Senior Scientist (Plant Virology)

Born on 23 rd August, 1964 in Hooghly District of West Bengal, Dr. Dilip Kumar Ghosh obtained his B.Sc. (Ag.) Hons. degree from BCKVV, Kalyani West-Bengal and Master’s degree in Plant Pathology specializing in Plant Virology from Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi in 1990. He then worked for his Doctorate program ( 1990-1994 ) at Advance Center for Plant Virology, IARI, New Delhi on detection and management of Garlic mosaic virus disease where he succeeded in developing serological and molecular diagnostics of the virus and also produced virus free garlic plants by meristem tip culture. During his Doctorate, he also studied basic and advance courses on Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Biochemistry etc.

Dr Ghosh joined at National Research Centre for Citrus, Nagpur during 1995 as Scientist (ARS ). As a Virus Pathologist he is  working on development of serological and molecular diagnostic tools for rapid and reliable detection of major virus and virus-like pathogens infecting citrus in India viz.  Citrus tristeza virus, Citrus mosaic badna  virus, Indian citrus ringspot virus ,Citrus exocortis viroid etc. He has first reported Phytoplasma infection of acid lime and Nagpur mandarin developing Witches broom symptom from India. He has also implemented citrus budwood certification program to develop virus-free planting material for the citrus growers. First record of Hop stunt viroid infection in citrus was also reported by him and his co-workers. Dr Ghosh worked for four months as visiting scientist at CREC, University of Florida during 2000-2001. He has published 32 research papers in national and international journals, 7 book chapters and 3 extension bulletins. He worked as a principal investigator in several externally funded research projects. Recently he has attended 11 th International Citrus Congress held in China (October 26-30,2008) to give a lecture on “ Recent advances in characterization, diagnosis and management of major virus and virus-like pathogens infecting citrus in India”.

He has been awarded as a FELLOW, Indian Phytopathological Society , New Delhi and elected as a Councillor ( WZ ) of the society. Dr Ghosh is also working as ASSOCIATE EDITOR of Indian Journal of Virology. He is a life member of various scientific societies viz. Indian Phytopathological Society , New Delhi ; Indian Society of Citriculture , Nagpur ,Indian Virological Society ,Hisar ; International Organization of citrus virologists( IOCV ), California etc. He is also a member of Mashalkar  Committee of Biotechnology, Govt. of Maharastra,  external examinerand question paper setter of different SAUs. He may be contacted at  ghoshdk@hotmail.com.