Education & Government Service

Adhikari did M. Sc. in Botany in first division (1973) from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu and a diploma in French language from FCC, Kathmandu.

He was appointed as Asstt. Lecturer in Botany in R. R. Campus, Janakpur, Tribhuvan University, in 1973/74. He left this job and joined HMG service in 1974, where he was appointed as Assistant Scientific Officer (Project In charge) to different Herbal farms of the Department of Plant Resources, HMG. In 1988 he was promoted to Scientific Officer (sectional head of Cryptogams) Godavary. In May 1997, he was assigned as Act. Project Coordinator, Nepal Flora Implementation Project. Since 1999 to 2006 he became the Chief (Senior Research Officer) of the National Herbarium and Plant Laboratories at Godavary. At present, he is Joint Secretary (Gatz. 1st class) at the Department of Plant Resources, Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Academic Excellence

Mr. Adhikari is the first Nepalese citizen to receive the Doctorate (10 May, 1996) on 'Biodiversité des Basidiomycètes au Népal: Etude Systématique et Biogéographique', from University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France. The thesis throws light on phytogeographical diversities, historical review of mycological explorations, systematic and biogeographic studies on biodiversities of Uredinales, Hymenomycetes and Gasteromycetes prevailing in this Himalayan region. Special focus was given on diversities and distribution of genera like Amanita, Russula, Lactarius, Polypores, and Gasteromycetes including some new taxa. The evolutionary trends within the genus Russula, ethnomycology, and mycobiogeography have also been discussed.

Scientific Discoveries & Publications

To his credit, since 1976 till now, he has published more than 140 papers in national and international journals, bulletins, and books. These cover historical accounts, taxonomic, ecological, and ethnomycological studies on fungi, cultivation of fungi (Claviceps purpurea, 1982, 1992; Lentinus edodes, 1993), the collection and consumption of wild edible mushrooms (1996), and screening of their food value (1996).

These papers include about 200 species of mycodiversities which are new to Nepal and several taxa new to science, including: Passalora nepalensis Adhikari & Manandhar (1986); Russula nepalensis Adhikari (1990); Coleosporium anemones Ono, Adhikari & Rajbhandari (1988); Puccinia kyangjinensis Ono, Adhikari & Rajbhandari (1988); Uromyces himaliacus Ono, Adhikari & Rajbhandari (1988); Puccinia ophiopogonis var. phulchowkiensis Adhikari (1998); Puccinia kathmanduensis Adhikari (1998); Russula chloroides var. godavariensis Adhikari (1999); Russula delica var. dobremezii Adhikari (1999); Uromyces tamagadiensis Adhikari (1998); and Brachycodiellopsis fimicola gen. et sp. nov. Decock, Castaneda Ruiz & Adhikari (2004).

  • Landmark Books: The Department was able to publish the books on 'Fungi of Nepal' (1996–2001) in three volumes, "Research on Plant Tissue Culture" (2004), and "Fascicles of Flora of Nepal Lycopodiaceae" (2004). He published another book on "Mushrooms of Nepal" (2000), which covers vivid historical accounts, colored photographs, evolutionary trends, and mycobiogeography.
  • Editorial Leadership: He serves as the editor for 'Fungi of Nepal 1-3', 'Godavary Phulko Kheti', 'Proceedings Flora of Nepal', 'Flora of Nepal Implementation Project Proposal', the Bulletin of the Department of Plant Resources, Medicinal Plants of Nepal (2007), and the Natural History Society Bulletin.

Honors & Global Recognition

The mushrooms described by him, Russula nepalensis and Russula kathmanduensis, were released as postage stamps by the Govt. of Nepal, Dept. of Postal Services.

He was awarded the 'Young Scientist Traveling Fellowship Award' by ICSU/COSTED/UNESCO, India in 1992. He is decorated with the 'Janpad Sewa Padak' HMG/N (2048), 'Shree Panch Birendra Rajyarohan Rajat Mahotsav Padak' (2053/1996), and 'Mahendra Vidhya Bhushan Padak' (A grade) (2053/1997).

Recognizing his monumental contributions, renowned Japanese mycologist Prof. Dr. Yoshitaka Ono named a newly discovered fungus after him: Puccinia adhikarii.

Professional Leadership & Travels

He has attended National and Regional seminars (organized by NCST, RONAST, ECOS, Ministry of Forests & Soil Conservation & HHPCL, Dept. of Ayurveda & WHO) and International seminars and symposiums with papers on mycology, Ayurvedic herbs, and Flora of the country.

He is the Life member and Vice President of the Nepal Botanical Society (2005) and the Mycological and Phytopathological Society of Nepal. He holds life memberships and leadership roles in the Natural History Society of Nepal, the Ecological Society of Nepal, and the APINMAP/SCAMAP committee for the Nepal National Commission for UNESCO (since 1996) and IUFRO committees (1994).

Botanically, he has traveled and explored nearly all the zones from east to west and tropical to Nival zone of Nepal, and has visited countries including Japan, Germany, France, Thailand, and India.