Research Projects

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), an allotetraploid legume of major agronomic and nutritional importance, has a complex evolutionary history shaped by interspecific hybridization and genome duplication. While considerable research has focused on its genetics, productivity, and stress tolerance, the role of plant-associated microbial communities, collectively known as the holobiome remains underexplored. These microbial communities, which include root-associated rhizobacteria, internal endophytes, and seed-transmitted microbes, play critical roles in plant health, nutrient cycling, and resilience to environmental stress. Emerging research highlights the influence of host genetic factors, such as ploidy level and hybridization, in shaping the diversity and functionality of the holobiome. However, there is limited understanding of how these genomic variables specifically influence microbial inheritance and community assembly in groundnut. This project aims to investigate the influence of ploidy and hybridization on the holobiome of groundnut, with particular emphasis on the heritability of associated microbial communities and the potential application of beneficial microbes in crop improvement. The study will pursue four main objectives: (1) to identify and characterize the holobiome of wild diploid progenitors of groundnut, (2) to profile microbial communities associated with distantly related Arachis species, (3) to isolate and functionally assess seed endophytes for their role in nutrient biofortification, and (4) to develop and evaluate synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) for potential integration into microbiome-assisted breeding strategies. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding the seed microbiome as a reservoir of heritable microbial taxa, which may be transmitted across generations and contribute to early seedling vigor, nutrient uptake, and stress tolerance. By combining high-throughput sequencing, microbiological assays, and functional trait screening, the study will generate foundational knowledge to support the incorporation of stable, plant-beneficial microbes into future groundnut breeding pipelines, thus offering a new dimension to sustainable agriculture and genetic improvement through microbial inheritance.