भा.कृ.अ.प. - केंद्रीय कपास अनुसंधान संस्थान, नागपुर

ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur

(An ISO 9001:2015 Certified Institute)

NameDr. Rahul Madhavrao Phuke
DesignationSenior Scientist
SpecializationGenetics and Plant Breeding
Date of Joining ICAR01-07-2015
Date of Joining CICR12-10-2021
Address:(Full office address, telephone with extn No., fax, email (both personal and official ICAR email ID)#316, Division of Crop Improvement, ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research, Wardha Road, Panjari Farm, Nagpur, 441108Ph: 07103-275536 (Extn. 405)Fax: 07103-275529 (Office)e-mail: rahulphuke18@gmail.com
Degree DisciplineInstitute/ UniversityYear of completion
M. Sc. / M. TechGenetics & Plant BreedingAcharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad2012
Ph. D.Genetics & Plant BreedingProfessor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University Rajendranagar, Hyderabad2015
Designation InstitutePeriod From -To
ScientistICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad01-07-2015 to 09-10-2015
Trainee Visiting ScientistInternational Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), MexicoMarch 2019 to December 2019)
ScientistICAR-IARI, RS, Indore10-10-2015 to 11-10-2021
ScientistICAR-CICR, Nagpur12-10-2021 to 31-06-2024
Senior ScientistICAR-CICR, Nagpur01-07-2024 to till date

Cotton breeding (conventional and molecular) 

Project titleFunding AgencyPeriodRole
Rapid development of high-yielding Bt cotton varieties amenable for high-density planting system. Institute Funded2023-28PI
Advancement of MAGIC population to development of core set for genetic mapping and identification of potential inbred lines.Institute Funded2022-2026PI
Development of Bt hybrids in tetraploid cotton with high yield, superior fibre quality and tolerance to jassidInstitute Funded2022-27Co-PI
Genome editing in cotton: Enhancing climate resilience and ensuring food security with genome editing tools. ICAR-EFC2024-2026CC- C0-PI
Breeding for compact Bt cotton genotypes amenable for cultivation under Assured Irrigated ConditionsInstitute Funded2025-30Co-PI
Landscape Diagnostic Survey of cotton production practices and crop performance in MaharashtraRGSTC2022-24Co-PI

CICT H Bt Cotton 65 (CICR 18 Bt) a cotton variety was notified for central zone for rainfed conditions by CVRC vide notification No. S.O. 4388(E) dated 8th October 2024:  

CICT H Bt Cotton 66 (CICR 20-31 Bt) a cotton variety was notified for central zone for rainfed conditions by CVRC vide notification No. S.O. 4388(E) dated 8th October 2024:  

CICT H Bt Cotton 40 (CICR PKV 081 Bt) a cotton variety was notified for South zone for rainfed conditions by CVRC vide notification No. S.O. 4388(E) dated 8th October 2024:  

HI 8826 (Pusa Poshtik) a durum wheat variety was released by CVRC for irrigated, timely sown conditions of peninsular zone vide gazette notification number S.O. 1056 (E) dated 6th March 2023

HI 8830 (Pusa Kirti) a durum wheat variety was released by CVRC for restricted irrigated, timely sown conditions of central zone vide gazette notification number S.O. 1056 (E) dated 6th March 2023

HI 1650 (Pusa Ojaswi) a bread wheat variety was released by CVRC for irrigated, timely sown conditions of central zone vide gazette notification number S.O. 1056 (E) dated 6th March 2023

HI 1653 (Pusa Jagrati) a bread wheat variety was released by CVRC for restricted irrigated, timely sown conditions of north west plains zone vide gazette notification number S.O. 1056 (E) dated 6th March 2023

HI 1654 (Pusa Aditi) a bread wheat variety was released by CVRC for restricted irrigated, timely sown conditions of north west plains zone vide gazette notification number S.O. 1056 (E) dated 6th March 2023

HI 1654 (Pusa Harsha) a bread wheat variety was released by CVRC for restricted irrigated, timely sown conditions of central zone vide gazette notification number S.O. 1056 (E) dated 6th March 2023

HD 3388 (Pusa Yashodhara) a bread wheat was notified for irrigated, timely sown condition of North Eastern Plains Zone vide gazette notification no. S. O. 1560 (E) dated 26th March 2024

Advanced Technological Interventions for Enhancing Sustainability in Agricultural Production and Value Chain” during 27th and 28th February 2026.

National conference on pioneering the future of Cotton Research on 24th December 2023 at Salem, Tamil Nadu, India. 

National Workshop on Cotton Yield Improvement through HDPS, March 7, 2025, Nagpur Maharashtra

Biotech Intervention in Cotton: Challenges and Opportunities” on April 4, 2024 at ICAR-CICR, Nagpur

Redefining Agriculture Research Ecosystem in Maharashtra: from Outputs to Impact” and request to co-chair the brainstorming session on 29-30 October 2025 

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2nd Rank at ICAR sponsored KRITAGYA National Level hackathon on “Speed Breeding” on 16th July 2023

Outstanding poster award at 2nd International Wheat Congress on September 11-15,2022, Beijing, China

Sl.Authors,  Year of publication, Title of Research PaperJournal Name, Volume and  Page No.First Auth./Co AuthorNAAS Journal IdNAAS Score
1Phuke, R.M., He, X., Juliana, P., Kabir, M.R., Roy, K.K., Marza, F., Roy, C., Singh, G.P., Chawade, A., Joshi, A.K. and Singh, P.K. (2022) Identification of genomic regions and sources for wheat blast resistance through GWAS in Indian wheat genotypes. Genes13(4), p.596.First AuthorG00810.14
2Mishra, A.N., Tiwari, K.N., Singh, V.K., Sivasamy, M., Pal, D., Bhardwaj, S.C., Gangwar, O.P., Prakasha, T.L., Solanki, K.S., Phuke, R.M. and Sai Prasad, S.V., 2021. Insights into the rust resistance base of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in India. Indian Phytopathology74(2), pp.537-548.Co AuthorI1125.95
3Bishnoi, S.K., Malav, P.K., Singh, K., Phuke, R.M., houdhary, S.B., Sharma, H.K. and Ahlawat, S.P. (2023). Eco-geographic Survey, In-situ Characterization and Spatial Analysis of Phenotypic Traits Diversity among the Maize Landraces Collected from Chhattisgarh. Indian J. Plant Genetic Resources. 36(2), 233-242. Co AuthorI0915.54
4Divya Ambati, Rahul M Phuke*, JB Singh, SV Sai Prasad and Sanjay Parihar. (2025) Asessment of elite Indian wheat genotypes for drought tolerance, Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding: 16 : 70 – 78 Electronic Journal of Plant BreedingCorresponding Author 5.6

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