Dr. Ashok Kumar Dhakad is a Tree Breeder at the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, where he has served as Scientist since 2016. He holds a Ph.D. in Forestry (Forest Botany) from Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, a M.Sc. in Forestry (Forest Tree Improvement) from PAU, and a B.Sc. in Forestry from Navsari Agricultural University, Gujarat. His expertise includes forest tree improvement, agroforestry, and silviculture, with a focus on developing climate-resilient, high-biomass genotypes. Dr. Dhakad has authored 84 publications, including 59 peer-reviewed research papers, 1 textbook, 2 book chapters, 4 manuals, 6 technical reports, and 8 extension publications. He is actively involved in teaching and mentoring UG and PG students, and in producing quality planting material from improved germplasm. His work contributes to sustainable forestry, ecological balance, and rural livelihood enhancement.

Research Interests: 

1. Genetic improvement for productivity in Populus, Eucalyptus, Melia & Nutritional values in Moringa
2. Applications of genetically improved germplasm in Silviculture and Agroforestry 
3. Clonal forestry in short rotation trees

Projects accomplished: 01 (as Co-PI)

Ongoing Projects: Nil

Selected Research Publications (maximum up to 5):

1. Dhakad AK, Kumar R, Choudhary R, Singh S, Khan S and Poonia PK (2025) Traditional to modern perspectives on Neem (Azadirachta indica): A gateway to bioactive compounds, sustainable agrochemicals and industrial applications. Industrial Crops & Products 231(2025) 12115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.121155 (NAAS Rating: 11.60, IF: 5.60)
2. Dhakad AK, Singh K, Oberoi HK, Chopra V and Sah JN (2024) Comparative investigation on nutritional values, bioactive compounds, antioxidant potential and mineral profiling in Moringa oleifera ecotypes affected with stage of leaf maturity stage. South African Journal of Botany 168: 227-235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2024.03.023 (NAAS Rating: 8.70, IF: 2.70).
3. Dhakad AK, Ikram M, Sharma S, Khan S, Pandey VV and Singh A (2019) Biological, nutritional and therapeutic significance of Moringa oleifera Lam. Phytotherapy Research 33: 2870-2903. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6475 (NAAS Rating 12.10, IF: 6.10)
4. Chauhan SK, Dhakad AK and Sharma R (2018) Growth dynamics of different half-sib families of Melia azedarach Linn. PLoS One 13(11): e0207121. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207121 (NAAS Rating: 8.90, IF: 2.90)
5. Singh A and Dhakad AK (2018) Growth prediction modeling for Eucalyptus hybrid in India. Journal of Tropical Forest Science 30(4): 576-587. https://doi.org/10.26525/jtfs2018.30.4.576587 (NAAS Rating: 6.60, IF: 0.60)

Awards/Honours/Distinctions: 

1. Selected as Member of Executive Committee, National Environmental Science Academy, New Delhi for 2019-2022 & 2022-2025.
2. Certificate of Appreciation (Letter No. 4335) for exceptional support during HUNAR-2024 (AIU’s 37th Inter-University National Youth Festival) from the Registrar, PAU, Ludhiana on April 19, 2024.
3. 1st Prize for Oral Presentation entitled “Performance of Moringa oleifera lam. accessions for nutritional and fodder values under Punjab conditions” in International Conference on Moringa, The Super Food, Research status, scope and way forward” organized by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University since 6th – 8th October, 2021.
4. Congratulatory letter 2020 & 2021 for my Moringa article (DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6475) for top 10% most downloaded papers in the 12-months and generated immediate impact and helped to raise the visibility of ‘Phytotherapy Research’, Wiley Online Library. 
5. Awarded with Adarsh Vidya Saraswati Rashtriya Puraskar – 2019 by Global Management Council, Ahmadabad, Gujarat since September 5, 2019.
6. Congratulatory letter 2018 & 2021 for my Eucalyptus article (DOI 10.1002/jsfa.8600) for highest downloads in the 12-months and generated immediate impact and helped to raise the visibility of ‘Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture’, Wiley Online Library. 
7. Awarded with Junior Scientist of the YearAward-2017 by National Environmental Science Academy, New Delhi since December 24, 2017.
8. Awarded with Merit Certificate by PAU Ludhiana for “having obtained an overall credit point average of 8.06 out of 10.00 in the M.Sc. in Forestry programme of the University in October 2013” since February 6, 2014.