AMRIT KUMAR NAYAK

Ahalya Niwas, Ramadevi Samabaya Nagar, Jagatpur, Pin-754021

Cuttack

Odisha

23 Feb 1996

Male

ABOUT ME

I am a dedicated and enthusiastic researcher with a strong passion for Genetics and Plant Breeding, committed to advancing crop improvement through innovative research. I possess expertise in molecular breeding, genomics, and bioinformatics, with hands-on experience in the application of modern breeding tools for trait dissection and genetic analysis. During my postgraduate research, I conducted Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) for yield and yield-related traits in rice, identifying genomic regions associated with agronomically important traits. Currently, as a Ph.D. scholar, I am undertaking GWAS for Fusarium wilt resistance in chickpea to uncover genetic loci contributing to disease resistance. I have also worked on Bulk Segregant Analysis (BSA) in chickpea for the identification of genomic regions linked to target traits. My long-term career goal is to pursue scientific research, contribute to the development of climate-resilient and high-yielding crop varieties, and serve the nation as a scientist through impactful agricultural innovations.

09937536059

amritnayak1996@gmail.com

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Academic Qualification

Matriculation in Maths, Science, English, Social Science, Sanskrit

Modern Public School, Balasore, Odisha, CBSE

2003 – 2011

10 CGPA

12th in Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Biology, English, Alt. English

Ravenshaw Junior College, Cuttack, Odisha, CHSE, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

2011 – 2013

75.83% Percentage (%)

B.Sc. Agriculture (Hons.) in Agriculture

College of Agriculture, OUAT, Chiplima, Sambalpur, Odisha, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

2015 – 2019

8.18 OGPA

M.Sc. Agriculture in Genetics and Plant Breeding

Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj, Uttar pradesh, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh

2019 – 2021

8.02 CGPA

Ph.D. Agriculture in Genetics and Plant Breeding

Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh

2022 – 2026

8.39 OGPA

Research Work/ Internships

Association Mapping for yield and yield attributing traits in Rice

ICAR/SAU

Guide: Gera Roopa Lavanya, Associate Professor, Dept. of Genetics and Plant Breeding, SHUATS, Prayagraj

1 year Months

Thesis

Conducted genome-wide association mapping for yield and yield-attributing traits in a diverse panel of 88 rice varieties using 142 candidate gene-derived SSR (cgSSR) markers. Performed population structure, kinship, and principal component analyses to account for genetic stratification and improve association accuracy. Identified 42 significant marker-trait associations across 12 agronomic traits, including several novel associations. Detected candidate genes such as OsGID1 and IDEF1 associated with grain yield per plant, explaining substantial phenotypic variation. The study generated valuable molecular markers and candidate genes for marker-assisted breeding aimed at enhancing rice yield and plant architecture.

Association Mapping for Fusarium Wilt Resistance in Chickpea

ICAR/SAU

Guide: Dr. P.K. Singh, Professor, Dept. of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CSAUAT, Kanpur

36 Months

Thesis

Conducting genome-wide association mapping to identify molecular markers linked to Fusarium wilt (Foc-2) resistance and agronomic traits in chickpea. Developed and evaluated a diverse association mapping panel comprising 100–150 chickpea genotypes under Fusarium wilt sick plot conditions at ICAR-IIPR, Kanpur. Performed comprehensive phenotypic characterization for disease resistance, yield, and yield-related traits, alongside genotyping using SSR markers. Applied population structure analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and marker-trait association analysis using TASSEL, GAPIT, and STRUCTURE software to identify genomic regions associated with Fusarium wilt resistance and key productivity traits. The research aims to discover resistant germplasm and diagnostic molecular markers for marker-assisted breeding and the development of disease-resistant, high-yielding chickpea cultivars.

BSA-Seq-Based Mapping of Ascochyta Blight Resistance in Chickpea

ICAR/SAU

Guide: Dr. A.K. Srivastava, Principal Scientist, ICAR-IIPR, Kanpur

24 Months

Project

Contributed to the identification of genomic regions associated with Ascochyta blight resistance in chickpea using a Bulked Segregant Analysis coupled with sequencing (BSA-Seq) approach. Participated in phenotyping of an F₂:₃ mapping population under disease hotspot conditions, DNA extraction, marker validation, and bioinformatics analysis. Assisted in SNP and InDel discovery from whole-genome resequencing data and identification of candidate QTL regions using QTL-seq analysis. The study identified putative genomic regions on chromosomes 2, 4, and 5 associated with resistance, providing valuable resources for marker-assisted breeding of Ascochyta blight-resistant chickpea cultivars.

Research Paper

Amrit Kumar Nayak, Anilkumar C, Sasmita Behera, Rameswar Prasad Sah, Gera Roopa Lavanya, Awadhesh Kumar, Lambodar Behera, Muhammed Azharudheen Tp

"Genetic Dissection of Grain Size Traits Through Genome-Wide Association Study Based on Genic Markers in Rice"

Rice Science

2022 - Vol. 29 (5), pp. 462-472

Rameswar Prasad Sah, Amrit Kumar Nayak, Anilkumar Chandrappa, Sasmita Behera,Muhammed Azharudheen TP and G Roopa Lavanya

"cgSSR marker-based genome-wide association study identified genomic regions for panicle characters and yield in rice (Oryza sativa L.)"

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture

2022 - Vol. 103 (), pp. 720-728

T. P. Muhammed Azharudheen, Amrit Kumar Nayak, Sasmita Behera, C. Anilkumar, Bishnu Charan Marndi, Debashis Moharana, Lalan Kumar Singh, Sameer Upadhyay, Rameswar Prasad Sah

"Genome‑wide association analysis for plant type characters and yield using cgSSR markers in rice (Oryza sativa L.)"

Euphytica

2022 - Vol. 218 (69), pp. 1-13

Ruchi Bishnoi, Shailesh Marker, Amrit Kumar Nayak, Preeti Basser, Mayank, Kamal Kumar Sharma

"Morphological characterization and morphological traits based genetic diversity analysis of farmer’s pea (Pisum sativum L.) Varieties of Uttar Pradesh using DUS descriptors, as per PPV and FRA, 2001"

Legume Research - An International Journal

2023 - Vol. 46 (7), pp. 830-836

Review paper

Advances in genomics-assisted breeding strategies for enhancing nutrient uptake and use efficiency in cereals: A pathway toward sustainable agriculture

Gurjeet Singh, Om Prakash Raigar, Simardeep Kaur, Ruchi Bishnoi, Kinjal Mondal, Kibrom B. Abreha, Amrit Kumar Nayak, Tabinda Athar, Vinay Sharma, Danishta Aziz, Santosh Gudi, Pawan Saini, Amit Kumar, Rakesh Bhardwaj, Amritbir Riar

Plant Stress

2025 · Vol. 18 (0) · pp. 101002

Utilization of MADS-Box genes for agricultural advancement: current insights and future prospects

Anupam Tripathi, Kiran Vishwakarma, Sandhya Tripathi, Jyoti Singh Jadaun & Amrit Kumar Nayak

Molecular Biology Reports

2026 · Vol. 53 (17) · pp. 1-20