Research Projects

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a destructive soil-borne fungal pathogen, causes severe losses in Indian mustard yield, oil content, and quality. Oilseeds are renewable sources of protein and oil, and resistant cultivars are essential for improving edible oil crop production. However, information on host-pathogen interaction and resistance mechanisms is limited for B. juncea pathosystem due to the lack of host resistance sources. Plants have evolved complex mechanisms to combat stress, responding differently in activating stress signaling pathways and altering metabolism during stress by producing solutes that stabilize proteins and cellular structures. Progress in Omics approaches has enabled the identification of genes, proteins, and metabolites that function in stress acclimation or resistance mechanisms. This allows for elucidation of individual gene/protein functions and their roles in signaling networks. Proteomics & metabolomics provide a direct readout of plant physiological status, reflecting the end products of environmental factors. Proteomics & metabolomics are closer to the phenotype than genomics & transcriptomics alone. Few studies have investigated the effect of S. sclerotiorum on popularly grown varieties of Brassica in Haryana. Resistant genotypes have more phenolics and higher activities of polyphenol oxidase, providing more efficient and strong antioxidant systems compared to susceptible genotypes. This study aims to find the resistance mechanism of Brassica juncea using functional genomics. Omics tools can help understand the interactions between different metabolic and signaling pathways in contrasting genotypes of oilseed crops, and understanding the mode of gene action controlling yield and Sclerotinia stem rot resistance in Indian mustard is critical for boosting yield potential.