Education:B.Sc., PAU, Ludhiana (2002); M.Sc., PAU, Ludhiana (2004); Ph.D., PAU, Ludhiana (2008)

Positions held:Millets Breeder, PAU Ludhiana (2010)

Field of Specialization:Maize Breeding and Genetics

Research Interests:

1. Development of high grain yielding varieties/hybrids with resistance to major diseases.

2. Development of short duration grain bajra varieties/hybrids

3. Development of dual purpose/forage bajravarieties/hybrids

4. Screening and development of material for resistance to blast and other diseases

5. Biofortification and nutritional enhancement of bajragenotypes with Fe and Zn along with suitability for value addition.

6. Development of high forage yielding Lucerne and sorghumvarieties/hybrids with resistance to major diseases and insect pests.

Research Projects:

Completed –

Ongoing

1. All India Coordinated Pearl Millet Improvement Project (PI)

2. Leveraging “MERA” (Millets for Encouraging Soil Restoration and Healthy Food Accessibility)Initiative for Boosting Farmers Livelihood and Consumer Health(Co-PI.)

Selected Research Publications (Best Publications last five years):

1. Daduwal H S, Bhardwaj R, Lamba J S, Yogesh V and Srivastava R K (2025). QTL mapping and candidate gene identification for fodder quality traits in Pearl millet.BMC Plant Biol 25 (1), 404  (NAAS rating: 10.30).

2. Bhardwaj Ruchika, Sohu R S and DhattA S (2025) Punjab’s Forgotten Grains: Revitalizing Millets for Sustainability and Health. Agric. Res. J. 62 (2): 235-245. (NAAS rating: 5.16).

3. Kaur Navdeep, Sohu R S, Bhardwaj R, Kaur Manjeet, Oberoi H K and Singh Tejinder (2025). Forage quality analysis in response to salt stress and plant maturity in Sorghum. Cereal Res Comms53: 399-408. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-024-00523-5. (NAAS rating: 7.60).

4. Daduwal H S, Bhardwaj R and Srivastava R K (2024) Pearl millet a promising fodder crop for changing climate: a review. TheorAppl Genet137, Article no. 169 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-024-04671-4(NAAS rating: 11.40).

5. Bhardwaj Ruchika, Singh Sarabjeet, SohuRabinder Singh and Oberoi Harpreet Kaur (2024). Studies on combining ability and heterosis in three-way hybrids in forage pearl millet. Range Management and Agroforestry44 (2): 255- 262. (NASS rating: 6.58).

6. Kaur H, Oberoi H K, Ganapathy K N and Bhardwaj, R. (2023). Effect of popping and malting processing techniques on physiochemical, antinutrients and antioxidant properties of millets flour. J Food Sci Tech, DOI:org/101007/s13197-023-05758-4 (NASS rating: 9.12).

7. Gupta S K, Govintharaj P and Bhardwaj R (2022) Three-Way Top-Cross Hybrids to Enhance Production of Forage with Improved Quality in Pearl Millet (Pennisetumglaucum (L.) R. Br.). Agriculture12 (1508): 1-16. (NAAS rating: 9.40)

8. Thakur K, Sharma S, Sharma R, Bhardwaj R, Sohu R S and Singh B (2023) Characterization of ozonated pearl millet and sorghum starches: pasting profile, functional properties, in vitro digestibility, molecular interactions and morphology. Starch Starke. https://doi.org/10.1002/star.202300020 (NAAS rating: 8.76).

9. Sarah M, Gupta Namarta, Kaur Nirmaljit, Bhardwaj Ruchika and Sharma Anju Bala (2022) Impact of Sclerosporagraminicola infection on physiological mechanisms and hormonal regulation of floral reversion in pearl millet [Pennisetumglaucum (L.) R. Br]. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 118 (101806):1-10 (NAAS rating: 7.65).

10. Reddy P Sanjana, Satyavathi C Tara, KhandelwalVikas, Patil H T, Gupta P C, Sharma L D, Mungra K D, Singh Sumer P, Narasimhulu R, Bhadarge H H, Iyanar K, Tripathi M K, Yadav Devvart, Bhardwaj Ruchika, Talwar A M, Tiwari V K, Kachole U G, Sravanti K, Priya M Shanthi, Athoni B K, Anuradha N, GovindarajMahalingam, Nepolean T and Tonapi Vilas A (2021) Performance and stability of pearl millet varieties for grain yield and micronutrients in arid and semi-arid regions of India. Frontiers Pl Sci 12:1-16. Doi:3369/fpls2021.670201. (NAAS rating: 4).

Awards/Honours/Distinctions:

• Recipient of certificate of appreciation for Excellent work in the discipline of Plant Breeding for the year 2021-2022 by ICAR-AICRP on Pearl Millet on March 3, 2022 during the 57th AGM on AICRP Pearl Millet.

• Recognized as Outstanding participant in 21 days training programme “Modern techniques and approaches in storage of harvested and processed plant and animal products” organized at ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana during June 11 to July 1, 2014.

• Recipient of Best Hostel Award for Hostel No. 10 as Assistant Warden for the Year 2016-2017awarded by Directorate of Students’ Welfare, PAU, Ludhiana.

• Recipient of Best Hostel Award for Hostel No. 10 as Assistant Warden for the Year 2018-2019 awarded by Directorate of Students’ Welfare, PAU, Ludhiana.

• Recipient of University Merit Scholarship in B.Sc. Agri. (Hons)

• Recipient of University Merit Fellowship in M.Sc. Plant Breeding and Genetics

• Recipient of University Merit Certificate in M.Sc. Plant Breeding and Genetics

• Recipient of University Merit Fellowship in Ph..D Plant Breeding and Genetics

Membership of professional societies:

1. Life membership of Crop ImprovementSocietyof India

2.Life membership of Indian Society of Forage Research

3.Life membership of Society of Millets Research