Dr. Bharathi Mohindru is currently working as Senior Entomologist in Apiculture

Unit, after joining PAU on 31.12.2008. She obtained her Master s degree in Entomology from Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad and Doctorate degree in Entomology from PAU, Ludhiana, respectively. During this period she worked as Assistant Professor at KVK, Nurmahal, District Extension Specialist at Farmers Advisory Service Centre, Jalandhar, PAU before joining the Department of Entomology, PAU Ludhiana as Entomologist. She has been attached with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s All India Coordinated Research Project (Honey Bees & Pollinators) at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana centre. She has handled two research projects funded by SERB, DST, New Delhi’ and ‘National Bee Board (NBB) New Delhi’ as PI. She is CoPI in various research projects sponsored by ICAR, DST and NBB. She is an expert in the field of Molecular Entomology and her focus is apiculture. She has 30 research papers to her credit.

She is conducting Basic and Advanced beekeeping training courses respectively for farmers & farm-women and progressive beekeepers & scientists of Punjab and other states. She has published more than 10 extension articles beekeeping.

She is teaching various courses at UG and PG levels specially the Management of Useful Insects and Molecular Techniques in Entomology and Apiculture course for M.Sc. students. She has guided 02 M.Sc. students.

She has the experience in molecular biology, commercial mass queen bee rearing, bee breeding, honey bee husbandry, managed bee pollination and bee products etc.

Professional Accomplishments Research Projects completed

1. Development of hygienic honey bee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) lines through selective bee breeding programme funded by SERB, DST in 2020 as PI

2. Development of quality queen bees of honey bee Apis mellifera‘ funded by NBB, New Delhi in 2022 as PI.

3. Facilitating honey bee health through diagnosing and managing various diseases of Italian honey bees funded by NBB, New Delhi in 2022 as Co- PI.

4. Winter school on Commercial Apiculture for Livelihood Security of Farmers and Unemployed Rural Youth’ funded by ICAR, New Delhi in 2022 as Co-coordinator

5. Setting up of Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre/ Centre of Excellence at PAU, Ludhiana funded by NBB, New Delhi in 2017 as Co-PI.

6. Unravelling the diversity of R genes against yellow mosaic disease in Vigna funded by SERB, DST in 2022 as Co-PI

Research Publications:

1. Bharathi Mohindru, Pardeep K Chhuneja & Jaspal Singh (2020) Validation of hygienic Apis mellifera L. colonies against Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman infestation. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 58: 656-660pp (NAAS rating 6.93)

2. Amit Choudhary, Bharathi Mohindru, Karedla Ashok Kumar, Jaspal Singh and Pardeep

1. Chhuneja (2022) Sub-lethal effects of thiamethoxam on Apis mellifera Linnaeus.

Toxin Reviews 41(3): 1044-57 (NAAS rating 10.27)

1. Kavita Bajaj, Pardeep Kumar Chhuneja, Jaspal Singh, Amit Choudhary and Bharathi Mohindru (2022) Assessment of Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab proteins in pollen of various transgenic cotton cultivars and effect on Apis mellifera L. colonies’ development. Journal of Entomological Research Ref. no.JER/2034/07/22 (Accepted) (NAAS rating 5.89)

2. Mohindru B and Chhuneja P K (2023) Differential expression of hygienic trait characteristics between hygienic and non-hygienic Apis mellifera Linnaeus colonies. Journal of Entomological Research 47 (1): 195-199 (NAAS rating 5.89)

3. Kaur M, Choudhary A, Mohindru B, Singh J, Dey D and Chhuneja P K (2024) Change in bee pollinators’ guild over the time in the Punjab: State under intensive agriculture. National Academy Science Letters 48: 265-268. (NAAS rating 7.30)

Awards and Recognitions:

• Best Research Centre Award: AICRP (HB&P) PAU Ludhiana Centre adjudged as Best Research Centre of ICAR’s AICRP (HB&P) during Annual Review Meetings at SKUAS&T- Jammu (8-9 Sept. 2022)

• Best Research Centre Award: AICRP (HB&P) PAU Ludhiana Centre adjudged as Best Research Centre of ICAR’s AICRP (HB&P) during Annual Review Meetings at GKVK Bengaluru (4-6 Sept. 2023).

• Best Presenting Centre Award: AICRP (HB&P) PAU Ludhiana Centre adjudged as Best Presenting Centre of ICAR’s AICRP (HB&P) during Annual Review Meeting at CSK HPKV, Palampur on 27-29 Sept. 2024

• Best Poster Award: Madaan A, Mohindru B, Choudhary A and Singh J. 2024 ‘Transmission of less stinging trait in Apis mellifera Linnaeus colonies through selective breeding’ presented as poster in International Conference (IESIC 2024) on “Transforming Agrifood Systems in the Face of Climate Changes and Energy Transitions organized jointly by PAU Ludhiana and Indian Ecological Society, Ludhiana

• 2nd Best Experiential Learning Unit of PAU: ELP on Commercial Apiculture has been adjudged as the 2nd Best ELP Unit of PAU for the year 2024-25