Field of Specialization: Maize Breeding and Genetics

Research Interests:

1. Development of high yielding short maturity maize cultivars
2. Development of male sterility based high yielding baby corn hybrids
3. Maize breeding for improved abiotic stress (water logging) tolerance
4. Genomics assisted breeding for developing maize hybrids tolerant to insects and diseases
5. Biofortification and nutritional enhancement of maize 

Research Projects:

Ongoing

1. Genomic assisted breeding for plant type suited to high plant density and tolerance to water logging in maize (Co.P.I.)

Faculty Profile: Dr. Tosh Garg is a Maize Breeder at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, specializing in Maize Breeding and Genetics. Since joining PAU in 2013, he has focused on developing high-yielding, short-maturity maize cultivars and male-sterility-based baby corn hybrids. He has involved in development of 19 maize varieties including field corn, fodder and speciality corn. His research also targets improved abiotic stress tolerance, particularly waterlogging, and the use of genomics-assisted breeding to develop hybrids resistant to insect-pests and diseases. He has published more than 30 research papers in journals of International and National repute.  He has guided three postgraduate students and teaches four courses across undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

Selected Research Publications (Last five years best publications):

1. Thapa, S., Garg, T., Ranjan, R., Singh, G., &Vikal, Y. (2025). Efficient and rapid identification of tropical maize inbred lines tolerant to waterlogging stress. Scientific Reports, 15(2600). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86886-z(NAAS rating: 9.8)
2. Kumar, S., Ranjan, R., Garg, T., Vikal, Y., Das, A., Sandhu, S. K., Kushwah, A., & Singh, S. (2025). Stress indices: Exploring the selection tool for waterlogging-tolerant maize inbred lines in early segregating generations. Maydica, 67(3), M-30. .(NAAS rating: 6.4)
3. Kaur, K., Cheema, H. K., Jindal, J., Garg, T., Singh, G., &Atri, A. (2024). Categorization of resistance against the fall armyworm, Spodopterafrugiperda (J.E. Smith) in select maize inbred lines. Crop Protection, 178, 106581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2024.106581. (NAAS Score 8.8)
4. Rana, P., Garg, T., Ranjan, R., Sandhu, S. K., &Ghai, N. (2024). Waterlogging stress in maize: Analyzing biochemical responses and root trait adaptations. Maydica, 67, M-18. (NAAS Score 6.4)
5. Anwer, M., Kaur, K., Jindal, J., Suneja, Y. &Garg, T. (2024). Peroxidase, β-1,3glucanase, chitinase and protease inhibitor activities in conjunction with phenols owe tolerance to wild and backcross derived maize genotypes against Spodopterafrugiperda. Cereal Research Communications, 52, 993–1000. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-023-00445-8. (NAAS Score 7.24).
6. Chabbra G., Kaur, G., Singh, K., Kaur, J., Praba U.P., Singh R., Karnatam, K.S., Garg, Tosh, Ranjan, R. and Vikal, (2024) Biofortification of Maize: A Promising Approach for Better Nutrition. In. Harnessing Crop Biofortification for Sustainable Agriculture Edited by SiddharthTiwari  and Baljeet Singh pp. 148-178., Springer Nature Singapore Pvt Ltd. (ISBN 978-981-97-3437-5 ISBN 978-981-97-3438-2 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-3438-2.).
7. Ranjan, R., Nisa, W. U., Das, A. K., Nisa, V. U., Thapa, S., Garg, T., Sandhu, S. K., &Vikal, Y. (2024). Statistical and quantitative genetics studies. In P. Anjoy, K. Kumar, G. Chandra, & K. Gaikwad (Eds.), Genomics data analysis for crop improvement (pp. 95–124). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-6913-5.
8. Kumari, S., Vinayan, M. T., Shahi, J. P., Zaidi, P. H., Kaliyamoorthy, S., Nair, S. K., Singh, R., Garg, T., Singamsetti, A., Singh, S., &Sinha, B. (2023). Genomic regions associated with cold stress tolerance in Asia-adapted tropical maize germplasm. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 6297. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33250-8(NAAS rating:11.00)
9. Singh, N., Taggar, M. S., Kaur, J., Kalia, A., &Garg, T. (2023). Optimization of bioethanol production from corn cobs by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation using response surface methodology. Journal of Cellulose Chemistry and Technology, 57(3-4), 359–368. (NAAS rating: 7.29)
10. Devgan, M., Gill, G. K., Praba, U. P., Singh, G., Garg, T., Karnatam, K. S., Kaur, A., &Vikal, Y. (2022). Biochemical and molecular characterization of sub-tropical maize germplasm for tocopherols. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2022.104842. (NAAS rating:10.56)
11. Vikal, Y., Kaur, A., Jindal, J., Kaur, K., Pathak, D., Garg, T., Singh A., Singh P. &Yadav I.(2020). Identification of genomic regions associated with shoot fly resistance in maize and their syntenic relationships in the sorghum genome. PLoS ONE, 15(6), e0234335. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234335. (NAAS rating: 8.90)

Courses taught: PBG 201, GPB 509, GPB-504 and GPB-512

Current Students:

M.Sc.

DharamjotSingh:(L-2023-A-072-M) Genetics and mapping of genomic regions associated with Banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB) in maize (Zea mays L.)

Ph.D.

Bikkasani Mythri(L-2021-A-049-D) Genome wide association and genomic prediction for silage component traits in tropical maize (Zea mays L.)..
Jasveer Singh (L-2023-A-059-D) Genomic identification and characterization of resistance to post-flowering stalk rot in maize (Zea mays L.).                                                 

Awards/Honours/Distinctions:

1. University Merit Fellowship during B. Sc Agri. (Hons.)
2. University Merit Fellowship during M. Sc ( Plant Breeding)

Membership of professional societies: Life membership of Maize Technologists Association of India (MTAI) and Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding