Dr Mohinder Kaur Sidhu is working as Vegetable Breeder at Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Presently, she is mainly handling brinjal, sponge gourd and coriander breeding programmes. She achieved introgression of root-knot nematode resistance from tertiary gene pool species, Solanum torvum and Phomopsis blight resistance from Solanum insanum into brinjal as well as gynoecy, cluster bearing and GMS male sterility from interspecific cross of Satputia and sponge gourd. She has also developed microspore-derived DH lines and parthenocarpic germplasm for net-house cultivation in brinjal. She has developed four varieties in brinjal and one each in sponge gourd and coriander. Her three brinjal varieties and one hybrid have been identified in AICRP for cultivation in different zones of India. She has also been involved in the development of eight post-havest technologies for packaging and marketing of the vegetables. She has authored 42 full research papers, four review articles, five book chapters, two teaching manuals, 37 popular articles and 41 papers presented in seminars, symposia and conferences etc. She has guided six B.Sc., eight M.Sc. and one Ph.D. student. She has taught eight under-graduate and four post-graduate courses in vegetable science. Besides, she has actively promoted in various cultivation and post-harvest practices in vegetables crops.

Research Interest: 

Development of improved varieties and hybrids in brinjal and sponge gourd

Interspecific hybridization and trait introgression using conventional and molecular approaches in brinjal and sponge gourd 

Project accomplished:(As Associated Scientist)

Worked in followingResearch & Extension Projects

1. Addressing food security through nutritionally enriched improved cultivars and technologies for Swasth Bharat (Associated Scientist) -PURSE (DST)
2. Promotion of Horticultural crops through training programme on mango, pear, kinnow, guava and ber”(Associated scientist)-NHM

Ongoing projects:

State Funded Research Projects:

1. Development of improved varieties/hybrids in brinjal 
2. Screening of germplasm for resistance to diseases and insect pests in brinjal
3. Development of improved varieties/hybrids in minor vegetables-Sponge gourd and Coriander

AICRP

1. All India coordinated vegetable improvement project (Associated scientist for brinjal, and sponge gourd trials and their reports)

Adhoc Research Projects 

1. Molecular Mapping of Fertility Restorer Gene in Brinjal (S. melongena)(Co-PI)- CRG-DST, 
2. Molecular mapping of root knot nematode resistant gene(s) introgressed from S. torvum in brinjal (S. melongena) (PI)-DBT

Selected Publications:

• • Dhatt AS, Sidhu MK and Garcha KS (2023) Development of alloplasmic male sterile lines and their assessment for heterotic potential in eggplant (Solanummelongena L.). Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 1-11 (NAAS:7.92)
  • Kaur J, Sidhu M K, Sarao N K and Dhatt A S (2023)Development of partially-fertile cross between Solanummelongena and Solanumsisymbriifolium through embryo rescue technique.Indian J. Genet. Plant Breed. 83(3):1-8 (NAAS: 7.32)
  • Sidhu M K and Kaur J (2021) Inter-specific hybridization between sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica L.) and ‘Satputia’ (Luffa hermaphrodita Singh & Bhandari) for pre-introgression of cluster bearing, high yield, and gynoecism, Journal of Genetics, 100:73.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12041-021-01323-0
  • Kaur S, Sidhu M K and DhattA S (2021) Genetic diversity analysis through cluster constellation in brinjal (Solanummelongena L.). Genetika53(2):629-640 DOI:10.2298/GENSR2102629K

• Sidhu MK, Chaudhary S and Sharma M (2023). Genetics of quantitative traits from interspecific crosses between Luffa hermaphrodita × Luffa cylindrica. Vegetable Science50(1): 52-57. (NAAS:4.93)

Awards/ Honors /Distinctions

National/ university awards

• Jawaharlal Nehru Award for outstanding Ph.D. Research in Horticulture from The Union Minister of Agriculture Shri Sharad Pawar, on the occasion of foundation day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research on 16th July 2010. 

• Dr.Harbhajan Singh Memorial Award 2017 for best research paper given by Indian Society of Vegetable Science at First Vegetable Science Congress, 1-3 February, 2019.
• B R Sharma Medal for highest OGPA in Masters of Vegetable Science, 2004

Poster awards 

 11 best poster presentation awards in different conferences, workshops, symposium, seminars etc. (2012-2024).

Awards of Honour

1. Award of Honour during Alumni meet 2011 by Alumni Association, College of Agriculture, PAU Ludhiana
2. Award of Honour during Alumni meet 2020 by Alumni Association, College of Agriculture, PAU Ludhiana

University Merit Fellowship

• University merit Fellowship for one year in B.Sc.
• University Merit Fellowship & Merit Certificate in M.Sc.