RESEARCH INTEREST: Development of biotic stress tolerance in legumes and other crops: Major breakthrough in productivity of different crops has still remained elusive in spite of appreciable technological advances. Strategies need to be developed for solving the problem of management of pod borers/ fruit borers and sucking pests to meet the future demand for crops. Development of insect resistance/tolerance in crop plants using various strategies is the focus area of our group. Development of transformation systems for important crop plants is another area of research. Presently we are involved in collaborative research with Bose Institute, Kolkata, Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Assam and Indian Statistical Institute, Giridih. Stress genomics of crop plants: Fungal and bacterial pathogens cause the most severe diseases of crops throughout the world. Lack of information on potential resistant genes limits breeding and gene transfer technologies.