Kamal Khadka

• Broaden Brassica genetic base
• Investigate advanced breeding methods and tools to improve Brassica cultivars
• Develop superior Brassica cultivars suitable for Idaho, the Pacific Northwest and other regions of the United States
• Adopt a participatory approach to breeding to develop client-oriented Brassica cultivars
• International research and development

• Khadka K., Kaviani, M., Raizada, M.N., Navabi, A. Phenotyping and Identification of Reduced Height (Rht) Alleles (Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b) in a Nepali Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Diversity Panel to Enable Seedling Vigor Selection. Agronomy. 2021; 11(12):2412. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11122412.
• Khadka, K., Burt, A. J., Earl, H. J., Raizada, M. N., and Navabi, A. (2021). Does leaf waxiness confound the use of NDVI in the assessment of chlorophyll when evaluating genetic diversity panels of wheat ? Agronomy 11, 486. doi:https://doi. org/10.3390/agronomy11030486.
• Khadka, K., Earl, H., Raizada, M., and Navabi, A. (2020a). A physio-morphological trait-based approach for breeding drought tolerant wheat. Front. plant 11, 715. doi:10.3389/fpls.2020.00715.
• Khadka, K., Torkamaneh, D., Kaviani, M., Belzile, F., Raizada, M. N., and Navabi, A. (2020c). Population structure of Nepali spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germplasm. BMC Plant Biol. 20, 530. doi:10.1186/s12870-020-02722-8.
• Khadka, K., Raizada, M. N., and Navabi, A. (2020b). Recent progress in germplasm evaluation and gene mapping to enable breeding of drought-tolerant wheat. Front. Plant Sci. 11, 1149. doi:10.3389/fpls.2020.01149.
• Witcombe, J. R., Khadka, K., Puri, R. R., Khanal, N. P., Sapkota, A., and Joshi, K. D. (2017a). Adoption of rice varieties. 2. Accelerating upake. Exp. Agric. 53, 627–643. doi:10.1017/S0014479716000624.
• Witcombe, J. R., Khadka, K., Puri, R. R., Khanal, N. P., Sapkota, A., and Joshi, K. D. (2017b). Adoption of rice varieties - I. Age of varieties and patterns of variability. Exp. Agric. 53, 512–527. doi:10.1017/S0014479716000545.

My current research focus is on the development of genetically superior Brassica cultivars (oilseed/condiment mustard/oilseed for biodiesel) suited to the diverse Idaho environments, the Pacific Northwest and other regions in the United States. Recently, I evaluated corn hybrids to assess the heritable contribution of the microbiome to hybrid vigor and field variation. Specialized in plant breeding and genetics; the highlight of my career includes a major contribution to the participatory research and development, and registration of two maize and four rice varieties for the hills and high production potential areas of Nepal, respectively. I developed a deep fascination for conservation breeding after my engagement in the assessment of landraces of NUS crops such as small millets and ricebean. Involvement in wheat, dryland rice, high-altitude rice and potato breeding programs helped me tremendously to broaden my knowledge. Furthermore, I contributed to writing successful grants totalling ~ $8 million (USD) funded by DFID (UK), USAID, Global Affairs Canada through IDRC (Ottawa, Canada) and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) for different multi-national and multi-partner projects. It is also extremely satisfying that I had the opportunity to work in a large sphere of collaboration including GOs, I/NGOs, Universities, CGIAR centers, donor agencies and farming communities.

• Best poster presentation award (second position): Poster presented at the 9th Canadian Wheat Fusarium Head Blight (CWFHB) and 4th Canadian Wheat Symposium (CWS) Conference, November 18-23, 2018, Winnipeg, Canada
• Best poster presentation award (first position): Poster presented at the 88th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Phytopathological Society (CPS) and the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society of Agronomy (CSA), June 18-22, 2017, Winnipeg, Canada
• IDRC Graduate Research Award, International Development Centre (IDRC), Canada 2017
• Craig Pearson International Scholarship, Ontario Agriculture College, University of Guelph, 2016
• Best Technical Officer Award, Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), Nepal, 2009