Dr. Harsha Somashekar

Email: hsomashekar@mpipz.mpg.de

Plant biologist with an objective to decipher nature’s mysteries. Research interests (but not limited to) in plant reproduction, cell-cell signaling, meiosis, recombination. Specialized in advanced techniques/skills of cytogenetics, genetics, molecular biology and intermediate in genomics and bioinformatics skills.

Postdoctoral Researcher 

Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research (MPIPZ), Cologne, Germany 

Doctor of Philosophy (Plant Reproductive Biology ),    

Plant Cytogenetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, 

The Graduate University for Advanced studies, Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan

Thesis: “GLUCAN SYNTHASE-LIKE5 promotes anther callose deposition to maintain timely initiation and progression of meiosis in rice (Oryza sativa)”

Master of Science in Genetics and Plant Breeding 

Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Thesis: “Evaluation of wheat (Triticum aestivum) germplasm lines for spot blotch allelic test in Resistance x Susceptible fashion in F2 population”

Bachelor of Science (Agriculture),

University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India  

1. Somashekar, H., Mimura, M., Tsuda, K., & Nonomura, K. I. (2023). Rice GLUCAN SYNTHASE-LIKE5 promotes anther callose deposition to maintain meiosis initiation and progression. Plant physiology, 191(1), 400–413. https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiac488

2. Somashekar, H., and Nonomura, K. I. (2023). "Genetic Regulation of Mitosis–Meiosis Fate Decision in Plants: Is Callose an Oversighted Polysaccharide in These Processes?" Plants 12, no. 10: 1936. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12101936

1. Somashekar, H. (2024). "Chapter 4. Harnessing Genome Editing Approaches in Crop Improvement to Reshape Modern Agriculture." In SMART BREEDING, Molecular Interventions and Advancements for Crop Improvement, (Pages 105-122). Palm Bay, FL: Apple Academic Press Inc., CRC Press, 2024. ISBN 9781003361862. Published February 12, 2024. Smart-Breeding-Molecular-Interventions-and-Advancements-for-Crop-Improvement

2. Callose, an unsung polysaccharide in plant meiosis initiation and progression https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/10

3. Somashekar, H. (2022). "Impact of agro-based chemicals usage on the epigenetics of humans." GRAIN Magazine, Volume 1(3), Pages 58-64. AgriVision4U.

1. 11th SOKENDAI award for the outstanding research work accomplished as an excellent doctoral thesis, awarded on 28, September, 2023 at The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI) main campus, Hayama, kanagawa, Japan.

2. Morishima Award (2023) for the outstanding doctoral thesis in the Genetics Program, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI)

3. Best Instructor Award in gratitude for devoted teaching and guidance of NIGINTERN 2023, Summer Research Program

4. Best Paper Award at 93rdannual meeting of Genetics Society of Japan (GSJ) 2021, Tokyo, Japan, for paper entitled “Hyper accumulation of callose at extracellular spaces of anther locules is required for normal meiosis progression of male meiosis in rice (Oryza sativa L.)” https://gsj3.org/newslist/2021/news1506/

5. HIROKO MORISHIMA Progress Award for outstanding performance at 29thProgress Poster Presentation held on Sept 2nd 2021 in the Dept. of Genetics, SOKENDAI 

6. MEXT- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Monbukagakusho), Govt. of Japan Scholarship (2018-2023) for Doctoral studies in the Dept. of Genetics, SOKENDAI.

7. ICAR-NTS (Indian Council of Agricultural Research - National Talent Scholarship) for Post-graduate study in Genetics and plant breeding (2016-2018)

8. Travel Awards

i. IASPRR-Zeiss-KWS Travel award for attending 26th International Conference on Sexual Plant Reproduction (26th ICSPR), June 20-24, 2022, Prague, Zcech Republic.

ii. IASPRR-Zeiss-KWS Travel award for attending 26th International Conference on Sexual Plant Reproduction (26th ICSPR), June 20-24, 2022, Prague, Zcech Republic.

· Indian Society of Plant Breeders (ISPB)

· International Association of Sexual Plant Reproduction Research (IASPRR)

· Botanical Society of Japan (BSJ)

· Japanese Society for Breeding (JSB)

· Japanese Society of Plant Physiology (JSB)