In December 2002, DrRajinder Kumar Dhall joined Punjab Agricultural University as District Extension Specialist and presently he is working as Principal Olericulturist.  Dr.Rajinder Kumar Dhall has developed four varieties of pea (Matar Ageta-7, AP-3, Matar Ageta-8, Punjab-90), one of garlic (PG-18), one of Chinese cabbage (saagsarson) and three of parthenocarpic cucumber (Variety: Punjab Kheera-1, PBRK-11 and Hybrid: PKH-11). Besides, he standardized six production technologies on pea, garlic, cucumber and post-harvest technologies for inclusion in the Package of Practices for Vegetable Crops. He had handled eight research project (three adhoc and five State Govt.) and also handling one DBT funded sub-projects on pea along with state and AICRP project on cucumber and pea. He has commercialized parthenocarpic cucumber variety “Punjab Kheera-1” and hybrid “PKH-11” through MOA’s with three private seed companies. He is chairman of Research Committee of the department from 2019 to till date. 

Dr Dhall has published 115 research papers in national and international journals having more than total citations of 2390, h-index of 20 and i-10 index of 35. He also published one book on post-harvest handling of vegetable, four handbooks; seven book chapters; five teaching manuals, three extension bulletins and more than 150 extension articles. He is member of five professional societies and has guided three Ph.D, 16 M.Sc, 10 B.Sc (Hort.), 12 B.Sc (Agri), 20 B.Tech (FT) students and presently guiding two M.Sc, four Ph.D and 10 B.Sc (Hort) students as Major Advisor. He is teaching courses of vegetable production, vegetable breeding and post-harvest handling of fruits and vegetables to under-graduate and post-graduate students from last 15 years. He has delivered 250 lectures to the farmers through various extension education training programmes, conducted 22 on farm demonstrations, delivered 25 TV/Radio talks, arranged 60 exhibitions in Kisanmelas/Workshops etc and organized 38 training camps and 14 field days. 

He has also worked as ‘Visiting Research Scientist’ at University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA for six months during 2012 and also attended training in Israel. He has received Hans Raj Pahwa Award for Research Contribution in Horticulture for the biennial 2016-17 from PAU, Ludhiana; Fellow Award from Indian Society of Vegetable Science, Varanasi in 2021 and Fellow Award from Society of Plant Research, Greater Noida in 2025. He acted as international reviewer of more than 100 research papers (verified by Clarivate Analytics recognition) and acted as expert for Plant Germplasm Registration by NBPGR, New Delhi for more than 60 accessions

Research Interest:

1. Molecular mapping and transfer of novel gene(s) for earliness, mono-picking, powdery mildew and rust resistance in garden pea (Pisumsativum L.);  Development of improved varieties of pea  

1. Molecular mapping and transfer of parthenocarpy, gynoecious and virus resistance traits traits in cucumber (Cucumissativus L.); Development of parthenocarpic and gynoecious based cucumber varieties/hybrids 

1. Development of improved varieties of turnip, Chinese cabbage and beet root

Project Accomplished

1. 1. Molecular mapping and transfer of parthenocarpy trait in desi cucumber (Cucumissativus L.) from 2021 to 2024 from DBT, New Delhi 
   2. Addressing food security through nutritionally enriched improved cultivars and technologies for Swasth Bharat from 2018 to 2023 funded by PURSE (DST), New Delhi.
   3. Development of mono-picking pea variety for mechanical harvesting and processing from 2015 to 2018 funded by UGC, New Delhi 
   4. Extension, Quality Awareness and Market Lead Extension Activities for Fresh Processed Products from April 2007 to March 2008 funded by National Horticulture Mission, New Delhi. Testing of coating material for enhancing the shelf life of mango in 2008 by United Phosphorus Limited, Mumbai. 

• Standardization of safe techniques for ripening and enhancing shelf life of fruits and vegetables  (RDF-38) from April 2010 to March 2012 from Punjab Rural Development Board, Chandigarh.

On Going Projects:

1. Development and integration of advanced genomic technologies for targeted breeding.Sub-project: Molecular mapping and transfer of novel gene(s) for earliness, mono-picking, powdery mildew and rust resistance in garden pea (Pisumsativum L.) from 2022 to 2027 funded by DBT, New Delhi.

Selected Research Publication

1. Dhall R K (2013) Advances in edible coatings for fresh fruits and vegetables: A Review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 53 (5): 435-450.https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2010.541568(NAAS rating: 14.80/ IF 8.80)
2. Singathiya P, Dhall RK, Manchanda P, Kumari P, Lnu R, Praveen S (2025) Utilizing parthenocarpic gynoecious beit alpha cucumber inbreds for their heterotic potential under different poly-net house environments. Scientific Reports15(1):11617. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87507-5(NAAS rating: 11.00/ IF 5.00)

1. Kaur H, Manchanda P, Kumar P, Dhall R K, Chhuneja, P and Weng Y (2023) Genome-wide identification and characterization of parthenocarpic fruit set-related gene homologs in cucumber (Cucumissativus L.). Scientific Reports 13(1): 2403. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29660-3. (NAAS rating: 11.00/ IF 5.00)
2. Dhall R K, Kaur H, Manchanda P (2023) Genetics and marker-assisted breeding for sex expression in cucumber. Frontiers in Genetics 14: 1180083.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2023.1180083 (NAAS rating: 10.77/ IF 4.77)
3. Dhall R K, Kaur R, Sharma P, Singh H, Yadav S, Kumari P (2023) Standardized agronomic practices for mechanical harvesting of the single-harvest garden pea in India. Heliyon e22616;https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22616(NAAS rating: 10.00/ IF 4.00)

Awards and honors

1. Received Fellow Award from Society of Plant Research, Greater Noida in June 2025.
2. Received Hans Raj Pahwa Award for Research Contribution in Horticulture for the biennial 2016-17 fromPunjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
3. Received Fellow Award of Indian Society of Vegetable Science-2021 from Indian Society of Vegetable Science, Varanasi.
4. Awarded Fellowship for advance training on “Intensive Vegetable Production and modern irrigation technologies “from Jan 29 to Feb 16, 2018 from International Agricultural Training Center, Shefayim, Israel (MATC- MASHAV’s, Israel).
5. Received Young Scientist Award in Horticulture during 2011 fromSardarVallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut.
6. Received Best poster presentation award for “Bulked-segregant analysis coupled with whole genome sequencing (BSA-Seq) identifies a major QTL for earliness in garden pea” in 2024 at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
7. Received Best poster presentation award for “Identification and quantification of novel sources of resistance in elite pea genotypes against Ascochyta Blight complex” in 2022 at SKNAU, Jobner-Jaipur, Rajasthan.
8. Received Best poster presentation award for “Identification and quantification of novel sources of resistance in elite pea genotypes against Ascochyta Blight complex” in 2022 at SKNAU, Jobner-Jaipur, Rajasthan
9. ReceivedIst best paper award for poster presentation on “Effect of ethephon and ethylene gas on ripening and quality of detahed winter tomato” in 2011 at Jawaharlal Nehru KrishiVishwaVidyalaya, Jabalpur
10. Received IIndbest paper award for poster presentation on, “Determination of garden pea genotypes resistance to powdery mildew in sub-tropical plains of Punjab” in 2011 at Jawaharlal Nehru KrishiVishwaVidyalaya, Jabalpur