Dr. Veena Devi joined Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, as a Biochemist (Rice) on May 18, 2026 and shifted to Department of Biochemistry as Biochemist on June 01, 2026. She earned her B.Sc. (Medical) degree from Government College for Girls, Ludhiana, in 2015, followed by M.Sc. (Biochemistry) in 2017 and Ph.D. (Biochemistry) in 2022 from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Before joining PAU, she served as Young Professional-II (April 2022–March 2024) and Senior Research Fellow (March 2024–July 2025) at the ICAR–Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR), Ludhiana. She subsequently worked as a Senior Research Fellow at ICAR–ATARI, Zone-I, Ludhiana (July–October 2025), and later re-joined ICAR–IIMR, Ludhiana, as a Senior Research Fellow (October 2025–March 2026) and as a Young Professional-II (April–May 2026). Her area of specialization is Plant Biochemistry. She has published 21 research and review articles in peer-reviewed journals, authored 3 book chapters, and pre
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Biochemistry
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Biochemistry, Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Plant Science, Agricultural and Biological Sciences
21
Scopus Publications
166
Scholar Citations
8
Scholar h-index
8
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Protein-Based Biomaterials in Food Packaging Mehak Sethi, Veena Devi, Harmandeep Kaur, Sonia Devi, Amanpreet Kaur Sustainable Biomaterials for Food Packaging, 2026 Biomaterials are substances that are designed to be compatible with biological systems. Different polymers have been used as biomaterials, with protein-based biomaterials (PBB) being of extensive popularity. Protein-based biomaterials can be extracted from natural sources or can be synthesized manually. There is a wide range of PBB, both natural (collagen, gelatin, zein) and synthetic (peptide-based biomaterials). The natural sources for PBB include animals, plants, and microorganisms. PBBs are usually formed from structural proteins with unique tandem repeats that strengthen the biological systems. Protein-based biomaterials have paved the way for modern-day research in food packaging industries, which plays a major role in forming films and coatings for perishable food items. The higher compatibility with natural systems and easy degradability are the major properties that make PBB a material of choice for many research programs and food industries. Along with it, PBBs are benign, cost-effective, and easily available. Although PBBs sometimes elicit antigenic responses in the recipient system, they hinder their effective use. Another issue associated with PBBs in food packaging is batch-to-batch variability and extensive production procedures. These issues generate research gaps that need to be addressed shortly. The chapter outlines the aspects, including the advancements of PBB in food packaging, their properties, extraction, synthesis, and industrial application in food packaging. Moreover, current challenges associated with PBB and future approaches that can be beneficial in overcoming these issues are elaborated.
Nutritional and mineral profiling of wild okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) seeds accessions: Insights into seed composition Amandeep Kaur, Manjeet Kaur Sangha, Veena Devi, Mamta Pathak, Nirmaljit Kaur Heliyon, 2025 Okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus ), a nutritionally significant crop, is widely cultivated but suffers substantial yield losses due to viral pathogens such as Okra Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (YVMV). Wild Abelmoschus species represent critical genetic reservoirs for enhancing resistance to biotic stresses and improving the nutritional profile of cultivated varieties. The present study was designed to conduct the biochemical characterisation of seeds from six wild Abelmoschus accessions, analysing oil, fatty acid, mineral, and protein profiles. The results showed that oil content ranged from 11.23 to 27.61 %, with Abelmoschus mizonagenesis recording the highest levels. Gas chromatography analysis revealed high proportions of key fatty acids including palmitic acid (22.57–26.25 %), oleic acid (23.51–34.47 %), linoleic acid (31.49–48.18 %) along with a few other minor fatty acids present in trace levels. Mineral estimation using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) indicated notable variation, with high calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron concentrations. Abelmoschus tuberculatus exhibited the highest crude protein (27.09 %) and soluble protein (19 %) content. These findings underscore the nutritional value of wild Abelmoschus species, particularly Abelmoschus mizonagenesis and Abelmoschus tuberculatus , highlighting their potential for addressing malnutrition and enhancing dietary diversity. Okra is a good source of protein concentrates; promoting the cultivation and consumption of wild okra seeds can alleviate malnutrition and thus act as a potential cheap source of protein, especially in developing countries. Additionally, these accessions offer valuable traits for breeding programmes to improve cultivated okra varieties.
Editorial: Precision trait mapping and molecular breeding in high-impact crop plants Dinesh Kumar Saini, Mamta Gupta, Alla Singh, Mehak Sethi, Veena Devi, et al. Frontiers in Genetics, 2025 Modern crop improvement is going through a major transformation. The convergence of high-resolution genotyping, phenomics, and bioinformatics now enables breeders to uncover the genetic architecture of complex traits with unprecedented precision. This integration has reshaped breeding pipelines from single-trait selection toward systems that simultaneously target yield, resilience, and nutritional quality. The Research Topic "Precision Trait Mapping and Molecular Breeding in High-Impact Crop Plants" in Frontiers in Genetics features six studies that tackle key breeding challenges across cereals, legumes, and oilseeds. Collectively, these papers illustrate how cutting-edge molecular tools, genomics, and translational breeding strategies can be deployed to dissect traits, harness genetic diversity, and design future-ready crop ideotypes capable of addressing both productivity and nutritional demands.Improving the nutritional quality of staple cereals is a global priority. Two studies in this Research Topic by Kapoor et al. and Kumar et al. focus on dietary fibre biofortification in wheat. Kapoor et al. analyzed 478 genotypes including cultivars, tetraploids, and wild relatives, and found large variation in β-glucan and arabinoxylan content. Wild Aegilops species, especially A. peregrina and A. kotschyi, showed higher fibre and protein levels, highlighting their value for improving wheat nutrition. Building on this, Kumar et al. used precision breeding to introduce high β-glucan alleles from A. kotschyi into hexaploid wheat. Using marker-assisted selection and cytogenetic validation, they developed BC2F2:3 lines with up to 1.76% β-glucan, along with yellow rust resistance and good agronomic traits. Together, these studies demonstrate a complete pathway from genetic diversity exploration to precision introgression, showing how molecular tools and classical breeding can together enhance the nutritional and agronomic quality of wheat.Crop improvement increasingly depends on high-resolution trait mapping to speed up the discovery of genes controlling yield, stress tolerance, and quality. Two studies in this Research Topic highlight this shift toward precision genomics in complex trait analysis. In sweet sorghum, Umar et al. conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 183 accessions using 14,819 high-quality SNPs and identified 21 significant QTNs linked to agronomic and sugar-related traits, explaining 5 to 14% of variation. Key candidate genes were linked to flowering, ethylene response, and biomass accumulation, revealing how carbon partitioning and growth timing shape bioenergy potential. In maize, Kaur et al. addressed resistance to the stem borer Chilo partellus, a major tropical pest, using an F6 recombinant inbred population derived from cultivated maize (LM13) and teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis). Using SSR and SNP markers, they identified four QTLs (qLIR_4.1, qLIR_9.1, qDH_1.1, and qDH_2.1) associated with resistance traits such as leaf injury rating and dead-heart percentage. This represents one of the first reports of Chilo partellus resistance QTLs in Asia and highlights teosinte as a valuable source of pest resistance alleles. Together, these studies show how population genomics and wild introgression can enhance resilience and resource-use efficiency, key foundations for sustainable crop improvement.While cereals dominate global caloric supply, legumes remain essential for protein and micronutrient security. Du et al. contributed a landmark synthesis through the first comprehensive meta-analysis of yield and yield-related quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in mungbean (Vigna radiata). By consolidating 660 QTLs reported over two decades, the study refined them into 72 meta-QTLs (MQTLs) with sixfold narrower confidence intervals and validated 20 through independent GWAS studies. Beyond data integration, the study also examined colinearity between mungbean and common bean genomes, revealing 22 orthologous MQTLs associated with conserved yield determinants such as seed size, tiller number, and plant height. The identification of breeder MQTLs, regions with clusters of favorable alleles supported by literature and validation, represents a key step toward practical use. This approach shows how meta-genomics and comparative analysis can turn scattered QTL data into usable targets for marker-assisted and genomic selection in legumes.Hybrid seed technology is one of the most effective ways to use heterosis, but its success depends on stable male sterility and fertility restoration systems. Addressing this challenge, Wang et al. developed a new breeding approach for Brassica napus (rapeseed) by creating Ogura cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) restorer lines without relying on external restorer sources. By crossing a doubled haploid induction line with Ogura CMS plants, they unexpectedly obtained fertile offspring with 97.7% mitochondrial genome similarity but with key nuclear differences that restored fertility. Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) mapped restorer gene candidates to three regions, A09 (10.99 to 17.20 Mb), C03 (5.07 to 5.34 Mb),and C09 (18.78 to 36.60 Mb), showing that restorer alleles can be induced naturally through genomic recombination. This breakthrough removes reliance on radish derived sources and provides a useful model for hybrid development in Brassica. The study shows how combining cytoplasmic engineering with genomic mapping can strengthen hybrid seed production and support both yield gains and genetic diversification in oilseed breeding.Across these six studies, a common message emerges: precision trait mapping connects molecular insights with real breeding outcomes. From wild gene pools and cytogenetic introgression to GWAS, QTL analysis, and restorer systems, these works show how plant breeding is becoming a data-driven and integrated science. Looking ahead, combining molecular tools with advanced phenotyping, multi-omics data, and machine learning will help breeders design purposeful, high-performing crop genomes. Such predictive frameworks can deliver cultivars that are more nutritious, resilient, and efficient, advancing both productivity and sustainability. This Research Topic highlights major progress in trait mapping and molecular breeding while charting the path toward truly precision-driven agriculture.
Impact of cold acclimation on the oxidative and anti-oxidative system of bitter gourd seedlings exposed to low-temperature stress Veena Devi, Manjeet Kaur Sangha, Sonia Devi, Parminder Kumar, Ritesh, et al. Indian Journal of Horticulture, 2024 Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is a cold-sensitive flowering vine, but it remains in demand around the year due to its medicinal properties. Therefore, a prime need is there to develop a cold resilient bitter gourd genotype. The study was designed to inspect the impact of cold stress and acclimation on oxidative and anti-oxidative parameters in two bitter gourd genotypes viz., PAUBG-56 and Punjab-14. For that fifteen-dayold bitter gourd seedlings were subjected to low-temperature stress (5°C) both directly and after acclimation (gradual decrease in temperature from 25 to 5°C before cold exposure). Leaflets were collected on various days after temperature treatment, and seven days of recovery period and analyzed for the above-mentioned parameters. Results showed a significant increase in oxidative stress markers in non-acclimated Punjab-14 seedlings, while PAUBG-56 demonstrated higher resilience through elevated enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activity. Acclimation improved stress tolerance in both genotypes, although PAUBG-56 showed superior recovery. Therefore, it is concluded that acclimation is an eminent method, that helps to enhance the tolerance capacity of bitter gourd against low-temperature stress.
Temporal profile of amino acids and protein fractions in the developing kernel of maize germplasm Veena Devi, Mehak Sethi, Charanjeet Kaur, Vishal Singh, Ramesh Kumar, et al. Scientific Reports, 2024 Maize, the most important source of animal and poultry feed, is deficient in essential amino acid methionine. Therefore, methionine is added to the poultry feed to meet its nutritional requirements. Keeping in view, an urgent requirement exists to develop high-methionine maize. The present study was designed to understand the synthesis and accumulation pattern of methionine, lysine, tryptophan, total protein, and protein fractions in the developing maize kernel. Results revealed that methionine accumulation starts before 15 DAP and increases towards maturity. Total protein, albumin, and globulin accumulation showed a declining trend, whereas, prolamin, prolamin-like, glutelin, and glutelin-like fractions increased with kernel maturity. Methionine showed a significant positive correlation with prolamin and a negative correlation with glutelin, indicating their use as markers to select high methionine lines. Higher level accumulation of lysine, tryptophan, and methionine, the three essential amino acids deficient in maize, was observed highest in lines 174705 and 194010 indicating their use as a potential donor for developing high methionine maize genotypes. The high methionine line identified in the present study can be used in breeding programs through introgressing maize germplasm of diverse genetic backgrounds to develop high-yielding methionine-rich maize genotypes to develop a sustainable nutritive feed supply chain.
Investigating maize as a sustainable energy crop for bioethanol production: Delineating cultivation, utilization, biotechnological and environmental perspectives G Kaur, M Sethi, V Devi, A Kaur, H Kaur, DP Chaudhary Biomass and Bioenergy 198, 107867 , 2025 2025 Citations: 17
Temporal profile of amino acids and protein fractions in the developing kernel of maize germplasm V Devi, M Sethi, C Kaur, V Singh, R Kumar, DP Chaudhary Scientific Reports 14 (1), 27161 , 2024 2024 Citations: 10
Nutritional, antinutritional and antioxidant assessment of immature Abelmoschus pods: implications for crop improvement from cultivated and wild varieties A Kaur, MK Sangha, V Devi, M Pathak, D Singla South African Journal of Botany 174, 485-494 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
Enhancing germination and growth in wild okra genotypes through gibberellic acid priming A Kamboj, MK Sangha, V Devi, P Kumar, M Pathak, D Singla Scientia Horticulturae 334, 113332 , 2024 2024 Citations: 12
Beyond colors: The health benefits of maize anthocyanins B Bhushan, S Kumar, C Kaur, V Devi, DP Chaudhary, A Singh, MC Dagla, ... Applied Food Research 4 (1), 100399 , 2024 2024 Citations: 18
Unraveling the role of δ‐zeins in methionine bio‐fortification of maize V Devi, M Sethi, A Singh, DP Chaudhary Cereal Chemistry 101 (3), 583-593 , 2024 2024 Citations: 3
EFFECT OF LOW TEMPERATURE STRESS AND ACCLIMATION ON GROWTH AND PHOTOSYNTHETIC PARAMETERS IN BITTER GOURD SEEDLINGS. V Devi, MK Sangha, M Pathak, P Kumar Agricultural Research Journal 61 (2) , 2024 2024
Elucidation of zein isoforms associated with high protein quality traits for targeted improvement in maize‐based nutrition M Sethi, A Singh, M Garg, V Chunduri, P Kumar, V Devi, F Hossain, ... Cereal Chemistry 101 (2), 418-430 , 2024 2024
Genetic diversity among maize (Zea mays) inbred lines for methionine and yield associated traits V Devi, M Sethi, C Kaur, OP Raigar, R Kumar, DP Chaudhary 2024 Citations: 3
Corrigendum: Unravelling the genetic framework associated with grain quality and yield-related traits in maize (Zea mays L.) M Sethi, DK Saini, V Devi, C Kaur, MP Singh, J Singh, G Pruthi, A Kaur, ... Frontiers in Genetics 14, 1343846 , 2023 2023
Status of soluble sugars and the related enzymes of Momordica charantia L. seedlings in response to low temperature stress V Devi, MK Sangha, M Pathak, P Kumar, M Pal European Journal of Horticultural Science 88 (6) , 2023 2023 Citations: 1
Genetic and molecular understanding for the development of methionine-rich maize: a holistic approach V Devi, B Bhushan, M Gupta, M Sethi, C Kaur, A Singh, V Singh, R Kumar, ... Frontiers in Plant Science 14, 1249230 , 2023 2023 Citations: 18
Unravelling the genetic framework associated with grain quality and yield-related traits in maize ( Zea mays L.) M Sethi, DK Saini, V Devi, C Kaur, MP Singh, J Singh, G Pruthi, A Kaur, ... Frontiers in Genetics 14, 1248697 , 2023 2023 Citations: 24
Effect of prohexadione-calcium onphotosynthetic and yield parameters in basmati rice ( Oryza sativa L.) against lodging stress. M Pal, N Johal, SK Thind, V Devi 2023
Effect of Low-Temperature Stress on Plant Performance and Adaptation to Temperature Change V Devi, A Kaur, M Sethi, G Avinash IntechOpen , 2023 2023
Perspective chapter: effect of low-temperature stress on plant performance and adaptation to temperature change V Devi, A Kaur, M Sethi, G Avinash Plant abiotic stress responses and tolerance mechanisms , 2023 2023 Citations: 25
A rapid single kernel screening method for preliminary estimation of amylose in maize A Dhir, C Kaur, V Devi, A Singh, AK Das, S Rakshit, DP Chaudhary Food Analytical Methods 15 (8), 2163-2171 , 2022 2022 Citations: 8
Optimization of Protein Quality Assay in Normal, opaque-2 , and Quality Protein Maize C Kaur, A Singh, M Sethi, V Devi, DP Chaudhary, RK Phagna, S Langyan, ... Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 6, 743019 , 2022 2022 Citations: 18
Analysis of maize populations for developing quality protein maize DP Chaudhary, A Singh, JC Sekhar, J Kaul, S Yadav, M Tufchi, M Sethi, ... Maize J 11, 1-9 , 2022 2022 Citations: 1
BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON METHIONINE ACCUMULATION IN MAIZE GRAINS V DEVI PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY LUDHIANA , 2022 2022
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Perspective chapter: effect of low-temperature stress on plant performance and adaptation to temperature change V Devi, A Kaur, M Sethi, G Avinash Plant abiotic stress responses and tolerance mechanisms , 2023 2023 Citations: 25
Unravelling the genetic framework associated with grain quality and yield-related traits in maize ( Zea mays L.) M Sethi, DK Saini, V Devi, C Kaur, MP Singh, J Singh, G Pruthi, A Kaur, ... Frontiers in Genetics 14, 1248697 , 2023 2023 Citations: 24
Beyond colors: The health benefits of maize anthocyanins B Bhushan, S Kumar, C Kaur, V Devi, DP Chaudhary, A Singh, MC Dagla, ... Applied Food Research 4 (1), 100399 , 2024 2024 Citations: 18
Genetic and molecular understanding for the development of methionine-rich maize: a holistic approach V Devi, B Bhushan, M Gupta, M Sethi, C Kaur, A Singh, V Singh, R Kumar, ... Frontiers in Plant Science 14, 1249230 , 2023 2023 Citations: 18
Optimization of Protein Quality Assay in Normal, opaque-2 , and Quality Protein Maize C Kaur, A Singh, M Sethi, V Devi, DP Chaudhary, RK Phagna, S Langyan, ... Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 6, 743019 , 2022 2022 Citations: 18
Investigating maize as a sustainable energy crop for bioethanol production: Delineating cultivation, utilization, biotechnological and environmental perspectives G Kaur, M Sethi, V Devi, A Kaur, H Kaur, DP Chaudhary Biomass and Bioenergy 198, 107867 , 2025 2025 Citations: 17
Enhancing germination and growth in wild okra genotypes through gibberellic acid priming A Kamboj, MK Sangha, V Devi, P Kumar, M Pathak, D Singla Scientia Horticulturae 334, 113332 , 2024 2024 Citations: 12
Temporal profile of amino acids and protein fractions in the developing kernel of maize germplasm V Devi, M Sethi, C Kaur, V Singh, R Kumar, DP Chaudhary Scientific Reports 14 (1), 27161 , 2024 2024 Citations: 10
A rapid single kernel screening method for preliminary estimation of amylose in maize A Dhir, C Kaur, V Devi, A Singh, AK Das, S Rakshit, DP Chaudhary Food Analytical Methods 15 (8), 2163-2171 , 2022 2022 Citations: 8
Nutritional, antinutritional and antioxidant assessment of immature Abelmoschus pods: implications for crop improvement from cultivated and wild varieties A Kaur, MK Sangha, V Devi, M Pathak, D Singla South African Journal of Botany 174, 485-494 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
Unraveling the role of δ‐zeins in methionine bio‐fortification of maize V Devi, M Sethi, A Singh, DP Chaudhary Cereal Chemistry 101 (3), 583-593 , 2024 2024 Citations: 3
Genetic diversity among maize (Zea mays) inbred lines for methionine and yield associated traits V Devi, M Sethi, C Kaur, OP Raigar, R Kumar, DP Chaudhary 2024 Citations: 3
Status of soluble sugars and the related enzymes of Momordica charantia L. seedlings in response to low temperature stress V Devi, MK Sangha, M Pathak, P Kumar, M Pal European Journal of Horticultural Science 88 (6) , 2023 2023 Citations: 1
Analysis of maize populations for developing quality protein maize DP Chaudhary, A Singh, JC Sekhar, J Kaul, S Yadav, M Tufchi, M Sethi, ... Maize J 11, 1-9 , 2022 2022 Citations: 1
Biochemical changes in bitter gourd in response to low temperature stress V Devi, MK Sangha, M Pathak, P Kumar Indian J. Hortic 78, 78-83 , 2021 2021 Citations: 1
EFFECT OF LOW TEMPERATURE STRESS AND ACCLIMATION ON GROWTH AND PHOTOSYNTHETIC PARAMETERS IN BITTER GOURD SEEDLINGS. V Devi, MK Sangha, M Pathak, P Kumar Agricultural Research Journal 61 (2) , 2024 2024
Elucidation of zein isoforms associated with high protein quality traits for targeted improvement in maize‐based nutrition M Sethi, A Singh, M Garg, V Chunduri, P Kumar, V Devi, F Hossain, ... Cereal Chemistry 101 (2), 418-430 , 2024 2024
Corrigendum: Unravelling the genetic framework associated with grain quality and yield-related traits in maize (Zea mays L.) M Sethi, DK Saini, V Devi, C Kaur, MP Singh, J Singh, G Pruthi, A Kaur, ... Frontiers in Genetics 14, 1343846 , 2023 2023
Effect of prohexadione-calcium onphotosynthetic and yield parameters in basmati rice ( Oryza sativa L.) against lodging stress. M Pal, N Johal, SK Thind, V Devi 2023
Effect of Low-Temperature Stress on Plant Performance and Adaptation to Temperature Change V Devi, A Kaur, M Sethi, G Avinash IntechOpen , 2023 2023
