Dr. Minakshi Padhi

Bio

Dr. Minakshi Padhi is currently serving as a Young Professional in the Department of Horticulture at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, U.P. She is engaged in a research project titled “Water and Nutrient Management through Drip Irrigation for Better Plant Growth and Quality Production of Rose and Gerbera,” funded by the Uttar Pradesh Council of Agricultural Research (UPCAR), Lucknow. Dr. Padhi’s responsibilities in this project include the comprehensive management of research activities, such as data collection, analysis, result interpretation, and meticulous documentation.

Dr. Padhi earned her Ph.D. in Horticulture from BHU in 2022, where she focused her research on the “Effect of Physical and Chemical Mutagens on Gladiolus Varieties and Studies on Induced Mutants.” Her work led to the development of 11 gladiolus mutants, which are currently undergoing the registration and release process. She also holds a Master of Science (Ag.) degree in Horticulture (2016), where she researched the “In-Vitro Propagation of Lasora (Cordia myxa Roxb.) Using Nodal Segments,” providing her with specialized expertise in tissue culture. Dr. Padhi is also ICAR NET-qualified in Floriculture and received a UGC fellowship during her Ph.D. program.

She has contributed significantly to the field with 29 research papers in NASS-rated journals, 17 book chapters, 42 abstracts, and 6 scientific articles in both Hindi and English. She has actively participated in numerous seminars, symposiums, and conferences across India and has been recognized for her research and presentations.

Education

• Ph.D. in Horticulture (2022)
  Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, U.P.
  Dissertation: Effect of Physical and Chemical Mutagens on Gladiolus Varieties and Studies on Induced Mutants
• M.Sc. (Ag.) in Horticulture (2016)
  Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, U.P.
  Thesis: In-Vitro Propagation of Lasora (Cordia myxa Roxb.) Using Nodal Segments
• ICAR NET (Floriculture)

Awards and Honors

• Best Paper Award (Oral)
  International Conference on Agriculture, Allied Sciences, and Biotechnology for the Sustainability of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Security, BHU, Varanasi, 2017.
• Best Oral Presentation Award
  Several international and national seminars and conferences.
• Judge
  Divisional Vegetable, Fruit, and Flower Show (Department of Horticulture and Food Processing, Uttar Pradesh) and Flower Show (Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi), including the 2024 event.
• UGC Fellowship
  Awarded during her Ph.D. program.

Research Focus

Dr. Padhi’s research interests lie in the areas of horticulture, mutation technology, plant biotechnology, and tissue culture. Her doctoral research focused on mutagenesis and the development of improved gladiolus varieties through physical and chemical mutagens. She has also worked on improving propagation methods for economically important species such as Lasora (Cordia myxa Roxb.). Currently, her research includes optimizing water and nutrient management systems using drip irrigation to enhance the growth and quality production of ornamental plants like rose and gerbera.

Academic Appointments

• Young Professional
  Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, U.P.
• Researcher and Educator
  Specializing in horticulture, plant biotechnology, and agricultural research methodologies, Dr. Padhi is passionate about disseminating knowledge through online education platforms, contributing her expertise to a wider audience.

Publications

• Research Papers: 29 published in NASS-rated journals.
• Book Chapters: 17 chapters in academic and reference books.
• Abstracts: 42 abstracts in national and international conferences.
• Scientific Articles: 6 articles published in Hindi and English on various horticultural topics.