Dr. Harleen Kaur, is currently serving as Principal Pathologist in Maize section, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, and brings over 21 years of research and academic service in the field of plant pathology, with specialized expertise in maize diseases, etiology, epidemiology and integrated disease management. She obtained her B.Sc. Agriculture (Hons.) in 2001, M.Sc. in Plant Pathology in 2003, and Ph.D. in Plant Pathology in 2012, all from PAU. Dr.Kaur’s research focuses on the etiology, epidemiology, characterization, and management of maize fungal diseases such as banded leaf and sheath blight, maydis leaf blight, post flowering stalk rots and ear rots and bacterial diseases viz; bacterial stalk rot and leaf streak of maize. She has played a pivotal role in the release of several disease-resistant maize hybrids, developed eco-friendly and chemical management strategies for major maize diseases and identified resistant inbred lines registered with ICAR. Dr. Kaur has attended numerous national training programmes, collaborated across disciplines, and earned awards for her research presentations, along with being part of national maize monitoring teams. She has an extensive publication record, including high-impact research papers and has contributed significantly in advancing maize pathology, sustainable maize protection, and integrated disease management.

Awards/Honours/Distinctions

• MTAI Fellow (2024)
• Secured highest OCPA (8.86) in Ph.D. Plant Pathology (2009-2012)
• Secured highest OCPA (8.81) in M.Sc. Plant Pathology (2001-2003)
• Secured third highest OCPA (8.61) in B.Sc. Agri. (Hons.) programme (1997-2001)
• Merit Fellowship during M.Sc. (Plant Pathology) and B.Sc. Agri. (Hons.) Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India

Professional Accomplishments

Research Projects completed

• Characterization, population dynamics and management of Rhizoctonia in different cropping systems. ICAR New Delhi.
• Development of IDM Strategy for maydis leaf blight and banded leaf and sheath blight of maize.
• Identification of stable sources of resistance to major diseases of maize.

Research Projects in hand

• All India Coordinated Maize Improvement Project (ICAR-4)
• Breeding maize for high yield and stress tolerance for cultivation in kharif and spring seasons
• Consortium Research Platform on Agro Biodiversity Project (CRPAB) to identify sources of resistance to major diseases of maize
• Mapping and identification of candidate genes for Fusarium ear rot resistance and fumonisin contamination in maize  
• Evaluation of maize hybrids during Kharif and spring season developed by private sector at PAU, Ludhiana

Research Publications:

1. Singh H, Kaur H, Hunjan MS and Sharma S (2025) Unveiling toxigenic Fusariumspecies causing maize ear rot: insights into fumonisin production potential.  Plant Sci. 16:1516644. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1516644   (Naas rating:10.10)
2. Ramana DV, Karjagi CG, Reddy AV, Yathish KR, Raju MR, Kumari PL, KaurHarleen,Debnath S, Singh RP, Chandra PB, Gogoi R, Hooda KS, Kumar O, Kumari J, Jacob SR, Pandey S and Rakshit S (2025) Studies on combining ability for grain yield and resistance to banded leaf and sheath blight disease in maize (Zea mays) improvement. Indian J Genet Plant Breed85(2): 243-250. (NAAS rating: 7.0).
3. Nisa WU, Sandhu SK, KaurHarleen, Nair S and Singh G (2024). Assessing genotype-by-environment interactions for maydis leaf blight disease in maize (Zea mays) germplasm and identification of stable donors for breeding resistant hybrid varieties. Plant Genetic Resources: Characterization and Utilization1–8.https://doi.org/10.1017/S1479262124000546. (NAAS Rating-7.20)
4. Nisa W, Sandhu S, Nair SK, KaurH , Kumar A , Rashid Z, Saykhedkar G and Vikal Y (2024) Insights into maydis leaf blight resistance in maize: a comprehensive genome-wide association study in sub-tropics of India. BMC Genomics25: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-024-10655-x. (NAAS Rating-9.50)
5. Hooda KS, Karjagi CG, KaurHarleen, Singh H, Ghosh A, Srivastava S, Joshi D, Gogoi R, Jakhar P, Rachel S J, Kumari J, Pandey S, Singh I, Gautam RK and Kumar A (2024) Evaluation of maize germplasm for resistance to maydis leaf blight of maize (Zea mays). Indian J Genet Plant Breed 84(4): 652-658. https://doi.org/10.31742/ISGPB.84.4.16. (NAAS Rating-7.0)
6. Kumar S, KaurHarleen, Hunjan MS and KaurTarandeep (2023) Alternative management practices for the control of banded leaf and sheath blight incited by Rhizoctoniasolanisp. sasakii(Kuhn) Exner in maize in North Western India. Tropical Plant Pathology.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s40858-023-00604-6 (NAAS Rating-8.40)
7. Aggarwal SK, Hooda KS, KaurHarleen, Gogoi R, Chauhan P, Bagaria PK, Kumar P, Choudhary M, Tiwari RK and Lal MK (2023) Comparative evaluation of management modules against Maydis leaf blight disease in maize (Zea mays). Eur J Plant Pathol(Online published).https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-023-02777-x (NAAS Rating-8.22)
8. SahniTanvi, Sharma Sunita, VermaDiksha, KaurHarleen and Kumar Sachin (2023) Exploration of novel syringic esters as antifungal agent against phytopathogenic fungi of maize: Structure‐activity studies. Journal of Basic Microbiology DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jobm.202300040. (NAAS Rating-8.65)
9. Kumar Sanjay, KaurHarleen, Hunjan MS, Kaur K (2023) Biochemical changes induced in the maize leaf sheath upon inoculation with Rhizoctoniasolaniincitant of banded leaf and sheath blight. Cereal Research Communications 51: 413-423 https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-022-00310-0. (NAAS Rating-7.24)
10. KaurPrabhmeet, KaurGurwinder, Kyum Mohammad, KaurShabneek, BainsSutej, Sharma Priti, KaurHarleen, Sandhu SK and VikalYogesh (2022) Marker-assisted pyramiding of southern leaf blight resistance QTLs qSLB3.1 and qSLB8.1 in maize (Zea mays). Indian J AgriSci  92: 1437–1442. (NAAS Rating-6.37)
11. VermaDiksha, Sharma S, SahniTanvi, KaurHarleen and Kaur S (2022) Designing, antifungal and structure activity relationship studies of Azomethines and β-lactam derivatives of aza heterocyclic amines. Journal of Indian Chemical Society99(8):100587 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jics.2022.100587. (NAAS Rating-6.24)
12. VermaDiksha, Sharma Sunita, SahniTanvi and KaurHarleen (2022) Designing, characterization, and antifungal evaluation of aza heterocyclic azo compounds and their derivatives. Indian Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry32 (1):125-134 (NAAS Rating-6.31)
13. SahniTanvi, Sharma Sunita, VermaDiksha, KaurHarleen and Kaur A (2022) Synthesis and in vitrofungitoxic evaluation of syringaldehydeschiff bases and β-lactams. Organic Preparations and Procedures International. 54(5): 1-10 DOI: 1080/00304948.2022.2057142 (NAAS Rating-7.18)
14. Kumar S, Kaur H and Hunjan MS (2021) Genetic diversity and virulence spectrum of Rhizoctoniasolani, the incitant of banded leaf and sheath blight of maize. Journal of Phytopathology https://doi.org/10.1111/ jph.13004 (NAAS Rating-7.18)

15. Singh R, Sharma Sunita, Kaur P, KaurGurinderjit and KaurHarleen (2021) Synthesis and fungitoxic evaluation of acylamino-1,2,4-triazoles. Indian Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry 31(3): 389-395. https://connectjournals.com/ 01951.2021.31.1 (NAAS Rating-6.31)
16. KaurHarneet, Bhardwaj U, Kaur R and KaurHarleen (2021) Chemical composition and antifungal potential of Citronella (Cymbopogonnardus) leaves essential oil and its major compounds. Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants 24:3, 571-81. DOI: 10.1080/0972060X.2021.1942231. (NAAS rating: 6.82).
17. ZerkaRashid ,HarleenKaur, VeerendraBabu, Pradeep Kumar Singh, Sharanappa I. Harlapur and Sudha K. Nair (2021) Identification and validation of genomic regions associated with charcoal rot resistance in tropical maize by genome-wide association and linkage mapping. Frontiers in Plant Science.https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.726767 (NAAS Rating-12.63)
18. KaurVishaldeep, KaurRamandeep, BhardwajUrvashi andKaurHarleen (2021)Antifungal potential of dill (Anethumgraveolens) seed essential oil, its extracts and components against phytopathogenic maize fungi. J Essent Oil-Bear Plants 24: 1333-1348. DOI: 10.1080/0972060X.2022.2026252. (NAAS Rating-7.97)

Courses presently associated with:

PG courses-

• Path. 515 Diseases of Field and Medicinal Plants (2+1)
• Pl Path 516 Diseases of Fruits, Plantation and Ornamental Crops (2+1)
• Path. 691 Seminar (0+1)

UG courses–

• Ent-Pl. Path. 202Principles of Integrated Pest and Disease Management (2+1)

PG students currently working in my lab as Major advisors

• D.- Ms. SakshiSuchita (L-2021-A-62-D)
• D.- Ms. AayushiChambial(L-2024-A-62-D)
• Sc.- Ms. GurleenKaur(L-2024-A-093-M)