Last Updated:17th April,2024  
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Dr. Ajit Arun Waman

Senior Scientist

Discipline Spice, Plantation, Medicinal & Aromatic Plants
Research interests and current focus:  Spices, bioprospecting, medicinal and aromatic plants, micropropagation, plant genetic resources
Research Experienced (in years): 07 Years
e-mail Id: ajit.arun@icar.gov.in
Mobile No +91 9933263441
Ongoing
Micropropagation, agro-techniques standardization and utilization of Woody Pepper (Piper pendulispicum C. DC): a Novel Spice from Andaman Islands (DBT, New Delhi funded, 2020 onwards)
AICRP on Palms (ICAR funded, 2015 onwards)
Identification and characterization of superior germplasm of cinnamon, tejpat and long pepper under Bay Islands condition (Institute funded, 2021 onwards)
CSS-MIDH (NHM) project
Completed
Exploration, characterization, micropropagation and agro-technique standardization of an important rhizomatous species-mango ginger from bay islands (Institute funded, 2015-2020)
Development Collection, characterization and utilization of natural diversity of important Spice crops From Bay Islands and evaluation of their improved varieties (Institute funded, 2015-2021)
Identified Pepper Wood (Piper pendulispicum) as a novel spice from these islands for commercialization.
Identified mango ginger (Curcuma mangga) as a potential crop for commercialization in the islands
Served as an invited speaker in the International Symposium on ‘Beyond Chemistry: Consumer Acceptance of Flavor, Food Safety and Health Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables’ organized by American Chemical Society.
Served as a Panelist in the National Workshop on ‘Development of in vitro regeneration protocol in oil palm: challenges and Opportunities’ organized by ICAR-IIOPR (February 17, 2021).
Paper entitled "A new method for commercial production of Burmese coriander in the Andaman Island" authored by Ajit Arun Waman and Pooja Bohra received Outstanding Oral Presentation Award during National E-Conference on "Biodynamic calendar and technological intervention for horticulture sustainability and health security in changing climate" (January 21-23, 2021).
Received "SPBB-Springer Young Investigator Award for Excellence in Plant Biology (2020)" from the Society for Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, New Delhi and Springer Nature, India (November 20-21, 2020).
Paper entitled "Novel spices for sustainable development and diversification of horticulture in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands" authored by Ajit Arun Waman and Pooja Bohra received Best Oral Presentation Award during the 'National Webinar on Prospective, Priorities and Preparedness of Sustainable Agriculture Development in India’ (December 28-29, 2020).
Paper entitled "First report on in vitro regeneration in Musa indandamanensis: an endemic wild banana species from Andaman and Nicobar Islands" authored by Pooja Bohra, Ajit Arun Waman and R. Karthika Devi received Best Oral Presentation Award during International E-Conference on "Advances and Future Outlook in Biotechnology and Crop Improvement for Sustainable Productivity" organized by UHS, Bagalkot (November 24-27/11/2020).)
Served as a Reviewer for DBT-BIRAC-SITARE-GYTI (Gandhian Young Technological Innovation) award
Received Best Publication Award of the Institute for the year 2018-19
Adjudged as the Best Young Scientist of the Institute for the year 2017-18
Served as an Elected Executive Member of the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Association of India (2015-18).
Serving as an Editor of Scientific Journals viz. African Journal of Agricultural Research, Academic Journals; Current Agriculture Research Journal, India; Amity Journal of Agribusiness, India.
Serving as a Reviewer of Scientific Journals viz. HortTechnology [American Society for Horticultural Sciences]; Current Science [Current Science Association]; Annals of Botany-Plants [Oxford University Press]; Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants [Elsevier]; The Philippine Agricultural Scientist [University of the Philippines, Los Baños]; Ciencia Rural [Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brasil]; International Journal of Pest Management and International Journal of Fruit Science [Taylor and Francis]; Vegetos, Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology [Springer-Nature]; The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences [ICAR]; Bioversitas- Journal of Biological Diversity[Society for Indonesian Biodiversity]; Medicinal Plants [Society for Conservation and Resource Development of Medicinal Plants, India]; Plant Cell Biotechnology & Molecular Biology [International Knowledge Press] and others.
Recipient of (a) UAS-B University Gold Medal – 2010; (b) Dr. Shama Bhat Gold Medal-2010 and (c) Dr. Suresh N. Sondur Memorial Gold Medal-2010
Recipient of DST-INSPIRE Fellowship for Doctoral Degree and ICAR-JRF for Masters’ Degree
Selected Research articles:
Ajit Arun Waman, Pooja Bohra, T.K. Roy and K.S. Shivashankara, 2021, Seed morphological and biochemical studies in wild nutmegs. Trees- Structure and Function, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-021-02091-1
Pooja Bohra*, Ajit Arun Waman* and N.A. Giri, 2021, Garcinia andamanica 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 (*combined first author)
Ajit Arun Waman and Pooja Bohra, 2020, Assisted regeneration for mass multiplication and conservation of vulnerable Myristica andamanica Hook f. from Bay Islands, India. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 67:1707–1713. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-020-00963-y
Ajit Arun Waman, 2020, Essential oil composition of clove and nutmeg from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 57(1): 95-100.
Ajit Arun Waman, Pooja Bohra and R. Karthika Devi, 2020, Performance of improved varieties of true Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl.) in Andaman Islands, India. Pantnagar Journal of Research, 18(3): 243-248.
Ajit Arun Waman and Pooja Bohra, 2020, Horticulture in urban areas: a venture beyond landscaping and crop production during the COVID pandemic. Journal of the Andaman Science Association, 25(2): 210-213.
Ajit Arun Waman, Pooja Bohra and Gayatri Chakraborty, 2019, Vegetative propagation of Piper sarmentosum Roxb.- A medicinally important species. Current Agriculture Research Journal, 7(1): 46-52.
Ajit Arun Waman, H.P. Maheswarappa, B.A. Jerard, A. Velmurugan, S. Senthilkumar and Gayatri Chakraborty, 2019, Evaluation of Intercrops in Arecanut Gardens of South Andaman Island. Journal of the Andaman Science Association, 24(1): 1-4.
Ajit Arun Waman, Pooja Bohra and Aarthi S., 2018, Propagule size affects yield and quality of Curcuma mangga Val. et Zijp.: An important medicinal spice. Industrial Crops and Products, 124: 36–43.
Waman A.A. and Pooja Bohra, 2018, Air layering in cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum L.) under Andaman and Nicobar Islands condition. Journal of Spices and Aromatic Crops, 27(1): 77-79.
Waman A.A., Pooja Bohra, Sathyanarayana B.N., Chandrashekar S.C. and Divya B.L., 2018, A Pragmatic approach for obtaining lines possessing desirable traits in Silk Banana. Erwerbs-Obstbau, 60: 9-19. DOI 10.1007/s10341-017-0331-0
Ajit Arun Waman, Pooja Bohra and Debabrata Basantia, 2018, Effect of chemical pretreatments on germination and seedling growth in Horsfieldia glabra Warb. and Semecarpus prainii King. Indian Forester, 144(1): 24-29.
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. DOI: 10.1007/s11676-017-0562-9.
Waman Ajit Arun, Smitha G.R. and Pooja Bohra, 2019, A Review on clonal propagation of medicinal and aromatic plants through stem cuttings for promoting their cultivation and conservation. Current Agriculture Research Journal, 7(3): 122-138.
Waman Ajit Arun, Pooja Bohra and Santosh Mane, 2018, Conservation and Utilization of Wild Relatives of Important Spices and Plantation Crops in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India- An Overview. Current Agriculture Research Journal, 6(3): 320-327.
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. DOI 10.1007/s10341-018-0391-9.
Ajit Arun Waman and Pooja Bohra (2016) Sustainable development of medicinal and aromatic Plants sector in India: an overview. Science and Culture, 82(7-8): 245-250.
Selected Books authored/ edited:
Ajit Arun Waman and Pooja Bohra, 2021, Perennial Underutilized Horticultural Species of India. Jaya Publishing House, New Delhi, India. pp. 1-346. ISBN: 9789390611386
Santosh S. Mane, Ajit Arun Waman, G.V.R. Joseph (2016) Book of Abstracts, National Seminar on "Ethnomedicinal Practices in Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Scope, Limitation and Prospective" held at Port Blair, India on November 11-12, 2016, pp. 1-46
Smitha G.R. and Waman A.A. (2015). A handy guide to medicinal and aromatic plants, Jaya Publishing House, New Delhi, India. pp. 1-241. ISBN: 9789384337421
Selected Book chapters:
Ajit Arun Waman, Kalyan P. Kadbhane and G.R. Karanjalker, 2021, Mango Ginger: Prospects for Domestication and Utilization. In: Medicinal Plants. Domestication, Biotechnology and Regional Importance (Eds.: H.M. Ekiert, K.G. Ramawat and J. Arora). Springer-Nature, Singapore, ISBN 978-3-030-74779-4 pp. 293-313.
Chinthamani Jayavel, Ajit Arun Waman, Saravanan Kandasamy, and Pooja Bohra, 2020, Potential of Piper Germplasm against Pathogenic Bacteria: Tropical Bay Islands in India. In: (Eds. M.R. Goyal and D.N. Chauhan) Assessment of Medicinal Plants for Human Health: Phytochemistry, Disease Management, and Novel Applications. Apple Academic Press, Canada, pp. 65-82.
Ajit Arun Waman, 2019, Plantation and spices based cropping systems for coastal and island conditions. In: An overview of integrated farming systems of coastal India (Eds. B. Gangaiah et al.). ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair, pp. 17-21.
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.
Waman A.A., Pooja Bohra and B.A. Jerard, 2018, Emerging Opportunities for Newer Spices in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In: (Eds. Abirami et al.) Spices of Islands: Potentials and way forward for profitability, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair, pp. 100-104.
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.
Waman A.A., 2017, Organic Production of Major Plantation Crops in the Context of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In: (Eds. B. Gangaiah et al.) Organic Farming in Tropical Islands of India, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair, pp. 187-189.
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.
Waman A.A., Pooja Bohra and B.A. Jerard, 2018, Aam Adrak: Dweepsamoohon ke liye ek upyukt fasal. Extension Leaflet, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.
Ajit Arun Waman, Pooja Bohra and B.A. Jerard, 2018, Mango ginger: A suitable crop for the islands. Extension Leaflet, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.
Waman A.A., Bohra P., Avinash N., Gautam R.K. and Dam Roy S., 2016, Air layering in cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) in the context of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.
Waman A.A., Bohra P., Avinash N., Asha Jyothi, Gautam R.K. and Dam Roy S., 2016, Andaman va Nicobar dweepsamooho ke sandarbh me daalchini ka gootee vidhi se gunan. ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.
Waman A.A., Bohra P. and Chakrabarty G., 2016, Coconut climbing device: A simple yet effective tool for palm management activities in the context of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.
Waman A.A., Bohra P. and Chakrabarty G., 2016, Nariyal arohan yantra: Andaman wa Nicobar dweepsamooho ke sandarbh me taad prabandhan ke liye saral wa prabhavi upkaran. ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.
Selected Popular articles: :
Ajit Arun Waman and Pooja Bohra (2020) Essential oils from spices: potential way to diversify income avenues for island farmers". Spice India, 33(10):10-13.
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.
Ajit Arun Waman, 2020, Spices quality management during COVID-19. Andaman Sheekha, English Daily, April 22, 2020.
Ajit Arun Waman and L. B. Singh, 2019, Culantro: in the Bay Islands. Spice India, 32(10): 23-26.
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.
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.
Ajit Arun Waman, Pooja Bohra and B.A. Jerard, 2018, Woody pepper: An Andamanese counterpart of pepper powder. Spice India, 31(12): 34-37.
Ajit Waman and Pooja Bohra, 2017, Sweet carambola: A wonder fruit for the islands. The Daily Telegrams (English Daily), Port Blair, 16th April, 2017.
Ajit Waman and Pooja Bohra, 2017, Mango ginger: A medicinal herb for your kitchen garden. The Daily Telegrams (English Daily), Port Blair, 2nd July, 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 and Pooja Bohra, 2017, Andaman Spices: Towards production of quality cinnamon. The Daily Telegrams (English Daily), Port Blair, 09th July, 2017.
Ajit Waman and Pooja Bohra, 2017, Promoting Andaman spices: air layering technique for production of quality cinnamon. Andaman Yugam (English fortnightly), Port Blair, 15th June, 2017.
Ajit Waman, Pooja Bohra, D. Basantia, B.L. Kashinath (2016) Pepper cultivation: An Andaman experience. Spice India 29(9): 28-30.
Professional Attachment Training at ICAR-DMAPR, Anand from 12.05.2014 to 12.08.2014.
ICAR sponsored Short Course entitled "Metabolite profiling as a selection tool for abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in horticultural crops" at ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru from 27.11.2017 to 06.12.2017.
ICAR Sponsored Winter School on "Good Agricultural Practices and Value Chain Management in High Value Low Volume Horticultural Crops" at ICAR-NRCSS, Ajmer from 01.02.2020 to 21.02.2020.
Virtual MDP on Biodiversity and Environmental Laws for Agricultural Researchers organized by ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad from 07.06.2021 to 09.06.2021.
Virtual training programme on "Plant Genetic Resources Management and Utilization" organized by ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi from 19.07.2021 to 01.08.2021.
Developed hanging structure for cultivation of Burmese coriander (Dweep HanGreens)-Technology licensed
Developed novel pro-tray cultivation systems for Burmese coriander viz. Dweep ProDhaniya and Dweep ProDhaniya Multi
Developed closed water circulation system for extraction of phytochemicals (Dweep AquaSaver).
Developed agro-techniques and value added products for Curcuma mangga.
Developed and evaluated arecanut and coconut based cropping system models for island conditions.
Standardized propagation techniques for various spices and wild relatives such as woody pepper (Piper pendulispicum), mango ginger (Curcuma mangga),
cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), tejpat (Cinnamomum tamala), endemic wild nutmegs (Myristica andamanica, Horsfieldia glabra), pipali (Piper sarmentosum) etc.
Life member of ARS Scientists Forum
Life member of Andaman Science Association, Port Blair.
Life member of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Association of India, Anand
Life member of Indian Society of Spices, Kozhikode
Life member of Indian Society of Plantation Crops, Kasaragod
Life member of Society for Promotion of Horticulture, Bengaluru
Life member of National Academy of Biological Sciences, Chennai
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