Research Projects

The symbiotic association between legumes and Rhizobia is crucial for ensuring adequate nitrogen supply for legume-based crop and pasture production. However, the rhizobia associated with wild legumes in the Thar Desert has not been characterized in the Aravalli region. This project aims to study the molecular diversity of rhizobia associated with these plants, investigating their nodulation status, phenotypic, biochemical, and molecular diversity. The study will also investigate the phylogeny of rhizobia based on Multilocus sequence analysis to reveal the phylogenetic relationship between indigenous rhizobial strains in evolutionary context. The first rhizobial strains will be isolated and purified from fresh and healthy root nodules of T. strigosa and Z. gibbosa, followed by characterization for their phenotypic, biochemical, and plant growth promoting activities using standards methods. The 16s rRNA, atpD, glnII genes, and symbiotic genes of selected strains will be sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic and MLsA studies to access molecular diversity. The effect of versatile rhizobial strains on leguminous crop plants will be analyzed through cross inoculation studies. This research will help create a database of native/indigenous rhizobia that can be used in crop preparation, revegetation programs, or consortiums of agriculturally important microbes. It will also help understand the evolutionary significance and biogeography of rhizobia occurring in alkaline soils of the Central Aravalli Region. Isolating rhizobia showing useful traits like high temperature and salt tolerance may be beneficial for agriculture in this region.