ICAR–Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi

Name: Dr. Shweta Kumari

Designation: Scientist (Plant Pathology)

Email: sweta.aau@gmail.com

Education: Ph.D. (Plant Pathology)

Field of Specialization: Plant Virology, Phytoplasma, Diagnostics & Management

Research Interests:

• Host–virus interaction
• Molecular diagnostics
• Virus and phytoplasma management

Scientific Contributions:

• Determined subcellular localization of N and NSs proteins of GBNV in its natural host.
• Developed LAMP assay for specific detection of ToLCJV in chilli.
• Documented tospovirus diversity and their impact on seed traits.
• Documented viruses infecting cucurbit crops in Uttar Pradesh.
• Reported phytoplasma infection in spinach in India.

1. Kumari, S., Nagendran, K., et al. (2022). Diversity of tospoviruses infecting vegetables… European Journal of Plant Pathology.
2. Kumari, S., Krishnan, N., Pandey, K.K. (2022). Emergence of begomoviruses… Academic Press.
3. Kumari, S., Krishnan, N., et al. (2021). Viruses infecting cucurbits in UP. Scientific Reports.
4. Kumari, S., Nagendran, K., et al. (2021). First report of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’… Journal of Plant Pathology.
5. Prabhukarthikeyan S.R., et al. (2020). Plant–microbe interactions in CRISPR era. Current Genomics.
6. Kumari, S., Nagendran K., et al. (2019). Global status of phytoplasma diseases… Frontiers in Microbiology.
7. Nagendran K., Kumari S., et al. (2019). First report of ToLCJV infecting chilli… Plant Disease.
8. Kumari S., et al. (2019). Natural occurrence of groundnut bud necrosis virus… Journal of Plant Pathology.
9. Nagendran K., Kumari S., et al. (2019). Watermelon bud necrosis virus… Plant Disease.
10. Kumari S., Krishnan N., et al. (2019). Characterization of recombinant ToLCPalV… Journal of Plant Pathology.

• Best Oral Presentation Award — HARVEST-2025 International e-Conference
• Best Oral Presentation Award — ICAR-IARI (2021)
• Best Poster Award — ICPPH-2019, ICAR-IIHR Bengaluru