Ludhiana, December 29, 2023 (Yes Punjab News)
The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) bade adieu to Dr Pushpinderpal Singh Pannu, Additional Director Research (Natural Resource and Plant Health Management), who attained superannuation today.
At the farewell ceremony, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, acknowledged Dr Pannu’s 34 years of unwavering devotion to plant pathology and called him the most unassuming, benevolent and humble person. “His outstanding contributions will serve as a guiding light for fellow plant pathologists,” observed Dr Gosal.
In his welcome address, Dr CS Aulakh, Dean, College of Agriculture, while highlighting Dr Pannu’s bright career with thrust on research achievements, said, “Dr Pannu has made a remarkable contribution by developing a prediction model for yellow rust and karnal bunt of wheat based on weather parameters, and evolving fore-warning system as well as screening technique for false smut and karnal bunt of rice.”
Besides, Dr Pannu has been instrumental in the development of integrated management of yellow rust of wheat, and karnal bunt, sheath blight, sheath rot, false smut and foot rot of basmati rice, he added. A recipient of Prof VP Bhinde Memorial Award from Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology (2018), and Prof Manjeet S Chinnan Award for being distinguished professor at PAU (2015-16), Dr Pannu has made huge strides in his area of plant pathology, he remarked.
Dr PS Sandhu, Head, Department of Plant Pathology, referred to Dr Pannu as ‘untiring scientist’ who has always been on his toes to disseminate technologies in Punjab for disease management in rice, basmati, wheat and potato. He has regularly monitored diseases of wheat and rice in Punjab and adjoining states from 1993 -2017, he told. Apart from this, Dr Pannu has explored the source of primary inoculum (on maize) of false smut of rice in Jammu and Kashmir, and studied inheritance of rust of maize and rust of pearl millet, he said.
A total of 57 recommendations made by him have got place in Package of Practices, he informed, while adding that Dr Pannu has handled 17 ad-hoc research projects and 60 miscellaneous research projects; published 107 research papers, 45 abstracts and 110 popular articles; guided six M.Sc and four Ph.D students; delivered 21 radio/TV talks; and conducted 330 field demonstrations.
Dr Pannu, while expressing his deep gratitude to Dr Gosal, senior officials, staff, faculty and students, remarked that this prestigious University has always provided him a leg-up to serve farmers during wretchedness. The whole-hearted cooperation and support of co-workers has been exhilarating and will be cherished forever, he added.
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