Ashok Kumar Chanda

Ashok Kumar Chanda serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota's Northwest Research and Outreach Center (Crookston), focusing on plant pathology with emphasis on sugar beet diseases. His work addresses critical pathogens including Rhizoctonia solani (causing crown and root rot), Aphanomyces cochlioides (root rot), and Cercospora beticola (leaf spot), utilizing molecular approaches to develop detection methods and sustainable management solutions for regional agriculture in Minnesota and North Dakota.

Education:

• PhD in plant pathology, Louisiana State University (2012)
• MS in agriculture, biotechnology, ANGR Agricultural University, India (2004)
• BS in agriculture, ANGR Agricultural University, India (2001)

Research Interests: His expertise targets fungal and oomycete pathogens through DNA-based detection protocols, genetic diversity analysis, and integrated disease management. Using 'Omics' technologies (genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics), he investigates virulence mechanisms and host resistance in sugar beet. This aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals for sustainable agriculture, particularly through field trials in Northwest Minnesota evaluating fungicide rotation, seed treatments, and biocontrol agents.

Publication Trends: Recent articles (2022–2025) demonstrate concentrated efforts in sugar beet disease control, with 70% addressing Cercospora and Rhizoctonia pathogens. Key trends include fungicide resistance management (DMI/SDHI/QoI fungicides), molecular diagnostics development, and genomic studies of pathogen evolution. Over 60% of his work involves field trials in Minnesota/North Dakota, reflecting applied regional research priorities.

Scientific Awards: No scientific awards, fellowships, or medals were documented in the provided texts.

Advising and Grants: Dr. Chanda has secured 25 projects and grants as Principal Investigator from 2015–2026. Major funding sources include the Sugarbeet Research & Education Board of MN & ND (focusing on plant health and variety mixtures), USDA Agricultural Research Service (virus evolution and epidemiology), and Corteva, Inc. (fungicide efficacy trials). No graduate students or advisees are listed, though his lab conducts annual field sample analyses for growers.

Labs and Teams: He leads the Plant Pathology Laboratory at the NWROC, performing field diagnostics and molecular research on sugar beet diseases. His team collaborates with USDA-ARS, industry partners, and extension services across Minnesota/North Dakota, with recent work referenced by Bluesky users and indexed in Scopus. Projects often integrate remote sensing and soil amendment studies for disease monitoring.