Baburao Shankarrao Kadam obtained his PhD degree (1940) from the Cornell University, USA and DSc (hc) (1982) from the Mahatma Phule Agriculture University. His specialization was in cytology and plant genetics. He was the Crop Botanist (1930-42) and Deputy Director for Research, Government of Bombay (1942-44); Assistant Agricultural Commissioner, Government of India, New Delhi (1944-45); Director, Tobacco Research Institute, Rajahmundry (1947-54); Director, Agriculture, Saurashtra (1954-56); Agricultural Extension Commissioner, New Delhi (1957-58); Joint Director, Agricultural Extension, Government of Bombay (1958-60) and Director of Agricultural for Research and Higher Education, Maharashtra (1960-62).

Academic and Research Achievements: Kadam developed some of the outstanding varieties of rice. With Ramaiah, he devised a system of nomenclature of genes in rice, which is being used internationally. His work shed light, for the first time, on the genetic relationship between black, brown and white awns in wheat. He also developed various varieties of wheat, bajra and tobacco. He was well known for the pattern he developed for anthocyanin pigments in rice of several Indian, Japanese and American varieties. Kadam's work on tobacco led to the discovery of four new linkage groups, an allelomorphic series and twenty new genes. He also explained the genetics of leaf shape in tobacco.

Other Contributions: Kadam served on various ICAR scientific committees. He was a Member of INSA Council (1961-63).

Awards and Honours: Kadam was the Founder Member and Fellow of Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding (President, 1950).