Dr Sarwan Kumar has completed his B.Sc. Agriculture (Honours in Plant Protection) in 1999, M.Sc. Entomology in 2001 from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and Ph.D. in Entomology in 2005 from CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. Since 2006, he is working on host plant resistance and insect-pest management in oilseed crops with particular focus on oilseed Brassica, insect-plant interactions and plant defense mechanisms. Over the years, he has contributed to several research projects funded by prestigious bodies Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) (PI, Entomology of the project at National level since 2015), BBSRC, UK, Department of Biotechnology, DBT, India and the Department of Science and Technology (DST-SERB) focusing on host plant resistance and integrated management of insect-pests in oilseed crops particularly oilseed Brassica. In winter 2018, he undertook a research fellowship at the University of Queensland, Australia (Australia Awards) to work on plant-pest-natural enemies’ tritrophic interactions in Brassica systems. Besides this, he has also worked in collaboration with University of York and Rothamsted Research on project related to the genomic improvement in mustard rape. He has delivered invited lectures and presented his research at various international fora, including the International Rapeseed Congresses in Prague, Saskatoon, Berlin and Sydney. He is also Chief Editor of Agricultural Research Journal published by PAU.

Professional Accomplishments:

Selected Publications:

1. Sharma, S., Rani, H., Kaur, G. Kumar S, Sheikh S and Samota MK 2025. Comprehensive overview of glucosinolates in crucifers: occurrence, roles, metabolism, and transport mechanisms—a review. Phytochem Rev24, 2417–2444. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-024-10021-5
2. Palial S, Kumar, S., Atri C, Sharma S and Banga SS. 2022. Antixenosis and antibiosis mechanisms of resistance to turnip aphid, Lipaphiserysimi (Kaltenbach) in Brassica juncea-fruticulosaintrogression lines. Journal of Pest Science 95:749-760. doi: 10.1007/s10340-021-01418-8
3. Agrawal N, Gupta M, Atri C, Akhatar J, Kumar S, Heslop-Harrison PJS, Banga SS. 2021. Anchoring alien chromosome segment substitutions bearing gene(s) for resistance to mustard aphid in Brassica juncea-B. fruticulosa introgression lines and their possible disruption through gamma irradiation. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 2021 Oct; 134(10):3209-3224doi: 10.1007/s00122-021-03886-z
4. Sharma S, Kumar S, Kaur G and Banga SS. 2022. Floral volatiles may influence honey bee visitations in oilseed Brassica species. Journal of Crop Improvement (Taylor and Francis) 37(1): 119-139. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427528.2022.2059604
5. Palial, S., Kumar, S. and Sharma, S. 2018. Biochemical changes in the Brassica juncea-fruticulosa introgression lines after Lipaphiserysimi (Kaltenbach) infestation.Phytoparasitica(Springer Netherlands), 46: 499-509. DOI: 1007/s12600-018-0686-2
6. Kumar, S. Potential of Ethiopian mustard, Brassica carinataas a trap crop for large white butterfly, Pieris brassicaeinfesting Indian mustard, Brassica juncea. Journal of Pest Science (Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg). 90:129-137. DOI 10.1007/s10340-016-0771-6
7. Atri, C., Kumar, B., Kumar, H., Kumar, S., Sharma, S. and Banga, S.S. 2012. Development and characterization of Brassica juncea-fruticulosaintrogression lines exhibiting resistance to mustard aphid, Lipaphiserysimi(Kalt.). BMC Genetics 13:104, doi: 10.1186/1471-2156-13-104
8. Kumar S., Atri C., Sangha M. K. and Banga S. S. 2011. Screening of wild crucifers for resistance to mustard aphid, Lipaphiserysimi(Kaltenbach) and attempt at introgression of resistance gene(s) from Brassica fruticulosa to Brassica juncea. Euphytica179 (3): 461-470. DOI 10.1007/s10681-011-0351-z

Book Chapters:

1. Kaur, G., Rajarammohan, S., Kumar, S., Verma R., Kaur, G., Kaur, J., Gajbhiye S., Dixit, S. and Kaur, J. 2022. Genomic designing for biotic stress resistance in rape and mustard. In: Kole, C. (ed.) Genomic designing for biotic stress resistant oilseed crops. Springer Nature, Switzerland, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91035-8_5
2. Kumar, S. Aphid-plant interactions: Implications for pest management. In: Manuel Oliveira, Anabela Fernandes-Silva and Feyza Candan 2020. Plant Communities and their environment. Intech Open UK. DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.84302
3. Kumar, S. and Banga, S.S. 2017. Breeding for aphid resistance in rapeseed-mustard. In: Arora, R. and Sandhu, S. (eds.) Breeding Insect Resistant Crops for Sustainable Agriculture. SpringerNature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017, pp. 171-199, DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-6056-4_6.
4. Kumar, S. and Singh, Y.P. 2015. Insect Pests. In: Kumar, A., Banga, S.S., Meena, P.D. and Kumar, P.R. (eds.) Brassica Oilseeds Breeding and Management. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK 193-232. ISBN: 9781780644837
5. Kumar, S. Management of Insect Pests of Oilseed Crops. In: Arora, R., Singh, B. and Dhawan, A.K. (Eds.) Theory and Practice of Integrated Pest Management, Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur, India, pp. 443-453.

Projects:

• All India Coordinated Research Project on Rapeseed Mustard funded by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi (PI of the Entomology component).
• Marker assisted stacking of genes associated with seed quality and aphid resistance in high yielding mustard cultivars’ funded by DST-SERB, India

Awards/Honours/Distinctions

• Australia Awards: Endeavour Research Fellowship, Government of Australia.
• Best centre award (Team Award) at National Level under AICRP on Rapeseed-Mustard for best performing centre for the year 2010-11 by ICAR-Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research, Bharatpur, Rajasthan
• Fellow, Indian Society of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad.
• Dr Dalbir Singh Sohi Merit Scholarship in UG.

Editor, Journal of Oilseed Brassica