Ludhiana: The Indian Society of Vegetable Science has recognized researchers from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) with the prestigious Dr Harbhajan Singh Memorial Award-2024 for their groundbreaking work on cucumber seed yield and quality.The award-winning paper, titled “In situ storage of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruits harvested at variable developmental stages for improving seed yield and quality,” was published in the journal Vegetable Science. The research originated from the MSc thesis of Kartik Pathania, a student in PAU’s botany department. The study explores the “in situ” (on-site) storage of cucumbers to determine how the timing of harvest affects the eventual quality and quantity of seeds produced.Pathania co-authored the paper alongside a team of expert mentors and scientists, including Navjyot Kaur, Lavanya Vij and Rajinder Singh. The award carries significant weight in the agricultural community, as it is named after Dr. Harbhajan Singh, an eminent scientist known as the “Indian Vavilov” for his foundational contributions to plant introduction and vegetable breeding in India.The honour was conferred during the 44th Annual Group Meeting of the All-India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Vegetable Crops. The high-level meeting took place at the College of Horticulture in Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, from Feb 20-22.PAU vice-chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal extended his congratulations to Pathania for “bringing laurels to the University.” Senior university officials also lauded the achievement, praising the mentorship of Navjyot Kaur and Rajinder Singh for their dedication to advancing agricultural science.
