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Research Interests & Focus

Dr. Pawan Shukla works in the field of mulberry–pest and mulberry–pathogen interactions using modern biotechnology and genomics tools for sustainable sericulture. His research focuses on identifying markers and QTLs linked to root rot resistance.

His laboratory also investigates pink mealybug interactions (tukra disease) using OMICS technologies, effector/elicitor molecules, and non-textile applications/value addition of silkworm byproducts (biomedical applications of fibroin, sericin, and pupal oil).

Ongoing Research Projects

Development of Silk Fibroin based composite scaffolds for bone regeneration

Code: BPS08021SNC (Jan 2026 – Dec 2028) | Budget: ₹157.60 Lakhs

Development of silkworm pupal phospholipid-based liposome for biomedical applications

Period: Jan 2025 – Dec 2027 | Budget: ₹54.00 Lakhs

Mapping & Evaluation of Mulberry Rootstock for Root rot (Lasiodiplodia theobromae) Resistance

Period: March 2024 – Feb 2027 | Budget: ₹36.09 Lakhs

Career Trajectory & Education

Scientist-D
CSB-ISBR, Bangalore (May 2024 – Present)
Scientist-C
CSB-ISBR, Bangalore (April 2021 – May 2024)
Scientist-B / C
CSR&TI, Pampore (Nov 2015 – March 2021)
Dr. D. S. Kothari Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Hyderabad (Aug 2014 – Oct 2015)
Ph.D. Plant Sciences (2014) & M.Sc. Biotechnology (2006)
University of Hyderabad, India

Selected Publications

  1. Balakrishnan IK, Dubey H, Shukla P, Debnath R, Vanitha C, Subrahmanyam G, Moorthy SM, et al. (2025). Evaluation of stable reference genes for RT-qPCR analysis in Antheraea assamensis during pathogenic infections. Molecular Biology Reports, 52(1): 668.
  2. Ashish Gautam, Vinay Sharma, Charupriya Chauhan, Anamika Thakur, Manish K Pandey, Kagolla Priscilla, Rinku Dagar, Xiaoli Jin, Pawan Shukla, Anirudh Kumar, Rakesh Kumar (2025). Fortifying crops with micronutrients for sustainable global nutritional security. Agronomy Journal, 117(3), e70086.
  3. Harshitha Prakash, C Veershetty, Pawan Shukla, G Subrahmanyam, SM Moorthy (2024). Stereo-microscopic study of the anatomy of papaya mealybug Paracoccus marginatus. Int. J. Trop. Insect Sci., 1-10.
  4. Deepika Iyyangar, Kureeckal V. Ramesh, Indira Kumar, Abhishek Singh, Rajal Debnath, Himanshu Dubey, Pawan Shukla, K. M. Ponnuvel, S. Manthira Moorthy, Gangavarapu Subrahmanyam (2024). Molecular diagnostics in sericulture: A paradigm shift towards disease diagnosis in silkworms. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata.
  5. Manudeep Rao, A. Ramesha, Himanshu Dubey, Pawan Shukla, Kangayam M. Ponnuvel, V. Sivaprasad, K. Suresh (2024). Analysis of Expression, Mutation, and Alternative Splice Variants of Candidate Genes (MLO2 and MLO6A) involved in Powdery Mildew Susceptibility in Mulberry. Plant Mol. Biol. Rep..
  6. Harshitha Prakash, Pawan Shukla, A. Ramesha, Gondi S. Arunakumar, S. Gandhi Doss, Kangayam M. Ponnuvel (2024). Evaluation of reference genes for accurate normalization of qPCR data under biotic stresses in mulberry. Scientia Horticulturae, 323, 112507.
  7. Veershetty C, Harshitha Prakash, Pawan Shukla, Kangayam M. Ponnuvel (2023). Study on the anatomy of the pink mealybug Maconellicoccus hirsutus using stereo microscopy. Int. J. Trop. Insect Sci., 43, 861–867.
  8. Gautam R, Pawan Shukla, Kirti PB (2023). Male sterility in plants: an overview of advancements from natural CMS to genetically manipulated systems for hybrid seed production. Theor. Appl. Genet., 136(9): 195.
  9. Gautam R, Meena RK, Rampuria S, Pawan Shukla, Kirti PB (2023). Ectopic expression of DnaJ type-I protein homolog of Vigna aconitifolia confers ABA insensitivity and multiple stress tolerance. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14: 1135552.
  10. Naveen Kumar Singh, Pawan Shukla, Kirti PB (2020). A CBL-interacting protein kinase AdCIPK5 confers salt and osmotic stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco. Scientific Reports, 10(1): 418.