Research Projects

Primary producer grasses play a crucial role in the arid environment and grass ecosystems, with many having bioactive and bio-refinery potential. Arid Rajasthan has significant grasslands in India, with geographical and climatic significance in mitigating desertification. However, the combination of heatwaves and O₃ is the least studied factor affecting grasses. Climate change, urbanization, and industrialization are increasing heatwaves and high O₃ episodes, leading to decreased grass cover in Rajasthan. O₃ and heatwaves affect the ecophysiological and biophysical functions of grasses, but their quantification and combined biochemical mechanisms are not well known. Identifying significant grasses in heatwave-O₃-affected areas of Rajasthan will provide a vast scope to screen dominant, sensitive, and tolerant grasses under O₃ and heatwave exposure. This study aims to understand the ecophysiological and biophysical changes in selected grass species under O₃ and heatwave exposure. Combining grass species conservation and the use of dominant-tolerant grass biomass for economic gains through bioprospecting, such as bio-refinery products and co-products, is interesting. The project proposal aims to identify O₃ and heatwave tolerant dominant, sensitive, and tolerant grasses in Rajasthan's native arid habitat for biorefinery potential and understand their ecophysiological and biophysical responses under varying climatic combinations.