Research Projects

Earthworm are found in various heavy metals contaminated soil and are used as a bioindicators. Vermiremediation is the uses of earthworm for mitigating various soil pollutants. They uptake the heavy metals and undergoes various mechanism to sequestered. The heavy metals are sequestered in the subcellular compartments or detoxify by storage in binding to extracellular polymeric substances and other ligands. Soil fauna associated gut microbiota is sensitive to environmental pollutant has been a well-established report. However, the mechanism of the vermiremediation, the effects of heavy metals on the gut microbiota and the roles of the earthworm associated gut microbiota in sequestration of various contaminants present in the soil remain unclear. The functional compositions of earthworm gut microbiota and its interactions under heavy metal stress will provide insights into remediation of heavy metals contaminated soil. The study on the structural, taxonomic and functional responses of gut microbes of earthworms in different heavy metals would be beneficial for the agro ecosystem. This would help in understanding the mechanism of the microbial function in bioremediation and can be a promising method of targeting environmental pollutants. Thus, the objectives of this study is to examine the diversity of gut microbiota in commonly prevalent earthworm species found in paddy field and to investigate the community dynamics of the earthworm gut microbiota under heavy metals stress. This shall enable the harnessing of the beneficial mechanism of earthworm gut microbiota involved in heavy metal sequestration.