Dr. Vikas Venu Kumaran did his Ph. D. in the year 2009 from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Presently, he is Senior Scientist at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Regional Station, Wellington.
Dr. V.K.Vikas is an outstanding researcher engaged in genetics and breeding of common and dicoccum wheat. has made noteworthy contributions in wheat improvement through his association in the development and release of twenty wheat varieties including fourteen varieties of bread wheat, four durum wheat and two dicoccum wheat for various wheat growing regions of India. Involved in the introduction and promotion of wheat cultivation in nontraditional areas of Tamil Nadu through Front Line Demonstration and Wheat Field Day. Through effective integration of modern molecular marker tools with conventional breeding, had developed/identified eight genetic stocks of wheat with genes conferring resistance to stem, leaf and stripe rust and one genetic stock for drought tolerance. Instrumental in the commercialization of first oat variety (HWO1001) for breakfast purpose which fulfills the objective of "Make in India". Associated with the identification of new leaf rust resistance gene (Lr79) which can diversify the rust resistance gene pool. Played a vital role in the characterisation and evaluation of nearly 19,460 wheat accessions conserved at National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources(NBPGR), which entered in the Limca Book of Records-2013 for the largest characterisation of wheat germplasm. First reported the genetic architecture of hybrid necrosis in wheat which follows the Bateson–Dobzhansky–Muller (BDM) model of incompatibility reaction. Played a active role in the development of first novel wheat and rye pollen germination media which has >95% pollen germination in vitro.
Dr. Vikas V. K., received many prestigious awards, viz, Borlaug Global Rust Initiative (BGRI) - Gene Stewardship Award-2018, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) - Associate-2018, ICAR Award for Outstanding Interdisciplinary Team Research in Agricultural and Allied Sciences2017, Dr. R.S. Paroda award for Young Scientist-2016 of Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources (ISPGR) and Endeavour Research Fellowship-2016. He has published about 25 research articles in reputed National and International journals. He has handled ten research projects financed by ICAR, DBTand BRNS in various capacities.
Considering all his achievements and outstanding contributions in the field of Wheat improvement, the Indian Society of Genetics & Plant Breeding has recommended his name for the VS Mathur Memorial Award-2019, as such the Academy confers upon him the same today on the 14th December 2019