DR. BAL KRISHNA JOSHI

Areas of Expertise

Plant Genetics and Breeding, Agrobiodiversity, Biotechnology, Statistics, Conservation Science, Geographical information system and Climate smart germplasm,

Brief Bio

I am from Mountain Region of Nepal and mountain agricultural family. I did PhD degree in Agricultural Science from Japan. I have two Master degrees, one in plant genetics and breeding from Nepal and second on horticulture with minor in statistics from USA.

I am working on agrobiodiversity conservation and utilization since last 25 years through 80 different methods/approaches/ good practices. I have applied/ developed many new concepts for the management of agrobiodiversity. Some of the specific working areas are genetic enhancement of landraces, use of biotechnology, geographical information system, climate analog tool, participatory and evolutionary plant breeding, computer aided statistical training, policy formulation, etc.

I have published > 300 articles and edited 20 books and proceedings. I am serving as an Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Nepal Agricultural Research Council since 2018. Earlier I served as Editor in Chief for other journal as well and editor member for few other journals. I have been also involving on teaching Plant breeding, Genetics, Biotechnology and Statistics in different universities. I am a resource person for some topics on an international training on seed resilient system since last few years.

I had received 12 different awards including National Technology Award, and Science and Technology Youth Award. I am a member of Nepal Plant Breeding and Genetic Society, Nepal Agrobiodiversity Society, Biotechnology Society of Nepal, Society of Agricultural Scientists Nepal, Nepal Biotechnology Society.

My major contributions are:

• Establishment of base collection room (long term storage facility) and short term storage facility
• Establishment of DNA bank and Tissue bank
• Initiation of molecular lab and in-vitro tissue culture lab
• Establishment of field genebank and crop specific diversity park
• Initiation of community seed bank, community genebank, community field genebank
• Initiation of aqua pond genebank and livestock farm genebank
• Initiation of School field genebank and Household genebank (household seed bank and household field)
• Start of Office and Temple gardens (conservation through beatification)
• Establishment of agro-gene sanctuary
• Initiation of Insect genebank and Microbial genebank
• Start of Germplasm rescue and Geographical indication
• Initiation of Pre breeding, Evolutionary plant breeding, Red zoning and Red listing
• Start of celebrating national genebank and agrobiodiversity day
• Registration of native crop landraces and simplification of format for registration of native landraces
• Development of genebank operational manual
• Creation of black box facility
• Documentation of agrobiodversity and development of passport descriptors
• Agrobiodiversity policy revision and drafting of agrobiodiversity conservation and utilization bill
• Development of IMISAP (ITPGRFA-MLS strategy and action plan), etc
• Successfully produced F1 seeds (first time in Nepal) between tartary buckwheat using hot water method of emasculation
• Established a PAGE system (first time in Nepal) for DNA study
• Used first time in Nepal, leaf number method for estimating flowering days in rice
• Initiated heterosis study using CMS lines (first time in Nepal) in rice and identified restorer and maintainer lines
• Published first time in the world, descriptors for sponge gourd

Publications Weblink, if any:

1. 2020. Traditional Practices and Genetic Diversity on Chayote Landraces and their Conservation. https://www.nrsdj.com/issues-year-2020-2/traditional-practices-and-genetic-diversity-on-chayote-landraces-and-their-conservation.html#.X-3NpRbBXIV
2. 2020. Traditional Crop Biodiversity for Mountain Food and Nutrition Security in Nepal. Tools and Research Results of the UNEP GEF Local Crop Project, Nepal. https://himalayancrops.org/project/traditional-crop-biodiversity-for-mountain-food-and-nutrition-security-in-nepal/
3. 2020. SSR markers based genetic diversity in Nepalese maize landraces. https://doi.org/10.3329/sja.v18i1.48379
4. 2020. Good Practices for Agrobiodiversity Management. https://www.bioversityinternational.org/e-library/publications/detail/good-practices-for-agrobiodiversity-management/
5. 2020. Germplasm Rescue and Rebuilding Local Seed Systems in Red Zone Areas. https://doi.org/10.3126/janr.v3i2.32294
6. 2020. Genetic diversity in finger millet landraces revealed by RAPD and SSR markers. https://doi.org/10.3126/njb.v8i1.30204
7. 2020. Concept and rationale of evolutionary plant breeding and it’s status in Nepal. http://afu.edu.np/sites/default/files/Concept and rationale of evolutionary plant breeding and its status in Nepal.pdf
8. 2020. Agrobiodiversity and its Conservation in Nepal. https://doi.org/10.3126/jnarc.v6i0.28111
9. 2019. Working Groups of Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources (APGRs) in Nepal. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334052118_Working_Groups_of_Agricultural_Plant_Genetic_Resources
   _APGRs_in_Nepal_ Proceedings_of_National_Workshop_21-22_June_2018_Kathmandu
10. 2019. Twenty Four Approaches for Conservation of Non-Orthodox Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources in Nepal.: https://doi.org/10.3126/jnarc.v5i1.23801
11. 2019. On-farm Conservation Approaches for Agricultural Biodiversity in Nepal. https://doi.org/10.3126/janr.v2i1.26012
12. 2019. Neglected, underutilized, and future smart crop species in Nepal. 10.1080/15427528.2019.1703230
13. 2019. Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS), and Future Smart Food (FSF) in Nepal. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332979036_Neglected_and_Underutilized_Species_NUS_and_Future
    _Smart_Food_FSF_in_Nepal
14. 2018. Writing a Research Paper for Journal of Nepal Agricultural Research Council. http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnarc.v4i1.19695
15. 2018. Intra-Varietal Diversity in Landrace and Modern Variety of Rice and Buckwheat. https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/97576
16. 2018. Community Seed Banks in Nepal. https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/99141
17. 2017. Released and Promising Crop Varieties of Mountain Agriculture in Nepal (1959-2016). https://www.bioversityinternational.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Released_and_promising_crop_varieties.pdf
18. 2017. Rebuilding Local Seed System of Native Crops in Earthquake Affected Areas of Nepal. https://www.bioversityinternational.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Rebuilding_Gauchan_2017.pdf
19. 2017. Plant Breeding in Nepal: Past, Present and Future. http://afu.edu.np/sites/default/files/Plant_breeding_in_Nepal_Past_Present_and_Future_BK_Joshi.pdf
20. 2017. International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and Multilateral System (ITPGRFA-MLS) Implementation Strategy and Action Plan (IMISAP). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348050117_International_Treaty_on_Plant_Genetic_Resources_for_Food
    _and_Agriculture_and_Multilateral_System_ITPGRFA-MLS_Implementation_Strategy_and_Action_Plan_IMISAP?_sg=2neq9j_Ob-ZO7pOKUIc1V4Z9HClUlG3HADiwctPaug1hR0Xpy8nLGK1GbOf4-WHI7DIawBkh8I7YOVIxo8S2bbGZFhclv1oNil_tELQI.MrPVS_
    FhDCnV7Y4I4F7RMYuhncxB1BUM8io3nXLU47G41PwqHLwKRByEzlndg6-goKUlcBOdpe0Kn58Qp_yh2g
21. 2017. Crop Interdependence, Adaptation to Climate Change and the Multilateral Systems of Access and Benefit Sharing: The Case of Nepal. https://doi.org/10.5958/0976-1926.2017.00026.2
22. 2017. Conservation and Utilization of Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources in Nepal. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348049968_Conservation_and_Utilization_of_Agricultural_Plant_
    Genetic_Resources_in_ Nepal_Proceedings_of_2nd_National_Workshop
23. 2017. Competition among wild rice, landrace, improved cultivar and F1 hybrid rice. https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/AEJ/article/view/19887/0
24. 2017. Biotechnology for conservation and utilization of agricultural plant genetic resources in Nepal. http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnarc.v3i1.17276
25. 2016. Implementing the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in Nepal: Achievements and Challenges. https://www.bioversityinternational.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Implementing_the_International_Joshi.pdf
26. 2015. Rice and wheat gene pools in Nepal (1959-2002). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321309500_Rice_and_wheat_gene_pools_in_Nepal_1959-2002
27. 2015. Molecular markers for Septoria Leaf Spot (Septoria lycopersici Speg.) resistance in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/NJB/article/view/14230
28. 2015. Genetic parameters of common wheat in Nepal. https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/JNARC/article/view/15718
29. 2014. Rice and Buckwheat Genetic Resources in Karnali Zone. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321329771_Rice_and_Buckwheat_Genetic_Resources_in_Karnali_Zone
30. 2014. Molecular Marker Aided Breeding for Blast Resistant Rice in Nepal. https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/AEJ/article/view/19831
31. 2014. Farmers’ knowledge on and on-station characterization of Bhate Phaper (rice Tartary buckwheat). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321330002_Farmers%27_Knowledge_on_and_On-station_Characterization_of_Bhate_Phaper_Rice_Tartary_Buckwheat