1. Neha Chaudhary, Deepak Kothari, Swati Walia, Arup Ghosh Pradip Kumar Vaghela and Rakesh Kumar. 2023. Biostimulant enhances growth and corm production of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in non-traditional areas of North western Himalayas. Frontiers in Plant Science. Sec. Plant Nutrition. Vol.14 . https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1097682. (IF 6.627).
2. Neha Chaudhary, Swati Walia and Rakesh Kumar*. 2023. Functional composition, physiological effect and agronomy of future food
   quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.): A review. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 118 (2023) 105192. (IF 4.52).
3. Swati Walia, Pawan Kumar, Dinesh Kumar and Rakesh Kumar*. 2023. A preliminary study on suitability of growing ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) in the Western Himalayan region. Plant Science and Environment  https://doi.org/10.17221/288/2022-PSE.
4. Yog Raj, Nilofer Ali, Aparna Maitra Pati and Rakesh Kumar,* 2022. Cleaner production technologies for the amelioration of soil health, biomass, and metabolites in Ocimum basilicum L. under Indian western Himalayas. Frontiers in Plant Science. Sec. Plant Physiology 13:976295. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.976295 (IF 6.627).
5. Amit Kumar, Mamta Devi, Rakesh Kumar and Sanjay Kumar. 2022. Introduction of high value Crocus sativus (Saffron) cultivations in new non-traditional regions of India through ecological modelling. Scientific Reports 12, 11925 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-15907-y. (IF 4.996).
6. Shalika Rathore and Rakesh Kumar. 2022. Dynamics of phosphorus and biostimulants on agro-morphology, yield and essential oil profile of German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) under acidic soil conditions of the western Himalaya. Front. Plant Sci., Sec. Plant Physiology. .https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.917388  (IF 6.627).
7. Shalika Rathore  and Rakesh Kumar* 2022. Essential oil content and compositional variability of lavandula species cultivated in the mid hill conditions of the western Himalaya. Molecules. 2022 Jun; 27(11): 3391. doi: 10.3390/molecules27113391 (IF 4.927).
8. Shalika Rathore, Srijana Mukhia, Smita Kapoor, Vinod Bhatt, Rakshak Kumar and Rakesh Kumar. 2022. Seasonal variability in essential oil composition and biological activity of Rosmarinus officinalis L. accessions in the western Himalaya. Scientific Reports 12, 3305 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07298-x (IF 4.379).
9. Swati Walia, Shalika Rathore, Saizal Jamwal and Rakesh Kumar. 2022. The combined response of elevated CO₂ and temperature on Valeriana jatamansi Jones with worm manuring in the western Himalaya: Integrating growth, biomass and quality. Horticulture Environment and Biotechnology. 63, 161–172. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-021-00386-3 (IF 1.842).
10. Swati Walia, Shalika Rathore and Rakesh Kumar. 2022. Elucidating the mechanisms, responses and future prospects of medicinal and aromatic plants to elevated CO2 and elevated temperature. Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Volume 26, February 2022, 100239.   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmap.2021.100365 (IF 3.4).
11. Ramesh Chauhan, Sanatsujat Singh, Vikas Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Amit Kumari, Shalika Rathore, Rakesh Kumar and Satbeer Singh. 2022.  A comprehensive review on biology, genetic improvement, agro and process technology of German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.).  Plants, 11, 29. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11010029 (IF 4.658).
12. Shalika Rathore, Yog Raj, Pritam Debnath, Manish Kumar, and Rakesh Kumar. 2022. Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, agrotechnology, and conservation of Inula racemosa Hook f. - A critically endangered medicinal plant of the western Himalaya. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 283: 114613 (IF 5.195). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2021.114613.
13. Janardan Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Anil K. Choudhary, Shilpa and Shalika Rathore 2021. Agricultural diversification through medicinal and aromatic crops – A review. Indian Journal of Agronomy. 5th IAC Special Issue: Volume II: 73-83.
14. Swati Walia, Tirthankar Banerjee and Rakesh Kumar*. 2021. Efficacy of weed management techniques on weed control, biomass yield and soil herbicide residue in transplanted wild marigold (Tagetes minuta L.) under high rainfall conditions of western Himalaya. Agronomy. 11, 2119. https://doi.org/10.3390/ agronomy11112119 (IF 3.949).
15. Shalika Rathore and Rakesh Kumar*. 2021. Agronomic interventions affect the growth, yield, and essential oil composition of German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) in the western Himalaya. Industrial Crops and Products 171, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2021.113873.  (IF 5.645).
16. Swati Walia and Rakesh Kumar. 2021. Elucidating the yield and quality response of Tagetes minuta L. intercropped with Zea mays L. under different spacing in the western Himalayas. Industrial Crops and Products. Volume 171, 1. Doi:   171.113850. (IF 6.449).
17. Shalika Rathore, Vinod Bhatt and Rakesh Kumar, 2021. Post-harvest storage and distillation time of Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Steud.) W. Watson biomass affects essential oil content and composition in the Western Himalaya. Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants. 24:4, 826-840.DOI: 10.1080/0972060X.2021.1957721  (IF 1.699).
18. Yog Raj, Anil Kumar, Sampa Das, Vidyashankar Srivatsan, Dinesh Kumarand Rakesh Kumar. 2021. A comparative analysis of compositional and phytochemical attributes in fruits of low chilling apple varieties cultivated in eastern and western Himalaya. Scientia Horticulturae. 286; 110221. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110221 (IF 4.342).
19. Deepak Kothari, Rajesh Thakur and Rakesh Kumar.  2021. Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) - Gold of the spices: a comprehensive review. Horticulture Environment and Biotechnology. 62 (3) DOI. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-021-00349-8.(IF 2.138).
20. Meenakshi Thakur and Rakesh Kumar. 2021. Light conditions and mulch modulates the damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) yield, quality and soil environment under mid hills conditions of the western Himalaya. Industrial Crops and Products.  Volume 163, May 2021, 113317 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2021.113317 (IF 6.449).
21. Deepak Kothari, Meenakshi Thakur, Robin Joshi, Amit Kumar, and Rakesh Kumar, 2021. Agro-climatic suitability evaluation for saffron production in areas of the Western Himalaya. Frontiers in Plant Science. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.657819. (IF 6.627).
22. Kaundal, M., Sharma, R., Vats, S.K., Singh, B. and Kumar, R., 2021. Elevated CO2 temperature and vermicompost effect on growth, phenology, biomass and hypericin content of Hypericum perforatum in the western Himalayas. Plant Physiology Reports 1-12. DOI: 10.1007/s40502-021-00571-7.
23. Swati Walia and Rakesh Kumar. 2021. Nitrogen and sulfur fertilization modulates the yield, essential oil and quality traits of wild marigold (Tagetes minuta L.) in the western Himalaya. Front. Plant Sci., 18 January 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.631154  (IF 5.753).
24. Swati Walia and Rakesh Kumar, 2021. Wild marigold (Tagetes minuta L.) biomass and essential oil composition modulated by weed management techniques. Industrial Crops and Products. 161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2020.113183 (IF 5.645).
25. Meenakshi Thakur and Rakesh Kumar 2021. Mulching: Boosting crop productivity and improving soil environment in herbal plants. Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants.  20(1):100287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmap.2020.100287 100287 (IF 3.4).
26. Shalika Rathore, Pritam Debnath and Rakesh Kumar*. 2021.Kuth Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch.: A critically endangered medicinal plant from Himalaya.  Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. 20(4):100277: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmap.2020.100277 (IF 3.4).
27. Meenakshi Thakur and Rakesh Kumar 2021.  Microclimatic buffering on medicinal and aromatic plants: A review. Industrial Crops and Products. Volume 160, February 2021, 113144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2020.113144.  (IF 5.645).
28. Munish Kaundal and Rakesh Kumar 2020. Effect of elevated CO₂ and elevated temperature on growth and biomass accumulation in Valeriana jatamansi Jones. under different nutrient status in the western Himalaya. J Agromet 22 (4) 419-428 (IF 0.548).
29. Meenakshi Thakur and Rakesh Kumar 2020. Foliar application of plant growth regulators modulates the productivity and chemical profile of damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) under mid hill conditions of the western Himalaya. Industrial Crops and Products 158.:113024. Doi.: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2020.113024 (IF 5.645).
30. Shalika Rathore, Swati Walia, Renu Devi and Rakesh Kumar, 2020. Review on Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D. Don: a threatened medicinal plant from the Himalayas. Journal of Herbal Medicine.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2020.100395 (IF 3.032).
31. Debnath, P., Rathore, S., Walia, S., Kumar, M., Devi R. and Kumar, R. 2020. Picrorhiza kurroa: A promising traditional therapeutic herb from higher altitude of western Himalayas. Journal of Herbal Medicine.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2020.10035823: 100358 (IF 3.032).
32. Kumar, R., Sharma, S., Sharma, S., Kumari, A. Kumar, D. Nadda, G., Padwad, Y., Ogra, R.K. and Kumar, N. 2016. Chemical compositions, cytototoxicity, and insecticidal activities of Acorus calamus accessions from the western Himalaya. Industrial Crops and Products. 94:520-527. Doi.: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2016.09.024.
33. Kumar, R., Sharma S., Kaundal, M., Sharma S. and Thakur M. 2016. Response of damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) to foliar application of magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) sulphate under Western Himalayas. Industrial Crops and Products. 83:596-602. Doi: 10.2016/j.indcrop.2015.12.065. (IF 3.449)
34. Sharma S. and  Kumar R. 2015. Effect of temperature and storage duration of flowers on essential oil content and composition of damask rose (Rosa x damascena Mill.) under western Himalayas. Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmap.2015.10.001.
35. Sharma, S, Walia, S, Singh  and KumarR.  2015. Comprehensive review on agro technologies of low -calorie natural sweetener Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni): a boon to diabetic patients. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.7500.23; 96(6):1867-79.
36. Kumar, R, Sharma, S, Prasad  R  and  Dubey, Y.P.  2015. Bioorganic nutrient source effect on natural sweetener plant stevia and soil fertility in the Western Himalayas. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 46: 1170-1186. DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2015.1033545.
37. Rakesh Kumar, Saurabh Sharma, Swati Sood and Vijai K. Agnihotri  2013. Agronomic interventions for the improvement of essential oil content and composition of damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) under western Himalayas. Industrial Crops and Products  48, 171-177. (IF 3.21).

38.  Rakesh Kumar, Saurabh Sharma, Swati Sood, Vijai K.  Agnihotri and Bikram Singh. 2013. Effect of diurnal harvest and storage conditions on essential oil content and quality of damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) flowers in north western Himalayas. Scientia Horticulturae. 154 (2) 102-108.

39. Rakesh Kumar, 2009. Calibration and validation of regression model for non destructive leaf area estimation of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Scientia Horticulturae 122:142-145.

40.   Rakesh Kumar, Virendra Singh, Kiran Devi, Madhu Sharma, M. K. Singh and P. S. Ahuja 2009. State of art of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) agronomy: A Comprehensive Review. Food Review International. 25: 44-85.

Research Publications  109

Popular articles       19

Conference papers/ abstracts   47    

Training manual                    5

Book Chapters  5

Booklets   3

Technical staff

Dr Kiran Singh Saini, Senior Technical Officer,

Dr Arvind Verma, Technical Officer

Sh Kuldeep Singh Technician 2

PhD students

Ms Shalika Rathore,

Mr Yograj,

Mr Deepak Kothari,

Ms Surbhi Sharma

Project staff

Dr Swati Walia

Dr Praveen Thakur

Ms Shalika Rathore

Mr Yog Raj

Ms Neha Chaudhary

Ms Monika Rana

Mr Vijay Prakash Dhyani

Ms Meghna Thakur

Ms Saizal Jamwal

Ms Tanya bhangalia

Mr Ayush Paul

Ms Sumedha Thakur

Ms Saizal Jamwal