Research Projects

In India and other semi-arid countries, abiotic stresses like heat and drought drastically lower chickpea yield and grain quality. These problems are getting worse as a result of climate change. To increase chickpea resilience, creative, scalable solutions are desperately needed. Although heavy metal nanoparticles (Mo, Cu, Fe, and Zn) are a promising way to improve seed vigor, stress tolerance, and nutrient efficiency, little is known about their exact impacts and mechanisms in chickpea. Rationale and Hypothesis: The hypothesis of the proposed study is that by increased antioxidant defenses, osmolyte accumulation, membrane stability, and the expression of important stress-regulatory genes, chickpea seeds primed with calibrated combinations of Mo, Cu, Fe, and Zn nanoparticles will have improved heat and drought resistance. Each nanoparticle is anticipated to have a distinct function in stress reduction and, when combined it will initiate synergistic chemical pathways that will improve yield and growth. The goal is to provide scalable, safe, and efficient nanopriming techniques for farmers. Objectives: 1. Screen and optimize dose, combination, and priming duration of nanoparticles to enhance germination, seedling vigor, and establishment under simulated drought and heat. 2. Characterize physiological and biochemical changes - antioxidant enzyme activity, osmolyte levels, membrane stability, pigment content, and nanoparticle uptake - under combined stresses. 3. Dissect molecular responses using transcriptome (RNA-Seq) and qRT-PCR targeting stress-responsive genes and pathways modulated by nanopriming. 4. Evaluate agronomic performance, yield, nodulation, grain quality, and environmental safety in multi-location field trials in drought-prone agroecologies, and develop farmer-ready protocols. Key Approaches: • Assays for germination and early seedling growth under simulated drought and heat stress to optimize nanoparticle compositions and priming procedures. • Osmolytes, lipid peroxidation (MDA), photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant enzyme activity, and membrane stability measured by biochemical assays. • Measuring the absorption and transport of nanoparticles in plant tissues by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). • qRT-PCR validation of important genes in conjunction with high-throughput transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) for genome-wide expression profiling. • Multi-location randomized complete block design (RCBD) field trials using controlled stress application (rainout shelters, delayed sowing, and polyethylene tents) in Madhya Pradesh's drought-prone agroecologies. Significance: This study will uncover novel ways in which nanopriming increases chickpea stress tolerance, offering scalable, verified methods to improve nutritional quality and production in climate-vulnerable areas, consequently promoting sustainable agriculture and food security.