DISTINGUISHED CHAIR, CDFD      Ph.D. from Indian Agricultural Research Instiute, New Delhi Hon. Chair Professor - Biotechnology Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad

E.A.Siddiq obtained his bachelor's degree in Botany from Madras University, and Masters and Doctoral degrees in Cytogenetics from the Indian Agricultural Research Instiute (IARI).  He began his career in 1968 as Cytogeneticist at IARI.  From 1976 to 1983, he was Senior Scientist in the same institute.  He spent 3 years in Egypt as Rice Expert during his stint at the International Rice Research Institute (1983-1986).  He returned to IARI and was appointed Professor of Genetics (1986-1987).  In late 1987, he became Project Director at the Directorate of Rice Research.  He assumed the position of Deputy Director General (Crop Science) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (1994-1997).  Between 1997 and 2002 he was National Professor (ICAR). 

Prof. Siddiq's research in genetics and plant breeding in the past three and half decades contributed significantly not only to the development of high yielding dwarf basmati and non-basmati varieties and hybrid rice, thereby boosting rice production in India but also to our understanding of the genetics and molecular basis of traits of complex inheritance in rice. 

A member of the Board of Trustees, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the Philippines, he is a member of various national and international societies and has published more than 200 research papers in reputable journals. 

Scientific Contribution
Latest Publications
Publications in press
Awards & Recognitions

• Nagaraju J, Kathirvel, M, Ramesh Kumar R, Siddiq, E.A. and Hasnain S.E. (2002) Genetic analysis of traditional and evolved Basmati and non-Basmati rice varieties using FISSR-PCR and SSR markers. PNAS 99 (9):5836-5841.
• Neeraja C.N, Sarla N and Siddiq E.A. (2002). Genetic diversity of Indian landraces of rice (Oryza sativa)  characterized by RAPD analysis.  Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology 11:1-5.
• Reddy P.M., Sarla, N and Siddiq E.A. (2002) Intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) polymorphism and its application in plant breeding. Euphytica (Accepted for publication).
• Hussain A.J., Siddiq E.A, Ali J, Gupta V.S. and Ranjekar P.K. (2002) Genetic and pyramiding of non-allelic TGMS gene sources in rice (Oryza sativa L) Euphytica (Accepted for publication).
• Hussain A.J., Gupta V.S., Ali J,  Siddiq E.A. and Ranjekar P.K. (2002) Molecular mapping of an indigenous temperature sensitive male sterility gene in rice (Oryza sativa L) Theoret. Appl. Genet. (Accepted for publication).

• Pradeep Reddy M, Sarla N, Neeraja C.N. and Siddiq E.A. (2002). Inter simple sequence repeat (AG)n and (GA)n polymorphism in A-genome Oryza species using anchored primer. Euphytica.
• Neeraja C.N., Sarla N and Siddiq E.A. (2001). Genetic diversity of Indian landraces of rice (Oryza sativa L) characterized by RAPD analysis. Curr. Sci.
• Hussain A.J., Vidya Gupta, Ali J, Siddiq E.A. and Ranjekar P.K. (2002) fine mapping of temperature sensitive genic male sterility gene in rice (Oryza sativa L) Theoret. Appl. Genet.
• Reddy P.M., Sarla N, Neeraja C.N., Reddy C.N. and Siddiq E.A. (2002) Inter simple sequence repeat polymorphism in A-genome Oryza species using anchored (AG)n and (GA)n primers. Indian J. of Biotechnology.
• Sarla N, Neeraja C.N. and Siddiq E.A. (2002) Use of anchored (AG)n and (GA)n in ISSR-PCR to assess polymorphism in Indian landraces and varieties of rice. Theoret. Appl. Genet.
• Reddy P.M., Sarla N, Neeraja C.N., Reddy L.N. and Siddiq E.A. (2002) Identification and mapping of yield enhancing QTLs introgressed from the wild species Oryza rufipogon. Theoret. Appl. Genet.
• Hari Prasad, A.S., Neeraja, C.N., Sarla N, Siddiq E.A. (2002) Identification and mapping of yield enhancing QTLs in primitive landraces. Theoret. Appl. Genet.
• Reddy V.P., Ravi Sir Deshmuk, Siddiq E.A. (2002) Genetic variability for activity and response to the effectors of the rate limiting enzyme ADP glucose Pyrophosphorylase in starch biosynthesis of rice.

• Hari Om Ashram Trust National Award for Genetics from ICAR (1976).
• Vasvik National Award for Agricultural Research & Technology from the Vasvik Foundation (1981).
• Amrik Singh Cheema Award for 1987-88.
• Silver Jubilee Medal/Memento from DRR (1990).
• Shri Om Prakash Bhasin Award for Science & Technology (1994).
• Recepient of Norman Borlaug Award (1995).
• Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award for 1995.
• Silver Jubilee Medal/Memento from INSA (1997).
• Mementos from Governments of  Tamil Nadu and Egypt for contributions to rice research.