Dr Ashutosh Kushwah is currently serving as Maize Breeder in Maize section, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, and brings six years of research and academic service in the field of maize breeding, genetics and genomics, with specialized expertise in maize development of high yielding maize cultivars, breeding maize for improved abiotic stress tolerance, genomics assisted breeding for developing maize hybrids tolerant to insects and diseases and biofortification and nutritional enhancement of maize. He obtained his B.Sc. Agriculture (Hons.) in 2011 from VNMKV, Parbhani, Maharastra, M.Sc. in Plant Breeding and Genetics in 2013 from OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, and Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics in 2018 from PAU, Ludhiana, Punjab. Dr Kushwah is a dedicated maize breeder with expertise spanning the full spectrum of maize improvement programs ranging from conventional breeding and genetic enhancement to cutting-edge molecular and genomic approaches. His research focuses on developing high-yielding, climate-resilient, nutritionally enriched, and stress-tolerant maize hybrids and varieties to meet the challenges of global food and nutritional security. With strong academic, research, and field-level experience, Dr Kushwah integrates classical breeding with molecular tools to accelerate genetic gain in maize. His work contributes to sustainable agricultural systems, farmer income enhancement, and global food resilience.

Awards/Honours/Distinctions:

1. Awarded National Talent Scholarship during B.Sc. by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) from 2007 to 2011.
2. First rank in order of merit in Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) at College of Agriculture, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Badnapur, Parbhani, Maharashtra in 2011.
3. University Gold Medal for securing the First Position in M.Sc. in Plant Breeding & Genetics in Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha in 2013.
4. Awarded INSPIRE Fellowship (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) during Ph.D. for a duration of five years by DST (Department of Science and Technology), New Delhi in 2014.
5. Young Scientist Award for Outstanding Contribution in the field of Plant Breeding and Genetics on the Occasion of National Conference on “Doubling Farmers Income for Sustainable and Harmonious Agriculture (DISHA-2018)” from August 11 to August 12, 2018 held at ICAR-IINRG, Ranchi.

Membership of professional societies:

1. Life membership of Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding (ISGPB)

Professional Accomplishments:

Current Projects:

1. “Genomic assisted breeding for plant type suited to high plant density planting and tolerance to water logging in maize” under Centre of Excellence project “Development and integration of advanced genomic technologies for targeted breeding” funded by DBT, New Delhi.(Co.P.I.)

Important Publications (Last five years):

1. Sandhu S, Kocher G.S. and Kushwah A (2025) Maize-based bioethanol: A sustainable pathway for crop diversification in Punjab. Maize Journal 14(1): 1-5 (NAAS rating 4.28)
2. Kumar, S., Ranjan, R., Garg, T., Vikal, Y., Das, A., Sandhu, S.K., Kushwah, and Singh,  S. (2025) Stress Indices: Exploring the Selection tool for  Waterlogging-Tolerant  Maize  Inbred  Lines in Early Segregating Generations. Maydica 67(M30): 1-8. (NAAS rating: 6.40)
3. Kushwah A, Singh I, Singh G, Bindra S, Vij S, Johal N, Kaur K, Bhatia D, Singh S (2024) Evaluation of yield-based selection indices for drought tolerance involving recombinant inbred line population derived from a chickpea cultivar ( arietinum L.) and its wild relative (C. reticulatum). Plant Genetic Resources: Characterization and Utilization. 22(2): 117-124. doi:10.1017/S1479262123001107 (NAAS rating 7.10)
4. Kushwah A, Yousuf N, Sandhu S, Singh G, Garg T, Ranjan R, Bhavyasree R K and Kumar A (2024) Heterotic analysis and yield assessment of maize (Zea mays) inbred lines for developing superior hybrids under sub-tropical climatic conditions. Vegetos. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-023-00796-x. (NAAS rating 5.68)
5. Kushwah A, Bhatia D, Barmukh R, Singh I, Singh G, Bindra S, Vij S, Chellapilla B, Pratap A, Roorkiwal M, Kumar S, Varshney R K and Singh S (2022) Genetic mapping of QTLs for drought tolerance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum). Frontiers in Genetics 13, 953898. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2022.953898. (NAAS rating 10.60)
6. Kushwah A, Bhatia D, Singh G, Singh I, Vij S, Bindra S, Siddique K H M, Nayyar H and Singh S (2022) Phenotypic evaluation of agronomic and root related traits for drought tolerance in recombinant inbred line population derived from a chickpea cultivar ( arietinumL.) and its wild relative (C. reticulatum). Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants 28, 1437–1452. (NAAS rating: 8.39)
7. Kaur K, Sharma A, Mavi G S, Srivastava P, Kaur H, Sharma H, Singh S, Kushwah A, Sohu V S (2022) Biofortified wheat: Harnessing genetic diversity for improved nutritional quality to eradicate hidden hunger. Crop Science 62(2), 802-819. (NAAS rating 8.32)
8. Sarkar A, Sandhu S, Pal L, Kushwah A and Kumar M (2022) Productivity based assessment of tolerance to high plant density stress in tropical maize (Zea mays) inbred lines and their single cross hybrids. Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding 82(2): 153-160. (NAAS rating 6.51)
9. Kushwah A, Bhatia D, Singh I, Thudi M, Singh G, Bindra S, Vij S, Gill B S, Bharadwaj C, Singh S and Varshney R K (2021). Identification of stable heat tolerance QTLs using inter-specific recombinant inbred line population derived from GPF 2 and ILWC 292. PLoS ONE, 16(8): e0254957. (NAAS rating: 9.24)
10. Kushwah A, Bhatia D, Singh G, Singh I, Bindra S, Vij S and Singh S (2021) Phenotypic evaluation of genetic variability and selection of yield contributing traits in chickpea recombinant inbred line population under high temperature stress. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants, 27: 747-767. (NAAS rating: 8.39)
11. Bindra  S, Singh I, Singh S, Kushwah A, Gill B S, Salaria S, Kapoor K, Grewal S K, Bharadwaj C, Nayyar  H and Singh S (2021) Use of morpho-physiological and biochemical traits to identify sources of drought and heat tolerance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum) Crop and Pasture Science72(10), 801-814. (NAAS rating 8.29)
12. Kushwah A, Bhatia D, Rani U, Yadav I S, Singh I, Bharadwaj C and Singh S (2021) Molecular mapping of quantitative trait loci for ascochyta blight and botrytis grey mould resistance in an inter-specific cross in chickpea (Cicer arietinum ) using genotyping by sequencing. Breeding Science, 71(2): 229-239. (NAAS rating: 8.09)
13. Bindra S, Singh I, Gill B S, Grewal S K, Kaur J, Kaur L, Salaria S, Kaur A, Kushwah A, Srinivasan S and Singh S (2021) Inheritance and biochemical basis of yellowing of apical leaves: a unique trait in chickpea (Cicer arietinum). Journal of Genetics, 100: 53. (NAAS rating: 7.17)
14. Gupta S, Kushwah A, Singh A, Dikshit H K, Mishra G P, Aski M, and Bhowmik A (2021) Nutritional profiling and antioxidant assessment of Indian and exotic lentil accessions. Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding81(03), 440–449. (NAAS rating 6.51)
15. Johal N, Kaur J, Kushwah A and Singh S (2021) Correlation of stress indices with yield parameters in wild chickpea (Cicer arietinum) accessions under irrigated and rainfed conditions. Annals of Plant and Soil Research, 23(3): 334-340. (NAAS rating: 5.22)
16. Sandhu S, Kaur H, Sarkar A and Kushwah A (2021) Response of tropical maize inbred lines to high plant density stress in terms of grain yield and disease attributes. Maize Journal 10(2), 93-98. (NAAS rating 4.28)
17. Johal N, Kaur J, Grewal S K, Singh S and Kushwah A (2020) Physiological and biochemical responses of chickpea accessions at reproductive stage under receding moisture conditions. Agricultural Research 9(4):554–567. (NAAS rating: 5.95)
18. Johal N, Kaur J, Kushwah A and Singh S (2020) Comparative agroclimatic indices of desi and kabuli chickpea genotypes under irrigated and rainfed conditions. Journal of Food Legumes, 33(2): 77-81. (NAAS rating: 4.82)

Book Chapters:

1. Vij S, Sharma P, Salaria S, Yousuf N, Kushwah A, Tripathi K, Singh S (2024) Lentil Breeding. In:Kumar J, Sen Gupta D, Kumar S (eds.) The Lentil Genome, Genetics, Genomics and Breeding, pp 43-92, Elsevier Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-19409-2.00009-0
2. Kushwah A, Sharma SR, Choudhary KB and Vij S (2022) Advances in Male Sterility Systems and Hybrid Breeding in Rice. In: Bohra A, Parihar AK, Naik S, Chandra A (eds). Plant Male Sterility Systems for Accelerating Crop Improvement, pp. 17-41, Springer Nature, Singapore Pte Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-3808-5_2.
3. Garg T, Bajwa G S and Kushwah A (2021) Improved hybrids/ composites of maize for cultivation in Punjab. In: Sandhu S and Chawla J S (eds).  A Guide on Sustainable Maize Production, pp. 7-12, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
4. Kushwah A, Bindra S, Singh I, Dixit G P, Sharma P, Srinivasan S, Gaur P M and Singh S (2020) Advances in chickpea breeding and genomics for varietal development and trait improvement in India. In: Gosal S S, Wani S H (eds). Accelerated Plant Breeding, pp. 31–66, Springer Nature, Switzerland.
5. Kushwah A, Gupta S, Bindra S, Johal N, Singh I, Bharadwaj C, Dixit GP, Gaur PM, Nayyar H and Singh S (2020) Gene pyramiding and multiple character breeding. In: Singh M, editors. Chickpea: crop wild relatives for enhancing genetic gains. Elsevier Academic Press; p.131-165.
6. Sharma P, Singh I, Bohra A, Singh I P, Tiwari A, Sethi M, Kushwah A and Singh S (2020) Updates of Pigeonpea Breeding and Genomics for Yield Improvement in India. In: Gosal S S, Wani S H (eds). Accelerated Plant Breeding, pp. 109–141, Springer Nature, Switzerland.

Academic Programs (List of Courses with contents):

          Ph.D. courses: GPB 605- Genomics in Plant Breeding

          M.Sc. courses: GPB 512- Crop Breeding II (Rabi Crops)

          B.Sc. courses: PBG 302- Crop Improvement II (Rabi Crops)

                                    PBG 201- Fundamentals of Plant Breeding

                                    GPB 211- Fundamentals of Plant Breeding

PG Students currently working under my guidance: Three (Two M.Sc. and One Ph.D.)

Sandeep Singh (L-2022-A-277-M)       

Dharshan D  (L-2024-A-305-M)

Ph.D.: Sonam (L-2024-A-45-D)