Dr.RenuKhannajoined Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, on July 5, 2010, as an Assistant Geneticist in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics. Shortly thereafter, she assumed the role of Assistant Plant Breeder under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Rice. She holds a B.Sc. (Medical) from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (2006), a M.Sc. in Genetics from PAU, Ludhiana (1998), and completed her Ph.D. in Genetics from PAU in 2002. She has published approximately 65 research papers in reputed national and international peer-reviewed journals, along with three book chapters. She is an active member of various professional societies and has contributed significantly to
research and academic mentoring. She has guided three M.Sc. and one Ph.D. student, and is currently supervising one M.Sc. and two Ph.D. students as Major Advisor. Her research focuses on rice breeding using both conventional and molecular techniques. Her primary interests include the development of early-maturing, high-yielding rice varieties with multiple stress tolerance, improved resource-use efficiency, and superior milling quality. Dr.RenuKhanna has played a pivotal role in the development and release of five non-basmati and three basmati rice varieties. Additionally, she is involved in the evaluation of 12 non-basmati and basmati rice varieties. As part of a research team, she has contributed to the identification and designation of three new resistance genes: bph42, Bph46, and xa49.
Professional Accomplishments
Research Projects (Ongoing)
1. All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project
2. Targeted breeding for disaster risk mitigation in wheat (drought and pre-harvest sprouting) and rice (submergence and drought) funded by State Disaster Risk Management Authority, Govt. of Punjab (as PI)
3. Incentivizing Research in Agriculture: Molecular genetic analysis of resistance/ tolerance to different stresses in rice. Project sub- title: Identification and mapping of sheath blight and false smut resistance QTL in rice and their utilization in developing resistant cultivars funded by ICAR, New Delhi (as Co-PI)
4. Consortia for Research Platform on Hybrid Technology for high productivity in selected field and horticultural crops- Rice funded by ICAR, New Delhi (as Co-PI)
5. Mainstreaming rice landraces diversity in varietal development through genomic predictions: A model for large-scale utilization of gene bank collections of rice funded by DBT, New Delhi (as Co-PI)
6. Dry Direct Seeded Rice for the Indo-Gangetic Plains of India (Plant Direct) funded by Bill & Melinda Gates (as Co-PI)
Research Projects (completed)
1.
One IRRI–NARES breeding network (Accelerated genetic gains in rice alliance) funded by Bill & Melinda Gates (as Co-PI)
2.
Addressing food security through Nutritionally enriched improved cutivars and technologies for Swasth Bharat under PURSE programme funded by DST, New Delhi (as Co-PI)
3.
Pyramiding of genes contributing to the resistance to Brown Plant Hopper (Biotype 4 ) in rice funded by DBT, New Delhi (as Co-PI)
4. NAHEP-CAAST Project on Natural Resources Management for Sustainable Agriculture funded by ICAR, New Delhi (as Co-PI)
5.
Marker assisted introgression of different traits to develop new generation rice varieties funded by DBT, New Delhi (as Co-PI)
Research Publications:
1. Bhatia SK, Vikal Y, Kaur P, Dhillon GS, Kaur G, Neelam K, Malik P, Lore JS, Khanna R, Singh K. (2024) Introgression and Mapping of a Novel Bacterial Blight Resistance Gene xa49(t) from Oryzarufipogon acc. CR100098A into O. sativa. Phytopathology. Nov;114(11):2412-2420. doi: 10.1094/PHYTO-02-24-0061-R
2.
KaurPavneet, KumariNeelam, SaraoPreetinder S, SainiNavneet S, DhirYashikaWalia, Khanna R, VikalYogesh, SinghKuldeep (2024) Mapping of a novel recessive brown planthopper
resistancegenebph46 from wild rice (Oryzanivara). Euphytica220:61 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-024-03316-3(NAAS Rating: 7.90)
3. Sumuni, S.M., Kaur, R., Kaur, R, Khanna R, Kaur K, Lore J S, Singh G, Chahal R K and Mangat G S (2023) Multivariate analysis for morpho-physiological and milling traits along with molecular profiling of known bacterial blight resistance genes in advanced breeding lines of rice. Cereal Research Communications: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-023-00412-3 (NAAS Rating: 7.24)
4.
Singh G, Kaur N, Khanna R, Kaur R, Gudi S, Kaur R, Sidhu N, Vikal Y, Mangat GS. 2022 2Gs and plant architecture: breaking grain yield ceiling through breeding approaches for next wave of revolution in rice (Oryzasativa L.). Crit Rev Biotechnol. Sep 29:1-24. doi: 10.1080/07388551.2022.2112648. (NAAS rating: 14.43)
5.
Kaur P, KumariNeelam, Sarao P S, Babbar A, Kishor Kumar, Vikal Y, Khanna R, Kaur R, Mangat G S, Singh K 2022 Molecular mapping and transfer of a novel brown planthopper resistance gene bph42 from Oryzarufpogon (Grif.) to cultivated rice (Oryzasativa L.). Molecular Biology Reports, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-022-07692-8 (NAAS rating:8.32)
6.
Singh Sukhdeep, KhannaRenu, Sarao P S, SidhuNavjot, KaurRupinder (2018) New sources of resistance against brown planthopper (NilaparvatalugensStal.). Indian Journal of Entomology80:1626http://dx.doi.org/10.5958/0974-8172.2018.00265.1. (NAAS: 5.89)
7.
Brar R. S., Gill R. S., Lore J. S. and Khanna R (2017) Molecular screening of hybrid rice parental lines for bacterial blight resistance genes. Indian Phytopath. 70 (3): 282-286 (NAAS 5.90).
8.
Bansal U K, Hayden M J, Venkata B P, Khanna R, Saini R G and Bariana H S 2008. Genetic mapping of adult plant leaf rust resistance genes Lr48 and Lr49 in commonwheat. TheorAppl Genet117: 307-312. (NAAS rating =9.79)
9.
Bansal U K, Saini R G and Khanna R 2008. Inheritance of leaf rust resistance in Chinese Spring stocks with a Triticumspeltoides chromosome segment carrying the gene Lr28. Journal Applied Genetics49:141-45 (NAAS rating =7.48)
10.
Khanna R, Bansal U K and Saini R G 2005. Genetics of adult plant stripe rust resistance in CSP44, a selection from Australian wheat. Journal of Genetics84: 337-40. (NAAS rating =7.09)
Book chapter
1. Bhatia D and Khanna R (2022) Genomic Technologies in Insect Pest Resistance for sustainable rice production. In Book eds (Tanda AS) entitled “Molecular advances in Insect Resistance of Field Crops. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-92152-1_9
2.
Sharma Neerja and KhannaRenu 2019. Rice grain quality: current developments and future prospects In: Recent Advances in Grain Crops Research/ IntechOpen/ UK. DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.89367
3.
Saini R.G. and Khanna R 2008. Genetic control of wheat rusts in the Indian sub-continent. In: Crop Improvement: Strategies and Applications (R.C. Setia, Harsh Nayyar and NeelamSetia eds.), I.K. International Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, pp 105-118
Awards and Recognitions:
•
Rice Research Team got the Overall second Best AICRPR Center Award by ICAR during the year 2023-24 at the 59th ARGM Workshop Group Meeting held on April 24-26, 2024 at NAASC, New Delhi
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Received Appreciation Certificate for teaching work from Dean, College of Agriculture on October 12, 2023.
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Best AICRIP Breeding Centre Award-2016 (Plaque and Certificate) at 52 nd Annual Rice Research Group Meeting held at AAU, Jorhat
•
Golden Jubilee AICRIP Team award -2015 (Plaque and Certificate-team award) from Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad
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Certificate of Excellence and best All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project Centre Award-2012 (Plaque and Certificate-team award by Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad)