Research Projects

Artificial symbiosis of bacteria and photosynthetic plant systems has attained importance because of improving plant productivity (Magdouli et al. 2016). An artificial symbiotic system based on lichen formation consists of Synechococcus elongatus (photosynthetic cyanobacteria) and Rhodotorula glutinis (yeast) enhanced fatty acids production through establishment of a strong symbiotic and synergistic interactions. In artificial symbiotic system, we can characterize potential phenotypes at molecular-level and will determine the metabolic pathways in selective candidates with emphasis on co-evolution relationships, PGP activities and functional metabolites production. As Arunachal Pradesh is well-known for its unique flora, funa and microbial biodiversity, exploring native microbial community (especially endophytes of native medicinal plants) for improving agricultural system in Arunachal Pradesh is of great importance. To improve organic farming in the mountainous state Arunachal Pradesh, the need of the hour is to establish an eco-friendly, sustainable, non-hazardous material for the simultaneous improvement the productivity as well as plant stress tolerant capacity in crops and medicinal plants under the adverse climate change scenario. The current available knowledge on utilization of endophytes of endangered medicinal plants Paris polyphylla and Aconitum heterophyllum for crop and medicinal plants productivity in Arunachal Pradesh is highly limited or rare. Irrespective of high-level relevance to their host medicinal plants, till date, endosymbiotic relationships of these endophytes have not been elucidated well. Therefore, complete elucidation of symbiotic associations of these bacterial endophytes will be of great interest to improve plant productivity in high altitude mountain ranges of Arunachal Pradesh. Accordingly, the proposed project work will utilize the bacterial endophytes from P. polyphylla and A. heterophyllum. Taking the major leads from our current research findings on endophytes of P. polyphylla and A. heterophyllum, the proposed study aims to create a metabolically-stable, eco-friendly, artificial bacterial symbiotic system that can potentially regulate photosynthesis and bioactive components production in crops and medicinal plants, thereby, improving the crop and medicinal plants productivity in Arunachal Pradesh. In addition with the positive influence of endophytes on plant productivity, symbiotic association between bacteria and plant can potentially help to adapt the plant to different stress conditions including various biotic and abiotic stresses. Accordingly, the symbiotic association will improve the plant growth and health.