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. 

Applied Breeding

Directed towards catering to the national and regional varietal needs, breeding research has led to the evolution of as many as 10 high yielding varieties.  They include the world's first and only high yielding dwarf basmati variety of export value Pusa Basmati-1, varieties of specific adaptation viz quick maturing Pusa 2-21, Pusa 33, Pusa 4, Pusa 834, etc and for crop diversification and multiple cropping highly compatible Pusa 169 and 203 for rice-wheat rotation in the Indo-gangetic plains and never loading Pusa 44-33 for combine harvest in the intensively cropped northwest India. Launching and intensifying hybrid breeding at national level has led to the development of DRRH-1, one of the first generation hybrids released in the country.  Yielding one ton more per hectare their best varieties it is one of the popular hybrids.

Impact:

Pusa Basmati-1 combining high yield and quality comparable to traditional basmati accounts for 40-50% of the basmati export valued at 800-1000 crores annually.  The early and mid-early varieties have helped since their release crop intensification all over the country and sustainable rice-wheat rotation in the Indo-gangetic Plains. Pusa 44-33, a medium duration variety super fine variety ideally suited for combine harvest occupying over 50% of the rice area in Punjab and the adjoining rates has nearly replaced miracle varieties like Jaya and IR8.  The hybrid DRRH-1 being adopted since 1994 and accounting for sizable area of 2 lakhs ha under hybrid rice today, has contributed sizably to productivity /production growth.

The basic research broadly covers breeding, genetics, cytogenetics and cellular/molecular biology.  The significant contributions include the following :

Breeding Research - brought out the:

• (a) relevance of specific adaptability vis-a-vis general adaptability 
• (b) significance of selection under diverse environments in ensuring higher stability over environments and 
• (c) potential of convergent breeding in combining multi-index complex traits.

Genetics Research - enabled:

Cytogenetics - has been confined to study of :

Phylogenetic research aimed at tracing the evolutionary pathway of Asian cultivar O-sativa and its subspecific differentiation and extent of diversity in the germplasm of cultivar and wild progenitor species using biometric, biochemical, mutation and molecular approaches revealed

Molecular strategy adopted towards enhancement of genetic yield level helped 

( Many of the findings emerged from the National Professor's project during 1997-2002 are under publication ).

Impact : Understanding of genetics/breeding behaviour helped evolve the most complex basmati quality variety Pusa Basmati-1 new plant type variety under advanced stages of development while diversification of CMS and discovery of two indigenous sources of temperature sensitive genic male sterility are adding strength to hybrid rice technology.   Basic knowledge generated on quality, disease-pest resistance is widely used in breeding research.

1. Played a major role in strengthening rice research in Egypt - as IRRI's Rice Breeder under USAID sponsored Programme between 1983 and 1987.
   
2. Played a major role in the establishment of Govt. of India supported National Rice Research Institute in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.
3. As World Bank Consultant prepared project proposals for agricultural development in Assam and Hybrid Rice Research in Bangladesh
4. As Task Fore Chairman (Crop Biotechnology) of Department of Biotechnology and Convenor of National Rice Biotechnology Network and several other related bodies, continue to contribute to the development and exploitation of biotechnology products in India.
5. As the member of the Board of Trustees of International Rice Research Institute, Philippines contribute to the global rice research endeavours.
6. As FAO Consultant/Resource Scientist undertook the mission visit to Egypt for study and implementation of "Training in Hybrid Rice Technology Through Technical Cooperation Between Developing Countries"
7. As FAO Consultant prepared and submitted a report on "Yield and Productivity Decline in Intensive Rice Production Systems in India" during the FAO convened Global Expert Consultation Meeting on "Yield Gap and Productivity Decline in Rice Production" in October 1999.
8. As FAO expert consultant on Yield Gap and Productivity Decline in Rice International Rice Commission, FAO, Rome.