On-campus DST-ANRF Govt of India funded Internship Program was conducted from 01.10.2025 to 31.10.2025 under the theme “Development of Diagnostics for Viral Diseases of Horticultural Crops” held at Plant Virology Laboratory. Two PG students (DST-Interns) namely Ms.Midhat Farooq and Ms.Irtiza Tabasum enrolled as PG scholars of Plant Pathology at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology, Kashmir, were selected based on their area of research and interest.

The program was inaugurated by Dr.B.L.Manjunath, Principal Scientist., Division of Fruit crops and Nodal Officer (HRD), and highlighted the HRD unit advantages to research scholars. During the thirty days schedule, provided hands-on-training exposures starting from symptomatology, nucleic acid extractions, PCR, cDNA synthesis, RT-PCR, qPCR, LAMP–PCR, DAC-ELISA, Immunostrip method of detection, Scanning Electron Microscopy, gene cloning, competent cell preparations, plasmid DNA extraction, one step SYBR green based RT-PCR detection and Two step RT-PCR detection techniques in viral diagnostics of horticulture crops.

To the participants food and accommodation was provided in Staff Canteen and Guest House of ICAR-IIHR campus. Further, transport facility and medical facility were also provided to DST–ANRF Interns. During the program Dr.D.K.Samuel, Principal Scientist and Dr.V.Venkataravanappa, Senior Scientist, successfully served as Course Associates. The Director Cell, PME Cell, lab members, divisional staff, photography section, and administration staff were provided consistent support to conduct this program.

During the schedule, Dr.Kishor S Mankar IFS, Chief Conservator of Forest, Yavatmal, Maharashtra, visited the campus, division of crop protection and interacted with DST Interns and Director-IIHR. Further, the program was concluded on 31.10.2025 with the best wishes of Director IIHR and distributed the certificates and memento to the participants and course associates for successful completion of the program. The HoD (CP) provided the constant support to conduct this event.

The whole program was organized by Dr.B.Mahesha, Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-IIHR Bangalore, as Course Director and Principal Investigator of the DST-ANRF funded project “Molecular diagnosis, characterization and discovery of seed transmission mechanism of Yellow mosaic disease in ridgegourd (Luffa acutangula L.) (SERB F.NO.EEQ/2022/001015 Dated: 19.01.2023)”