HEMINDER SINGH
PERMANENT AND CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS:
H.No. 523, Street No. 5,
Vijay Nagar, Hoshiarpur,
Punjab – 146001, INDIA.
Phone No. 09915128254.
Mail: rednimeh75@gmail.com
EDUCATION:
 Ph.D in Botany (2014)
University of Mysore, Karnataka, India.
Title: Standardization of organic compost, compost tea and plant extracts for
the management of downy mildew of sorghum
Research interests
Plant pathology, Organic farming, Bio-active conpounds isolation, Ecology.
 M. Biotechnology (1999)
Gulbarga University, Gulbarga, Karnataka, India.
Project Title: Studies on DAAO enzyme produced by Trignopsis variabilis.
 M.Sc. in Botany (1998)
Gulbarga University, Gulbarga, Karnataka, India.
 Bachelor of Science (1996)
BVB College, Bidar, Karnataka, India.
EXPERIENCE:
 Research Fellowships


Project-Fellow: UGC-MRP 2010-2013. ‘Standardization of organic
compost, compost tea and plant extracts for the management of downy
mildew of sorghum.’
Project: ‘Studies on DAAO enzyme produced by Trignopsis variabilis’
at Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh, as part of
M. Biotechnology course.
Contd.
 Teaching Experience

Lecturer in Botany, Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College,
Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, India. Aug. 2004-March 2005.

Lecturer in Botany, BAM Khalsa College, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India.
July 2006-March 2007.

Lecturer in Botany, Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jallandhar, Punjab,
India. July 2007-March 2008.

Plant Pathologist at Alpine Wineries Pvt. Ltd., Mysore, Karnataka,
India. March 2014-Jan 2015.

Assistant Professor in Botany, Khalsa College Amritsar, Punjab,
India.
16 November, 2015 - till date.
PUBLICATIONS:
 Research papers:
1. Singh, H. and Garampalli, R.H. 2012. Comparative evaluation of
composts and dried powdered biomass of botanicals for organic
management of downy mildew of sorghum. Archives of Phytopathology
and Plant Protection. 45, 20, 2454-2464.
2. Singh, H. and Garampalli, R.H. 2012. Screening of plant extracts for
organic management of downy mildew of sorghum. Archives of
Phytopathology and Plant Protection. 45, 14, 1732-1740.
3. Singh, H. and Garampalli, R.H. 2013. Evaluation of uncomposted
botanical-based soil amendments for organic management of downy
mildew of Sorghum. Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection.
46, 5, 599-606.
4. Singh, H. and Garampalli, R.H. 2013.An efficient technique to obtain
conidial inoculum of Peronosclerospora sorghi causing downy mildew
of sorghum. Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection. 46, 6,
656-662.
5. Singh, H. and Garampalli, R.H. 2013c. A novel technique for
greenhouse evaluation of plant extracts for management of downy
mildew of sorghum. Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection.
46, 16, 1984-1992.
6. Singh, H., Ravikumar M.C and Garampalli, R.H. 2013. Enhancement of
downy mildew mildew of sorghum by some organic soil amendments: a
caution to organic farmers. Archives of Phytopathology and Plant
Protection. 46, 9, 1030-1035.
Contd.
7. Singh, H. and Garampalli, R.H. 2012. A Special Method to Confirm
Non-Feasibility of Secondary Spread of Downy Mildew Systemic
Infection between Sorghum Seedlings of Similar Age. International
Journal of Plant Research. 2, 3, 90-93.
8. Manjunatha H.P., Singh, H., Chauhan, J.B., Zameer, F and Garampalli,
R. H. 2013. Induction of Resistance against Sorghum Downy Mildew
by Seed Treatment with Duranta repens Extracts. IOSR Journal of
Agriculture and Veterinary Science. 3, 6, 37-44.
9. Ravikumar, M.C., Singh, H. and Garampalli, R.H. 2015. Comparative
evaluation of long-term storage techniques on viability and virulence of
Alternaria solani. Journal of Taibah University for Science(Accepted,
Manuscript ID, JTUSCI-D-15-00237)
10. Singh, H., Ravikumar, M.C. and Garampalli, R.H. Comparative
Evaluation of Plant Extracts and Compost Teas for Organic Management
of Downy Mildew of Sorghum. Canadian journal of Plant Pathology.
(Communicated, Manuscript ID, TCJP-2013-0147).
11. Singh, H., Ravikumar, M.C. and Garampalli, R.H. Advantages of
Individual Plant Extracts over Formulations for Organic Management of
Sorghum Downy Mildew. American Journal of Experimental
Agriculture. (Communicated, Manuscript ID, 2013/AJEA/7660.)
 Chapter in book: Garampalli, R.H., Singh, H. and Ravikumar M.C. 2015. Role
of organic amendments in plant disease management: An overview. In: Bhale
U.N. (ed) Major constraints and verdict of crop productivity. New Delhi, Astral
International (P) Limited, pp 64-75. [ISBN(international): 9789351305545].
REFERENCE(S):
 Prof. C. Narayan Reddy
(Ex. Vice-Chancellor, Yogivemana University, Andhra Pradesh, India.),
2/259, B-3, Society Colony,
Madanapalli,
Andhra Pradesh,
India. PIN: 517325.
Phone: 09490987069.
Contd.
ABSTRACT OF Ph. D THESIS:
Sorghum is the fifth most important cereal crop and downy mildew is one of the most serious
diseases of the crop. The management of the disease by organic methods, involving the use of plant based
soil amendments and aqueous extracts, was successfully accomplished by screening, evaluation and
standardization of botanical formulations. The final standardized soil amendment for the management of
oosporic infection, the formulation of Eucalyptus globulus
0.25% + Lantana camara 0.3% (dry
powder/soil; w/w), provided percent protection of 94% in micro plot conditions. The standardized plant
extract, Duranta repens 10% aqueous extract, provided 90% protection when used as spray in green
house conditions and 86% protection in micro plot experiment, when used in combination with seed
treatment (D. repens 2.5% extract). Reduction in total fungal count of the soil sample treated with E.
globulus 0.5% amendment (w/w) and the termination of germ tube growth of conidia treated with D.
repens extract shows that the mode of action of botanicals is through antimicrobial action of secondary
metabolites.
In the process, three novel plant pathology techniques were developed. Sibling shower technique
indicates that the six day old seedlings become resistant enough to with-stand air borne inoculum, which
can help to fine-tune the spray schedule, for minimum use of fungicides. The paper towel technique
provides an easy and cost effective method to obtain conidial inoculum. Consortium technique adds a
useful tool to the repository of plant pathologists to evaluate the potential of antimicrobial agents.
Activity guided bio prospecting approach by following techniques such as soxhlet extraction, column
chromatography, HPLC, 2D-NMR, LCMS, elemental analysis lead too discovery of active principle in D.
repens extract as a phytosterol molecule designated as Durantol. The organic management of sorghum
downy mildew is possible and preferable as compared to methods based on synthetic chemicals. The
methodology developed in the present study may be applied to other soil borne and foliar diseases of
economic importance, helping to restore ecofriendly organic practices in agriculture, leading to the goal
of sustainable development. The novel molecule Durantol, with antimicrobial property, needs to be
explored for other activities.