About The Book

Citrus is an Important fruit crop in India, and there is rich genetic diversity in citrus grown in the country. Different regions of India  cultivate citrus fruits, and earh region has its own unique varieties and coultivars. Numerous citurs species cultivated in India are rare of threatened with extinction, necessitating conservation efforts to prevent their extinction. In recent years, India has placed a greater emphasis on conserving and utilizing the genetic diversity of citrus. There have been efforts to collect and conserve the genetic resources of citurs as well as to breed new varieties. Eleven distinct parts make up the Book, each of which foruses on a different facet of citrus diversity. the authors tried to provide insigtful information on the various citrus species grown in India, including their origin, distribution, taxonomy, botany, classification, conservation and characteristics of important citrus species and varieties. The book also contains chapters on the current status of citrus. production, the nutritional value and functional food potential of different citurs fruits, and citrus genetic resource conservation. It is anticipated that researchers, breeders, academics, and citurs growers will find this book useful. The Publication can also be used as an instructional resoruce for the students, teachers, and the public. It will aid in increasing understanding of the citrus diversity in India, as well as their agronomic, economic, and ecological significance.

About Author

Dr. Ashutosh A. Murkute, is working as Director, Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural
Industrialization (MGIRI), Wardha. After completing Ph.D. from I.I.T., Delhi he started research career
as Scientist ‘C’ at Defense Institute of High Altitude Research (DRHAR, DRDO), Leh-Ladakh. Besides
developing agro-technologies suitable for high altitude, he established a prototype for solar thermal
greenhouse and an experimental tissue culture lab at Leh. Dr. Murkute as Senior Scientist, worked on
post-harvest management of onion and garlic at ICAR - Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research,
Pune. He developed a complete protocol for production of virus-freeplanting material of garlic through
microbubbles using mericlones and established a tissue culture lab for the mass production. At ICAR
– Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur, Dr. Murkute, Principal Scientist, worked on citrus
improvement program and also projects on abiotic stress management. He published research
articles high rated peer reviewed journal of international repute on high-density panting, organic
cultivation, tissue culture etc. There are many books, book-chapters, popular articles etc. to his credit.
As PI/ Co-PI of externally funded competitive grants he handled research project of more than Rs
3000 lakhs besides institute funded projects. Appointment as an Adjunct Professor at I.I.T. Delhi;
Member, Board of Management of Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia Agricultural University, Gwalior;
Member, Academic Council, RTM Nagpur University; Member, Management Committees of ICAR
institutes are some of the prestigious recognitions for his illustrious career.
Dr. A. Thirugnanavel joined the Agricultural Research Service in 2010. He obtained his Ph.D in Fruit
Science from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Dr. A. Thirugnanavel has good
research experience on Northeast Hill agriculture, banana, and citrus. Presently, he is working as a
Senior Scientist at ICAR– Central Citrus Research Institute (ICAR-CCRI) in Nagpur, India. He has

developed many technologies including DUS guidelines for colocasia, integrated farming system
models, and integrated nutrient management practices. He has collected, characterized and
conserved colocasia, rajma bean and ornamental banana germplasm. He has published more than
25 research publications in peer reviewed journals, 8 technical bulletins, 9 book chapters and two
training manuals. Currently, he is working in citrus improvement and genetic resources management.
Dr. J. Prasanth Tej Kumar is currently working as a scientist at the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research - Central Citrus Research Institute (ICAR-CCRI) in Nagpur, India. He earned his Masters
from GBPUA&T, Pantnagar and PhD from IARI, New Delhi in Molecular biology and Biotechnology. In
his thesis work he worked on characterization of drought responsive genes and promoters in
chickpea. After completing his PhD, Dr. Tej Kumar has joined in ARS and in 2016 as a scientist at
ICAR-CCRI, Nagpur. At the institute, he is working on molecular characterization of citrus germplasm
and genome editing in citrus He has also presented his research at conferences and workshops and
has received awards and recognition for his work in this field. He has published more than 10
research publications in peer reviewed journals and 2 book chapters. In addition to his research
activities, Dr. Tej Kumar has also served as a reviewer for several scientific journals and has been
involved in the development of educational materials for students and professionals in the field of
agricultural biotechnology.
Dr. R. K. Sonkar currently working as Principal Scientist (Horti) ICAR-Central Citrus Institute, Nagpur.
He obtained his M.Sc. (Agri.) Horticulture from Udai Pratap P. G. College, Varanasi he was the first
merit holder in vegetable science during M.Sc. and completed his Ph.D. (Hort.) from Indira Gandhi
Agriculture University, Raipur. He worked on Post-Harvest Technology, covering the aspects like
storage, maturity standards, packaging and transport of Nagpur orange, processing aspects like
debittering of Nagpur orange juices, water conservation in citrus and integrated management of citrus
nematode. Presently he is involved in the citrus rootstock studies for Nagpur mandarin and sweet
orange, Raised bed planting system in citrus, evaluation of different citrus species on raised bed
planting systems and demonstration of citrus rejuvenation. He is also the Secretary of Indian Society
of Citriculture. He has published 39 research paper, 2 review articles, 9 Book chapters more than 60
Popular articles and 11 bulletins. Dr. Sonkar has received many awards and recognition like Dr.
Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Ratna award-2011, ICAR awards Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthy Krishi
Patrika, First prize for Hindi Magazine “Santra Samvad”, Vidarbha Bhushan Award-2012, Hi-tech
Horticulture Society Gold Medal-2012, Maharashtra Bhushan Award-2013 etc. for his multifaceted
activities carried out during last 31 years.
Dr. Subhra Saikat Roy joined the Agricultural Research Service in 2008. He obtained his Doctoral
Degree in Horticulture from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal. Dr. Roy has an
excellent academic career and received University Gold Medal and Certificate of Merit. He was also a
visiting scholar at Michigan State University, USA. Dr. Roy has more than 14 years of research
experience on North-east hill agriculture and is presently working as Senior Scientist at ICAR-Central
Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur, Maharashtra. He has developed many technologies including six
crop varieties, five IFS models, five organic POPs, commercialized eight technologies and filed one
patent. Besides, he has promoted more than 30 agripreneurship. Dr. Roy has published more than 50
research papers in the journals of national and international repute, 11 books, 31 book chapters, 21
success stories and more than 20 bulletins and manuals. He is the Editor of two peer-reviewed
journals, Fellow of three professional societies and recipient of many prestigious awards including
three national awards.
Dr. Dilip Ghosh, Director, ICAR-CCRI, Nagpur, obtained his Master’s and Doctoral degree in Plant
Pathology specializing in Plant Virology from ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
and subsequently joined ICAR-CCRI, as Scientist in 1995. He has made an outstanding contribution
in the area of Citrus Pathology/Virology and citriculture. He has developed PCR/ Real time-PCR/
Duplex PCR/IC-PCR based diagnostics of Citrus greening, Citrus tristeza virus, Citrus yellow mosaic
virus, Indian Citrus ring spot virus, Exocortis viroid, and Citrus Phytoplasma for rapid and sensitive
detection of these systemic pathogens in infected citrus plants. He has also developed LAMP-based
and RPA-LFA-based Rapid Diagnostic Kits for Citrus greening disease and Citrus tristeza virus.
Identified Candidatus Phytoplasma cynodontis as the causal organism of Witches’ Broom Disease of
acid lime (WBDL) in India (New world report). Similarly, first time reported hop stunt viroid infection of
citrus in India. As an international FAO consultant, Dr. Ghosh worked in Nepal and Bhutan. Also
organized three international training programs for the participants of Oman, Bhutan and Nepal in
Nagpur apart from organizing six such national training programs. Visited nine different countries
including USA, Brazil, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, Bhutan etc and made professional
collaborations / networks with citrus scientists working in those countries. Handled a total of 14

research projects funded by ICAR, NATP, NAIP, DBT, DST, MIDH etc, published 60 research papers
in high impact factor journals (35 articles in NAAS ratings > 7.0), co-authored 3 books; published over
16 book chapters, 20 extension bulletin, 2 folders, 5 extension calendars, 4 training manual, 5 other
publications and 480 NCBI GenBank Accessions. As the Organizing Secretary, Dr. Ghosh organized
two national conferences/workshops in Nagpur (2006 and 2015) and guided 7 PhD students. As a
multidisciplinary team of scientists, received Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award-2005
for outstanding contribution in the field of citrus production and processing. In recognition of his
professional achievements, Dr. Ghosh also received Prof. J.F. Dastur Memorial Award (Indian
Phytopathological Society); Dr R S Paroda Award of CHAI (2022), New Delhi, Outstanding Plant
Virologist Award at Asian Plant Science Congress (Nepal, 2014) etc. He also acted as Editor, Plant
Pathology (UK); Member, MISA (USA); Member, Mashalkar (Ex-DG, CSIR) Committee of
Biotechnology (Govt of Maharashtra), President of Indian Society of Citriculture, New Delhi (2022-
2025) and bestowed with the Fellowship from four different scientific societies of India.