Dr Manjit Singh

 Director, Directorate of Mushroom Research, Solan (HP)

Dr Manjit Singh joined as Director of DMR, Solan on 1^st January 2009,. Dr Manjit Singh obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degree from Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana.  In 1976 he started his scientific career as Scientist in the first batch of Agricultural Research Service of ICAR.  After serving Central Potato Research Institute from 1976 to 1984, he joined NCMRT (now DMR), Solan in March 1984 and worked at the Centre till Jan, 1988.  Thereafter he joined Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur where he served as Head, Division of Plant Sciences and Biotechnology from May 1997 to December 2008.

His main area of research in mushroom was their genetic improvement.  He and his team developed the strains of button mushroom (NCS-100, NCS-101)  and  first hybrid in the country (NCH-102) . Another interesting work by Dr. Manjit Singh and his team members was cultivation of Auricularia polytricha (wood ear mushroom). He received M.S. Randhawa medal for his essay on “Evolution of Life” from PAU, Ludhiana in 1975 and ICAR team award for the work on genetic improvement of Prosopis cineraria in 1993.  At present he is heading Directorate of Mushroom Research and guiding research on germplasm collection and conservation, improvement, cultivation, protection and popularization of mushrooms in different
eco-regions of the country.