Research Projects

The proposed 5-year plan under the project aims to establish a Virome & Molecular Diagnostics Research Facility at CCS University, Meerut, focusing on potato-weed-vector virome analysis and molecular marker development to identify the weeds which act as overwintering host of viruses to uplift the R&D ecosystem in microbiology, plant virology, bioinformatics and agroecosystem health. Year 1: To establish advanced virome characterization lab at CCSU; initiate sampling of potato plants and weeds across western Uttar Pradesh; training faculty/students on high- throughput sequencing (HTS) / next generation sequencing (NGS) Gap addressed: Lack of expertise in high-throughput sequencing in agroecosystem viromics and lack of bioinformatics application ability Year 2: Comprehensive virome characterization of potato-vector-weed ecosystems; Characterize viruses in potato, identify virus(es) reservoirs in weeds and virus(es) carrying insect vectors; development of molecular marker for identification of dominant weeds acting as virus reservoirs. Gap addressed: Globally more than 28 viruses infect potato but very little work has been done in India, Capacity for virus genome characterization and in-depth analysis of genome of viruses will be addressed through HTS Novelty: First integrated potato-weed-vector spectrum map in India. Capacity building for analysis of large volume of sequencing data generated through HTS. Manuscript writing capability for quality journals Year 3: To establish and validate virus transmission pathways between weeds and potatoes Gap addressed: Absence of region-specific virus establishment and transmission models. Year 4: Development of rapid field deployable virus detection assays for healthy potato seed production; establishment of virome repository and weed marker database; mentoring faculty on grant writing and collaborative research. Gap addressed: Mentoring and interdisciplinary collaboration Year 5: Commercialize molecular diagnostic kits; integrate findings into national potato disease management policy; establish CCSU as regional hub for agricultural viromics. Impact: Transforming CCSU from teaching-centric to research-intensive institution.

Potato virome profiling, Weed molecular markers, Virus diagnostics, High-throughput sequencing, Agroecosystem health, Plant bioinformatics