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Dr Davinder Singh

Research interests

My focal research area is cereal rust genetics and breeding. I am first and foremost interested in discovering, characterizing and mapping new sources of rust resistance, and their utilization in cereal breeding programs. As of this, I am always in search of new breeding tools/methodologies, powerful mapping strategies, global rust epidemiology, disease monitoring and surveillance. I am committed to international agriculture research and development for improving global food security, reducing poverty and hunger in developing countries, and improving the sustainability of local and international farming systems.

Background

Davinder Singh earned his PhD from the University of Sydney in discipline of wheat rust genetics, pathology and breeding in 1998 and since then has conducted, implemented and coordinated crop improvement research projects in Australia, East Africa, South Pacific and India for more than 12 years with a strong focus on genetics/breeding for disease resistance and yield enhancement in cereals (wheat, barley, oats, triticale, rice), root crops (taro, yam, sweet potato) and tree crops (eucalyptus). His research has been highly dynamic throughout his career and has resulted into more than 80 publications in refereed journals, proceedings, books, guidelines, manuals and technical bulletins. He has supervised/co-supervised several postgraduate students and has special interest in fostering the next generation scientific community. Davinder has also strong passion for international Development and holds a Masters degree in International Agriculture Development from Deakin University. He has worked closely with International organizations like International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, Secretariat of Pacific Countries, Australian Agency for International Development, International Atomic Energy Agency and NGOs like Catholic Relief Services and World Vision.

Recent publications

  • Hickey, L.T., W. Lawson, G.J. Platz, M. Dieters, V.N. Arief, S. Germán, S. Fletcher, R.F. Park, D. Singh, S. Pereyra and J. Franckowiak (2011). Mapping Rph20: a gene conferring adult plant resistance to Puccinia hordei in barley. Theoretical Applied Genetics. 123: 55-68.
  • Bansal, U.K., K.L. Forrest, M.J. Hayden, H. Miah, D. Singh and H.S. Bariana (2011). Characterisation of a new stripe rust resistance gene Yr47 and its genetic association with the leaf rust resistance gene Lr52. Theoretical Applied Genetics. 122: 1461-1466.
  • Singh, R.P., J. Huerta-Espino, S. Bhavani, S.A. Herrera-Foessel, D. Singh, P.K. Singh, G. Velu, R.E. Mason. Y. Jin, P. Njau and J. Crossa (2011). Race non-specific resistance to rust diseases in CIMMYT spring wheats. Euphytica. 179: 175-186.
  • Hiebert C.W., T.G. Fetch, T. Zegeye, J.B. Thomas, D.J. Somers, D.G. Humphreys, B.D. McCallum, S. Cloutier, D. Singh and D.R. Knott (2011). Genetics and mapping of seedling resistance to Ug99 stem rust in Canadian wheat cultivars ‘Peace’ and ‘AC Cadillac’. Theoretical Applied Genetics. 122: 143-149.
  • Herrera-Foessel, S.A., E.S. Lagudah, J. Huerta-Espino, M.J. Hayden, H.S. Bariana, D. Singh and R.P. Singh (2011). New slow-rusting leaf rust and stripe rust resistance genes Lr67 and Yr46 in wheat are pleiotropic or closely linked. Theoretical Applied Genetics. 122: 239–249.
  • Singh, D., D. Hunter, T. Iosefa, P. Fonoti, T. Okpul and C. Delp (2010). Improving Taro Production in the South Pacific through Breeding and Selection. In: The Global Diversity of Taro: Ethnobotany and Conservation (V. Ramanatha Rao, P.J. Matthews and P.B. Ezyaguire and D. Hunter, eds.). Bioversity International, Rome Italy. pp. 168-184.
  • Golegaonkar, P.G., R.F. Park and D. Singh (2010). Genetic analysis of adult plant resistance to Puccinia hordei in barley. Plant Breeding. 129: 162-166.
  • Singh, D., J. Simmonds, R.F. Park, H.S. Bariana and J.W. Snape (2009). Inheritance and QTL mapping of leaf rust resistance in the European winter wheat cultivar Beaver. Euphytica. 169: 153-161.
  • Singh, D., T. Okpul, M. Wagih, G. Wiles and D. Hunter (2009). First release of taro leaf blight resistant varieties in Papua New Guinea. Journal of Genetics and Evolution. II (2): 13-22.
  • Golegaonkar, P.G., D. Singh and R.F. Park (2009) Evaluation of seedling and adult plant resistance to Puccinia hordei in barley. Euphytica. 166: 183-197.
  • Yalu, A., D. Singh, S. Yadav (2009). Taro Improvement and development in Papua New Guinea – A success story. Asia Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) Publications. Bangkok, Thailand. pp. 1-37.
  • Singh, D., R.F. Park, R.A. McIntosh and H.S. Bariana (2008) Characterization of stem rust and stripe rust seedling resistance genes in selected wheat cultivars from the United Kingdom. Journal of Plant Pathology. 90: 553-562.
  • Singh, D., E.S. Mace, I. D. Godwin, P.N. Mathur, T. Okpul, M. Taylor, D. Hunter, R. Kambuou, V.R. Rao and G. Jackson (2008). Assessment and rationalization of genetic diversity of Papua New Guinea taro (Colocasia esculenta) using SSR DNA fingerprinting. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 55: 811-822.

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