Dr. Manmohan Dhkal joined PAU as Plant Pathologist on 31.12.2018 after completing BSc (Agriculture) from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana in 2013, M. Sc (Plant Pathology) from PAU in 2015 and Ph.D (Plant Pathology) from PAU in 2018. He worked as Plant Pathologist in the School of Organic Farming from 31-8-2018 to 05-01-2022 and then he joined Department of Plant Pathology on 05-01-2022 to till now. His field of specialization is Plant Virology. He has completed one project funded by DBT as Co-PI in 2021 and one project funded by NHM in 2024. Currently he is handling one project funded by DBT as Co-PI. He is currently guiding two M. Sc students as major advisor, published 17 research papers in national and international journals and presented six papers in national and international conferences, given 14 recommendations of different crop production and protection technologies that were included in the package and practice for different crop plants. He has delivered 53 lectures to guide farmers regarding disease management under organic farming system and virus diseases of different crop plants. He also submitted 82 gene sequences of different plant pathogens in NCBI database. 

Research Projects completed

1. “Establishment of Biotech-KISAN Hub at PAU Ludhiana” funded by DBT in 2019 as Co-PI  
2. “Rejuvenation of declining orchards “funded by NABARD in 2022 as Co-PI.

Research Projects Currently Handling

• “Identification of genes/QTL for resistance to citrus greening and Xcc-mediated agroinfiltration  for  Juvenility reduction in citrus” funded by DBT in 2022 as Co-PI  

Research Publications:

1. Kuppuraj J, Krishnan N, Sirari A, Bharathi M and Dhkal M (2025). Variability infection mechanisms of mungbean yellow mosaic India virus in diverse Vigna species: New insights from differential gene expression. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants 31(1): 153-162. (NAAS rating: 9.4).
2. Dhkal M and Sharma A (2023). Incidence and Occurrence of viruses infecting cucurbits in Punjab. Agriculture Research Journal 60(4): 540-544. (NAAS rating: 5.44).
3. Hunjan M S, Dhkal M, Katoch S, Suri K S, Jindal V, Kaur Y, Kooner R, Lore J S, Pannu P P S and Mangat G S (2022). First report of southern rice black streaked dwarf virus associated with rice dwarf symptoms in Indian Punjab. Plant Disease Research 37(2): 198-202. (NAAS rating: 4.76). 
4. Dhkal M, Sharma A and Sharma S P (2022). Bio stimulants an important non chemical alternative to pesticides for management of virus disease in Muskmelon. Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control 32 (61): doi:10.1186/s41938-022-00560-4. (NAAS rating: 8.00, Impact factor: 1.995).
5. Dhkal M, Sharma A and Sharma S P (2022) Identification of resistance source and monogenic dominant nature of resistance to tomato leaf curl Palampur virus in melons. Phytoparasitica 50: 757-767. (NAAS rating: 7.44, Impact factor: 1.439).
6. Dhkal M, Sharma A and Kaur G (2020) First report of tomato leaf curl Palampur virus infecting muskmelon in India. Journal of Plant Pathology 102: 1367. (NAAS: 6.86, Impact Factor: 1.152).
7. Dhkal M, Sharma A and Kaur G (2020) First report of tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus infecting Tinda (Benincasa fistulosa) in India. Journal of Plant Pathology 103: 339. (NAAS: 6.86, Impact Factor: 1.152)

Awards and Recognitions:

1. Baba Ganga Singh Memorial Innovation Award in Ph.D.
2. “Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE)” fellowship from DST during Ph.D.
3. Dr Avtar Singh Atwal Gold medal for the best thesis in M.Sc.
4. Bharti Field Fresh Fellowship During M.Sc.
5. University merit scholarship during B.Sc.