Dr. Shailesh Marker is working as Professor of Genetics & Plant Breeding and Principal Investigator of ICAR–All India Coordinated Research Project on Spices at Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner (Jaipur), Rajasthan. With over 21 years of experience in teaching, research, academic administration, and consultancy, he is a distinguished plant breeder specializing in wheat, maize, linseed, and seed spices.
Dr. Marker earned his Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics from Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, focusing on genetic studies in heterozygous populations of maize. He was a Gold Medalist during his M.Sc. in Plant Breeding and Genetics. Throughout his career, he has developed several high-yielding, climate-smart, and bio-fortified crop varieties. Notably, he developed two dual-purpose maize varieties and three high oil linseed varieties; all officially notified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India for commercial cultivation and seed production.
His research contributions include germplasm characterization and conservation, with maintenance and cataloging of over 100 maize, 190 linseed, and 200 farmers’ varieties. He has completed national research projects on high-temperature tolerant wheat and sustainable maize farming, and has collaborated internationally with International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.
Dr. Marker has published 85 research papers (H-index: 17; i10 index: 37, 1645 citations) across maize, wheat, linseed, and other crops, and has successfully guided 7 Ph.D. and 35 Master’s students as supervisor. He is a recipient of several prestigious honors including the SAS Fellow Award, Prof. M. S. Swaminathan Award, Dr. Akhtar Hussain Distinguished Agriculture Scientist Award, and Scientist of the Year Award.
Through his leadership in research planning, germplasm management, capacity building, and technology transfer, Dr. Marker continues to contribute significantly to crop improvement, seed production, and sustainable agricultural development.