Dr. Sewa Ram, Principal Scientist (Plant Biochemistry) and Principal Investigator, Quality & Basic Sciences, ICAR-IIWBR, Karnal is awarded Dr M V Rao Memorial Award for Distinguished Scientist 2020 for his outstanding contributions to wheat quality. He obtained his graduation and post graduation degrees from CCS Meerut University, Meerut, and doctorate from IARI, New Delhi. Working for wheat quality improvement since 1997, he has contributed significantly in the understanding of the wheat grain quality at molecular, biochemical and rheological levels that has opened new avenues for wheat breeders to improve processing and nutritional quality of wheat. In addition, he has provided tremendous support in institutional building activities by developing screening facilities for salt tolerance and wheat quality. He has characterized several genes for quality traits and salt tolerance and developed the functional marker for LMW glutenin Glu-B3b and co-dominant marker for Glu-D1 double null. His other contributions include transferring of the Glu-D1 double null trait into high yielding backgrounds and development of high phytase and low phytic acid mutants in the high yielding background of wheat for improving nutritional quality for enhanced bioavailability of Fe and Zn to human beings. He also contributed to the development of one variety each of wheat and barley and six genetic stocks.Dr. Sewa Ram has also developed several microlevel tests requiring very less amount of flour for evaluating processing and nutritional wheat quality.
Dr. Sewa Ram is the recipient of National Biotechnology Associateship Award and Overseas Award by DBT, New Delhi. He guided 6 Ph.D. and 10 M.Sc. students and published his work in leading international journals of repute on wheat quality.