Dr. K. S. Jadon is presently serving as a Senior Scientist (Plant Pathology) at ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute. He is an active member of several professional and scientific societies and has made significant contributions to the field of plant pathology. His research interests encompass integrated disease management, disease forecasting and prediction, host–pathogen interactions, disease resistance, molecular biology, aflatoxin management, and related areas.

Dr. Jadon was born and raised in Kachhola, a small village in the Bhilwara district of Rajasthan, where he completed his early education. He pursued agricultural sciences from an early stage, completing his B.Sc. (Ag.) (Hons.) from Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology. He obtained his M.Sc. from Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya and earned his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from MPUAT, Udaipur, where he was awarded a merit fellowship in recognition of his academic excellence.

During his academic career, Dr. Jadon worked extensively on bio-intensive integrated disease management, disease resistance, pathophysiology, and host–pathogen interactions. He also served as a Senior Research Fellow under a Department of Biotechnology-funded project focusing on QTL mapping in sorghum. Subsequently, he was selected for the Rajasthan State Services and worked as a Junior Marketing Officer (JMO) at APMC, gaining administrative experience before joining the Agricultural Research Service in 2010.

He began his ARS career at ICAR-Directorate of Groundnut Research, where he contributed to core research programmes and an externally funded project supported by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority. He also participated in an inter-institutional project with ICAR-National Centre for Integrated Pest Management.

In 2013, Dr. Jadon was awarded the prestigious N. E. Borlaug International Fellowship by the United States Department of Agriculture. During this fellowship, he visited North Carolina State University, where he collaborated with USAID and the Peanut Innovation Lab to develop a decision support system (Groundnut Risk Tool) for India.

Currently, at ICAR-CAZRI, Dr. Jadon is actively involved in multiple research projects funded by institute, Department of Biotechnology, and Department of Agriculture and Cooperation. His work focuses on disease forecasting, integrated disease management (IDM), and screening for disease resistance in crops of the hot arid zone, including pearl millet, cumin, and moth bean. He has contributed as a co-developer to the release of four moth bean varieties (CAZRI MOTH-4, CAZRI MOTH-5, CAZRI MOTH-6, CAZRI MOTH-7), one cumin variety (CAZRI Cumin 1, CZC-135), and one pearl millet variety (Maru Moti-1, CZH-267), identified through respective AICRP programmes.

Dr. Jadon has registered approximately 14 technologies on the KRISHI Portal, including integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, aflatoxin management approaches, improved crop varieties, and disease-resistant germplasm. He has also successfully completed a collaborative Department of Biotechnology-funded project on chilli leaf curl virus.

In 2018, he received the Endeavour Research Fellowship from the Australian Government and conducted research at University of Southern Queensland on the molecular biology of peanut rust.

Dr. Jadon has an impressive publication record with around 90 scientific contributions, including research papers, review articles, books, book chapters, and popular articles published in national and international journals. He has also reported new pathogens affecting groundnut and fenugreek in arid regions.

He actively contributes to the scientific community by organizing academic programmes and serving as a reviewer for several professional societies, including American Phytopathological Society, Indian Phytopathological Society, International Society for Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Plant Protection Association of India, Arid Zone Research Association of India, Australasian Plant Pathology Society, International Association for the Plant Protection Sciences, and International Society for Plant Pathology. He is a life member of these societies, serves on various committees, and is a Fellow of PPAI.

With his extensive research contributions, collaborative experience, and commitment to scientific advancement, Dr. Jadon is well-positioned to make meaningful contributions to Indian Phytopathological Society and the broader plant pathology community.