ICAR-CIARI

Discipline	Fruit Science
Research interests and current focus:	Underutilized fruits, wild relatives of fruit crops, micropropagation, postharvest management
Research Experienced (in years):	12 Years
Link of ResearchGate profile :	https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Pooja-Bohra
Link of Google scholar :	https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Sl0QqSsAAAAJ
Link of ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5851-6718
e-mail Id:	pooja.bohra@icar.org.in
Mobile No	+91 9933263442

Ongoing (As PI)
	Conservation, Bioprospection and Utilization of Selected Fruit Species of Bay Islands (2021-2026)
	Identification and characterization of superior germplasm of cinnamon, tejpat, long pepper and clove under Bay Islands condition (Co-PI)
	Application of Artificial Intelligence and Internet of things in Agriculture for efficient management (Co-PI)
Completed (As PI)
	Interventions for promotion of urban and peri-urban horticulture in the islands through immunity boosting fruits, spices and herbs (NABARD funded, 2020-2022)
	In vitro mass multiplication, characterization & habitat enrichment of two horticulturally important underutilized species from Andaman & Nicobar Islands (DBT, New Delhi funded, 2017-2020)
	Collection, characterization, evaluation and mass multiplication of unconventional native and exotic fruit crops for bay islands (Institute funded, 2015-2021)
	Development of protocols for micro-propagation of selected fruit crops for Bay Islands (Institute funded, 2015-2020)

	Developed two varieties of Malabar tamarind- DweepAgrim and Dweep Vishal, which were released by SVRC.
	Co-developed Dweep Tej-1 variety of Indian Bay Lead, which was released by SVRC.
	Identified superior germplasm of blood fruit, Andaman Kokum and Malabar tamarind
	Registered a germplasm of woody pepper with ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi as a co-developer.
	Developed two varieties of Malabar tamarind- DweepAgrim and Dweep Vishal, which were released by SVRC.
	- Identified superior germplasm of Andaman Kokum, cinnamon and P. sarmentosum.
	- Obtained Indigenous Collection numbers for more than 50 native genotypes.
	- Co-developed Dweep Tej-1 variety of Indian Bay Lead, which was released by SVRC.
	- Registered a germplasm of woody pepper with ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi as a co-developer.
	- Identified superior germplasm of Andaman Kokum, cinnamon and P. sarmentosum.
	- Obtained Indigenous Collection numbers for more than 50 native genotypes

	Serving as Editorial Board Member of BMC Plant Biology, Springer Nature since 2025.
	Elected as an Executive Councilor in Society for Promotion of Horticulture, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru for the period 2025-27.
	Received Young Scientist Award in the field of Fruit Science from Pragati International Scientific Foundation, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (2023)
	Received the Best Experimental Field award of the Institute for Garcinia Germplasm Block, as Team Leader (2023)
	Co-organized the National Conference on Spices, Aromatic and Medicinal Plants for Economic Prosperity and Economic Sustainability held during October 5-6, 2023.
	Co-organized the International Conference on "Prospects and Challenges of Environment and Biological Sciences in Food Production System for Livelihood Security of Farmers (ICFPLS-2023)" held during September 18-20, 2023.
	Serving as Review Editor for the journal- Frontiers in Horticulture since 2022.
	Received the Best Experimental Field award of the Institute for Underutilized Fruits Germplasm Block, as Team Leader (2022).
	Served as Organizing Secretary for the National Conference on Underutilized Horticultural Genetic Resources: Conservation and Utilization held during June 3-4, 2022
	Received Best Oral Presentation Award during International Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development (ICESD-2022), NEHU, Tura Campus, Meghalaya (November 24-25, 2022)
	Serving as the Technical Secretary of Andaman Science Association, Port Blair since 2022
	Invited speaker during National Online Training Programme on "Conservation, Management and Utilization of Horticultural Genetic Resources" organized by ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru (November 22-26, 2021)
	Adjudged as the Best Young Scientist of the Institute (2018-19)
	Received Outstanding Reviewer Award- 2018 for the journal ScientiaHorticulturae (Elsevier).
	Recipient of DBT- BioCARe Women Scientist Fellowship (2017-2020)
	Received Jawaharlal Nehru Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Research in Horticulture for 2014.
	Recipient of (a) UAS-B University Gold Medal – 2010 and Dr. J.C. Anand Prize (Gold Medal)-2010
	Recipient of DST-INSPIRE Fellowship for Doctoral Degree and ICAR-JRF for Masters’ Degree
	Served as a reviewer for ScientiaHorticulturae, Food Chemistry, Food Chemistry Advances, Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants [Elsevier]; Current Science [Current Science Association, India]; ActaPhysiologiaPlantarum, National Academy Science Letters, Journal of Food Science and Technology, Plant Growth Regulation,Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India, Section B: Biological Sciences, Applied Fruit Science, Plant Physiology Reports, Scientific Reports, Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Plant Methods [Springer-Nature]; International Journal of Fruit Science [Taylor and Francis]; The Philippine Agricultural Scientist[University of the Philippines, Los Baños]; Botany [Canadian Science Publishing];Journal of Horticultural Sciences [Society for Promotion of Horticulture], Fruits [ISHS, Belgium], Indian Journal of Biochmeistry and Biophysics [NISCAIR], RevistaCaldasia [Colombia University].

Selected Research articles:
	Bohra, P., Waman, A.A. & Karthika Devi, R. (2025) Extended distribution, key field notes, and morphological variations in endemic Garciniadhanikhariensis S.K. Srivastava: a step towards domestication. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-025-02534-5
	Bohra, P. and Waman, A.A. (2025) Studies on Fruit Characteristics at Different Growth Stages and Enhancement of Seed Germination in Mountain Sweet Thorn (Flacourtiamontana J. Graham). Applied Fruit Science 67, 180. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10341-025-01405-8
	Bohra, P., Waman, A.A. and Devi, R.K. (2025). Variations in horticultural characteristics in Garciniagummi-gutta (L.) N. Robson: a cash crop of the humid tropics of India. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 72: 3449-3464. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-024-02133-w
	PoojaBohra, AjitArunWaman and Karthika Devi R. (2023) Morphological and biochemical attributes of potted acerola as affected by shade conditions. Erwerbs- Obstbau, 65, 1811–1817. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10341-023-00916-6
	PoojaBohra, AjitArunWaman and R. Karthika Devi (2021). Seed fatty acid composition and germination studies in Garciniadhanikhariensis S.K. Srivastava (Clusiaceae) – a novel tropical fruit species from Bay Islands, India. International Journal of Fruit Science, 21(1): 970-978. DOI: 10.1080/15538362.2021.1951921
	PoojaBohra, AjitArunWaman, S. Senthil Kumar and H. Lembisana Devi (2021). Morphological and physicochemical studies in blood fruit (HaematocarpusvalidusBakh. f. ex Forman): A tropical fruit and natural colorant. South African Journal of Botanyhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2021.05.002
	PoojaBohra, AjitArunWaman and N.A. Giri, 2021, Garciniaandamanica King. (Clusiaceae): an important horticultural genetic resource from Indian Islands. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 68: 1675-1689.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-021-01136-1
	PoojaBohra, AjitArunWaman and B.A. Jerard, 2020, Seed germination and storage studies in seed fertile Musa indandamanensis and its conservation. South African Journal of Botany, 128: 161-166.
	PoojaBohra, AjitArunWaman, T.K. Roy and K.S. Shivashankara, 2019, Blood fruit (Haematocarpusvalidus (Miers.) Bakh. f. ex Forman): a novel source of natural food colourant. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 57(1): 381-389. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-019-04064-2.
	PoojaBohra, AjitArunWaman and B.A. Jerard, 2019, Accelerating regeneration of threatened wild banana(Musa paramjitiana L.J. Singh) endemic to Andaman and NicobarIslands, India. Current Science, 116(11): 1792-1794.
	PoojaBohra and AjitArunWaman, 2019, Morphological and Biochemical Studies in Garciniagummi-gutta (L.)Roxb.Erwerbs-Obstbau, 61(3): 217-223. DOI:10.1007/s10341-019-00419-3
	PoojaBohra, AjitArunWaman, DebabrataBasantia, HidangmayumLembisana Devi and Ezekiel Reang, 2018, Domestication and conservation efforts in Haematocarpusvalidus (Miers.) Bakh. F. ex Forman: an underutilized fruit species and natural colourant. Current Science, 115(6): 1098-1105.
	Waman A.A. and Pooja Bohra (2018) Factors governing success in shoot tip culture of bananas with special reference to mixed genomic groups: an overview. Erwerbs-Obstbau, 61(1): 9-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10341-018-0391-9
	Pooja Bohra and Ajit Arun Waman (2018) Observations on occurrence of polyembryony in four species from Bay Islands, India. Indian Forester, 144(3): 311-312
	Ajit Arun Waman, Pooja Bohra and Avinash Norman (2017) Chemical pre-treatments improve seed germination and seedling growth in Semecarpus kurzii Engl.: an ethnomedicinally important plant. Journal of Forestry Research, 29(5): 1283-1289. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-017-0562-9
Selected Books Chapters:
	Pooja Bohra, Ajit Arun Waman and S. Senthil Kumar, 2021, Haematocarpus validus (Miers.) Bakh. f. ex Forman (Menispermaceae). In: (Waman A.A. and Bohra P., Eds.) Perennial Underutilized Horticultural Species of India. Jaya Publishing house, Delhi, India, pp. 199-208. ISBN: 93-90611-38-5
	Pooja Bohra, Ajit Arun Waman and R. Karthika Devi, 2021, Musa indandamanensis L.J. Singh (Musaceae). In: (Waman A.A. and Bohra P., Eds.) Perennial Underutilized Horticultural Species of India. Jaya Publishing house, New Delhi, India, pp. 219-225. ISBN: 93-90611-38-5.
	Pooja Bohra, Ajit Arun Waman and S. Senthil Kumar, 2021, Garcinia andamanica King (Clusiaceae). In: (Waman A.A. and Bohra P., Eds.) Perennial Underutilized Horticultural Species of India. Jaya Publishing house, Delhi, India, pp. 123-130. ISBN: 93-90611-38-5.
	Pooja Bohra, Ajit Arun Waman, R. Karthika Devi and S. Senthil Kumar, 2021, Garcinia dhanikhariensis S.K. Srivastava (Clusiaceae). In: (Waman A.A. and Bohra P., Eds.) Perennial Underutilized Horticultural Species of India. Jaya Publishing house, Delhi, India, pp. 144-151. ISBN: 93-90611-38-5.
	Pooja Bohra and Ajit Arun Waman, 2019, Conservation of horticultural genetic resources. In: (Eds. B. Gangaiah et al.) An overview of integrated farming systems of coastal India. ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair, pp. 55-59.
	Pooja Bohra, Ajit Arun Waman and Sanjay Mishra, 2019, Crop Wild Relatives of Selected Perennial Horticultural Crops in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. In: (Eds. P.E. Rajasekharan and V. Ramanatha Rao) Conservation and Utilization of Horticultural Genetic Resources. Springer-Nature. pp. 425-450.
	R.K. Gautam, S. Dam Roy, A.A. Waman, Pooja Bohra, I. Jaisankar, V. Damodaran, K. Sakthivel and T. Bharathimeena, 2018, Status and strategic plan for the sustainable development of horticulture sector in Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep groups of Islands, India: Horticultural development in tropical Indian Islands. In: (Eds. D. Mandal, A.C. Shukla and M.W. Siddiqui) Sustainable Horticulture vol. 2: Food, Health, and Nutrition, Apple Academic Press, USA, pp. 145-166.
	Pooja Bohra, Waman A.A. and Anuraj A., 2017, Biotechnology as a tool for conservation and sustainable utilization of plant and seaweed genetic resources of Tropical Bay Island, India. In: (Eds. Bhore S.J., Marimuthu K. and Ravichandran M.) Biotechnology for Sustainability: Achievements, challenges and perspectives, AIMST University, Malaysia, pp. 295-304.
	Waman A.A., Bohra P., Sathyanarayana, B.N. and Hanumantharaya B.G. (2015). In vitro approaches in medicinal plants- a viable strategy to strengthen the resource base of plant based systems of medicines, In: Biotechnological approaches for sustainable development, Pullaiah T. (Ed.), Regency Publications, New Delhi, India. pp. 141-156.
Selected extension literature:
	Ajit Arun Waman and Pooja Bohra, 2019, Seed germination techniques for selected underutilized species of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Technical Bulletin, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair, pp.24.
	Bohra P., Waman A.A., Sakthivel, K., Gautam R.K. and Dam Roy S. (2016). Plant Tissue Culture: A viable technique for augmenting the productivity of banana in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Technical Bulletin, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair. pp. 1-12.
	Bohra P., Waman A.A., Gautam R.K. and Dam Roy S. (2016). Paadap Utak Samvardhan: Andaman wa Nicobar Dweepsamooho me kele ki utpadakta badhane ki prabhavi takneek. Technical Bulletin, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair. pp. 1-12.
	Bohra P., Waman A.A. and Dam Roy S. (2016). Khoon phal (Haematocarpus validus (Miers.) Bakh. f. ex Forman). Technical Bulletin,, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair, pp. 1-8.
	Pooja Bohra, Ajit Arun Waman and B.A. Jerard, 2018, Carambola/ Kaamrakh. Extension Leaflet, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.
	Pooja Bohra, Ajit Arun Waman and B.A. Jerard, 2018, Sweet carambola. Extension Leaflet, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.
	Pooja Bohra and Ajit Arun Waman, 2018, Khoonphal: Sanrakshan tatha pravardhan. Extension Leaflet, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.
Selected Popular articles: :
	Pooja Bohra and Ajit Arun Waman, 2020, Bringing back the glory of blood fruit: a success story of conservation through cultivation. The Daily Telegrams, English Daily, June 28, 2020.
	Ajit Arun Waman and Pooja Bohra (2020). CIARI-ProDhaniya: A technology for pro-tray cultivation of Burmese coriander to promote urban farming. The Echo of India, Port Blair, October 28, 2020.
	Ajit Arun Waman and Pooja Bohra, 2020, Time to cultivate woody pepper for better profits! The Echo of India, English Daily, July 8, 2020.
	Pooja Bohra, 2020, Boost your immunity: eat more fruits. Andaman Sheekha, English Daily, May 13, 2020.
	Pooja Bohra and Ajit Arun Waman, 2019, Malabar Tamarind: a profitable introduction for the Bay Islands. Spice India, 32(4): 15-18.
	Pooja Bohra and Ajit Arun Waman, 2019, Malabar imli: khaari k dweep k liye ek laabhdayak aarambh. Spice India, 4(4): 15-18. (Hindi)
	Pooja Bohra and Ajit Arun Waman, 2019, Malabar Tamarind: the Introduced Relative of Native Cow Phal. The Echo of India, August 3, 2019.
	Pooja Bohra and Ajit Arun Waman (2019). The rainy Season has arrived: let’s plant cherries. The Echo of India, July 31, 2019.
	Ajit Arun Waman, Pooja Bohra, B. Augustine Jerard and H.P. Maheshwarappa, 2019, Coconut climbing devices and dehuskers for the Nicobarese. Indian Coconut Journal, 61(11): 23-24.
	Pooja Bohra and Ajit Arun Waman, 2018, खूनफल: वनों से गृहवाटिकाओं की ओर. Bagwani, 8: 29-30.
	Ajit Waman and Pooja Bohra, 2017, Sweet carambola: A wonder fruit for the islands. The Daily Telegrams (English Daily), Port Blair, 16th April, 2017.
	A.A. Waman, Pooja Bohra, D. Basantia and Gayatri Chakraborty, 2017, Sweet husk type coconut from the Bay Islands. Indian Coconut J., 54: 31-32.
	Ajit Waman, Pooja Bohra, D. Basantia, B.L. Kashinath (2016) Pepper cultivation: An Andaman experience. Spice India 29(9): 28-30.
	Bohra P., Waman A.A., Gautam R.K., Dam Roy S. (2015) Mangosteen- A potential crop for the Islands. The Echo of India (English Daily), Port Blair, 2nd November, 2015.
	Pooja Bohra, Ajit Waman, Gourish Karanjalker and P.K. Singh (2015) Chakotra- Ek anootha nimbu. UdyanRashmi, 15(1-2): 39-41. Singh S., Pooja Bohra, Waman A.A., Baskaran V. and Dam Roy S., 2015, Career opportunities in horticulture. The Echo of India (English Daily), Port Blair, 12th February, 2015.

	Training (Virtual) on “Agripreneurship through Banana based Technologies- An Avenue for Atmanirbhar Bharat” organized by ICAR-NRC for Banana and MANAGE, Hyderabad during 15.06.2022-17.06.2022
	Online training programme on “Packaging Standards for Fruits and Vegetables” organized by Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology, Thanjavur (31.08.2021)
	Online training Programme on "Enhancing Research Skills and Refinement of Technology by a Scientist" organized by ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru from 18.01.2021 to 20.01.2021
	Virtual “MDP for Women in Development Sector” organized by MANAGE, Hyderabad from 14.12.2020 to 18.12.2020
	State level three days training programme on Gender Budgeting organized by Ministry of Women and Child Development, GoI and JNRM, Port Blair from 20.02.2020 to 22.02.2020
	ICAR Sponsored Short course on "Flow Cytogenetics and Molecular Techniques for Improvement of Horticulture Crops" at ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla from 10.02.2020 to 19.02.2020
	ICAR sponsored Summer school on "Contemporary methods of conservation and management of horticultural genetic resources" at ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru from 07.06.2016 to 27.06.2016
	Professional Attachment Training at ICAR- Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru from 12.05.2014 to 12.08.2014

	Identified endemic Garciniadhanikhariensisas a novel fruit crop from the islands.
	Identified blood fruit (Haematocarpusvalidus) as a novel source of natural colourant.
	Standardized in vitro regeneration protocol for endemic Musa indandamanensis.
	Developed technique for potted production of West Indian Cherry for urban gardening.
	Developed value added products from Curcuma mangga, Piper pendulispicum, Garcinia species and banana.
	Developed nursery techniques for the first time in Crop Wild Relatives and Underutilized fruits such as Musa indandamanensis, Musa paramjitiana, Haematocarpusvalidus, Garciniadhanikhariensis, Garciniakydia, Semecarpuskurzii, Semecarpusprainii, Myristicaandamanica, Horsfieldiaglabra, Piper sarmentosum etc.
	Developed DweepGoottee- 365, a novel technique for round the year planting material production in perennial horticultural crops.
	Identified the potential of native Garcinia species as rootstocks and their seeds as sources of fatty acids.
	Registered Industrial Designs – Air layering bag, Dweep Aqua Saver, DweepCinnRub as a co-developer.

	Andaman Science Association, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
	Life member of ARS Scientists Forum
	Life member of Andaman Science Association, Port Blair.
	Life member of Society for Promotion of Horticulture, Bengaluru
	Life member of National Academy of Biological Sciences, Chennai
	Life Member of Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi
	Society for Horticultural Research and Development, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
	Indian Pomological Society, Periyakulam, Tamil Nadu

Dr. Pooja Bohra

Senior Scientist