Research Projects

Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) is a plant virus that causes mosaic symptoms in leguminous hosts, leading to severe decline in their yield. Despite its narrow host range, MYMIV has been found to infect several weed species, facilitating its propagation during off-seasons. This expansion of host range is a major concern, making management difficult and identifying symptomless infections difficult. Identifying the molecular mechanisms underlying viral resistance, tolerance, and susceptibility is crucial for developing appropriate management strategies. Viruses code for a few proteins that are not sufficient for independent multiplication and propagation, making them dependent on host factors. NAM, ATAF1,2 and CUC2 (NAC) transcription factors are plant-specific transcription factors that regulate developmental and stress-related pathways. The role of NAC transcription factors in MYMIV pathogenesis is not yet reported. The study aims to identify MYMIV responsive NAC transcription factors in Nicotiana benthamiana and molecularly characterize candidate genes to identify their function in MYMIV pathogenesis. This will lead to the identification and molecular characterization of promising candidate genes for improving susceptible V. mungo varieties through overexpression or knockdown/knockout.