Research Projects

The study proposes the isolation of exopolysaccharide-producing endophytes from drought-resistant crop varieties and the application of exopolysaccharides (EPs) as effective drought-stress ameliorating agents in other drought-sensitive agriculturally valuable crop species in drought-faced regions. The research highlights the potential of endophytic fungi, which can produce novel biologically active compounds, to manage drought stress. Exopolysaccharides are polymers of different types of sugars, composed of either homopolymers or heteropolymers. Endophytes can sometimes mimic the host plant in synthesis of the same bioactive compound, making drought-stress-resistant plants ideal hosts for endophytic fungi with exceptional exopolysaccharide-producing ability. The approach focuses on the isolation of exopolysaccharide-producing endophytic fungi from plants growing in high-water scarcity areas. Endophytes share valuable genes with their host plants, making them ideal candidates for screening for beneficial compounds. The study proposes isolating exopolysaccharides from potent endophytic fungi and using them in-vitro and in-vivo to ameliorate drought stress. The bioactive polymer estimation and maximum production of the compound in optimized media conditions will be done, and EPs will be characterized using spectroscopic techniques. EPs from endophytic fungi can be applied at a low cost to make possible agricultural events in drought-faced geographical spots.