ICAR-CENTRAL CITRUS RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Dr. Ashutosh A. Murkute completed post-graduation in horticulture from Dr. PDKV, Akola followed by doctoral research from IIT Delhi. He started research career as Scientist ‘C’ at Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), DRDO, Leh-Ladakh. Apart from development of agro-technologies suitable for high altitude, he established an experimental level tissue culture lab and a prototype for Solar Thermal Green House at Leh. Dr. Murkute joined ICAR in January 2011 as Senior Scientist (Horticulture) at Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research, Pune, where he worked on postharvest management of onion and garlic through pre- harvest and post-harvest practices. Biochemical profiling of onion cultivars was done and a protocol for in vitro development of microbulbils using mericlones in garlic was developed. A tissue culture lab for production of virus free planting material of garlic was also established. At ICAR - Central Citrus Research Institute, he is engaged in citrus improvement programmes and in a project on

management of abiotic stresses. To his credit there are two commercial citrus variety release viz. in pummelo (Citrus grandis) - NRCC Pummelo – 5, grapefruit cv. NRCC Garpefruit - 6 and sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) - Cutter Valencia. He has published several research articles in journals of national and international repute, book chapters, popular articles etc. He is also a life member of a few national professional societies. He has been appointed as Adjunct Professor at IIT Delhi and also nominated as Member of Management Board of RSKVV, Gwalior by Hon’ble Governor of Madhya Pradesh.