Raman Fellow and one INSA Visiting Fellow in his lab. He has been associated with 10 competitive grants and published nine book chapters, 105 research papers in journals of national and international repute. Besides this he is acting as resource person in various extension activities being conducted by the University. He is member of various scientific societies and member of editorial board for various journals.

Research Interest:

1. Diagnosis and Characterization of Plant Viruses
2. Identification of Resistant Sources in Vegetable Crops against Plant Viruses

Project Accomplished

1. Funds for Improvement of S&T  Infrastructure funded by DST, India as PI completed in Aug 2011
2. Real Time Pest Surveillance(RTPS) in tomato Crop under NICRA funded by ICAR, India as CoPI- completed in Aug 2011
3. Pyramiding multiple resistance genes (Ty, Ph and Mi) in high yield varieties of tomato through MAS funded by DBT, India as CoPI- completed in March 2013
4. Unraveling the role of molecular diversity of begomoviruses, satellite molecules and whiteflies associated with cotton-okra in genesis of new viruses funded by UGC as PI completed in April 2013
5. CV Raman fellowship for African researchers 2016-Hosted  Ms. Sabrine Nahdi, Tunisia funded by DST-FICCI completed in Nov 2017
6. Curbing whitefly-plant virus pandemics – the departure from pesticides to genomics solutions funded by Indo-US STF as  CoPI completed in May 2017 
7. RNAi mediated gene silencing for identification of novel and potential targets in whitefly, Bemisia tabaci   funded by DBT as Co-PI completed in December 2015
8. Identification and molecular tagging of gene (s) controlling resistance to chilli leaf curl virus infection in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) funded by NASF, ICAR as CoPI completed in Spet 2016
9. Genome sequence based ssr markers development and their utilization in mapping of Bittergourd yellow mosaic virus resistance in bittergourd (Momordica charantia L.) funded by DBT as Co-PI completed in March 2022
10. Bio-efficacy evaluation of herbal formulations against leaf curl disease, its vector and other insect pests in chilli crop under field condition funded by NIF-DST as CoPI completed in Sept 2021
11. Molecular mapping and transfer of YVMV resistance in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] funded by DBT as CoPI completed in Sept 2023
12. CV Raman fellowship for African researchers 2016-Hosted Mr Lanvin from Cameroon funded by DST –FICCI completed in July 2024

On Going Projects:

1. Fine mapping of begomovirus resistance governing loci(qMI-sq/to17.1 and qMI-sq/to17.4)    in Cucurbita moschata (Duch)- DBT (SERB)                                                                            
2. Field heat: Adapting tomato germplasm to the dry and humid heat of the Indian monsoonal   

        Climate : DBT

1. Funds for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure (DST)

Selected Research Publication 

1. Belludi R,  Sharma A, Sharma SP, Ramesh GV,  Gudi S (2025) Leveraging chlorophyll fluorescence uncovers potato virus Y resistance in potato and its validation through viral quantification and yield loss studies. Plant Cell Reports (44) 100: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-025-03489-8 (NAAS rating: 11.30/ IF 5.30)

1. Verma N,  Dhatt AS,  Sharma A,  Garcha KS,  Sharma M,  Bhatia D,  Khosa JS (2023) Genetics of begomovirus resistance in Cucurbita moschata Duchesne: A novel resistant source PVR-1343. Scientia Horticulturae 322, 112393https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112393 (NAAS rating 10.34/ IF 4.34).

1. Majumdar A, Sharma A and Belludi R (2023) Natural and engineered resistance mechanisms in plants against phytoviruses. Pathogens doi: 10.3390/pathogens12040619 (NAAS rating 10.53 /IF 4.53)

1. Verma N , Garcha KS, Sharma A, Sharma M, Bhatia D, Khosa JS, Kaur B, Chuuneja P and Dhatt AS (2023) Identification of a major-effect QTL associated with begomoviruses resistance in Cucurbita moschata Duchesne. Phytopathology https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-07-22-0240-FI (NAAS rating 10.01 IF 4.01)

1. Dhaliwal SK, Gill RK, Sharma A, Kaur A, Bhatia and D, Kaur S (2022) A large-effect QTL introgressed from ricebean imparts resistance to Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus in blackgram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper).  Theoretical and  Applied Genetics 135: 4495–4506. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-022-04234-5 (NAAS rating 11.70 /IF 5.70)
   
   

Awards and honors

1. Awarded Junior Research Fellowship for Masters Programme by ICAR.
2. Awarded Sandoz Biotech Fellowship for PhD Programme.
3. Dr RK Arora Best Paper Award by Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources, ICAR,New Delhi
4. Appreciation certificate awarded by PAU