Area of specialization
Discipline: Plant Microbiology, Specialization: Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation, Plant-Microbe Interactions.
Research area
Unravelling the molecular basis for variations in nodulation and symbiotic efficiency of chickpea, and nodule-specific cysteine rich (NCR) peptides in chickpea.
Significant research achievements
- Microbial consortium for mitigating moisture deficit stress in pulse crops was developed.
- Crop-specific Rhizobium strains were identified through in-house as well as multi-location trials under AICRP.
- Liquid Rhizobium technology was commercialized / licensed to private firms for mass production.
- Diversity of nodule-specific cysteine rich (NCR) peptide coding genes in chickpea was revealed; functional characterization of CaNCR genes through genome editing is in progress.
- Development of nitrate-insensitive root nodulation in chickpea through genome editing is in progress.
Awards and recognitions
- Best Scientist Award 2020, ICAR-IIPR, at Foundation Day celebrations.
- Fellow — Indian Society of Pulses Research and Development (ISPRD).
Profile links
Personal information
- Date of joining ICAR
03rd January, 2011
- Discipline and specialization
Discipline: Plant Microbiology, Specialization: Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation, Plant-Microbe Interactions.
Training & Exposure
- Bioinformatics in Multi-omics Era: A microbial genomics perspective. ICAR-NBAIM, Mau Nath Bhanjan. Period: 23rd February to 03rd March, 2012.
- Multi-omics approaches to alleviate abiotic stress in post genomic era: Methods and application in microbiological research. ICAR-NIAM, Baramati, Pune. Period: 24th January to 06th February, 2014.
- Genomics and proteomics- Techniques and tools for crop improvement. ICAR sponsored Center of Advanced faculty Training (CAFT), ICAR-IARI, New Delhi. Period: 12th November to 20th December, 2014.
Professional Information
Contribution to the scientific advancement
- Developed microbial consortium for mitigating moisture deficit stress in pulses.
- Identified and characterized nodule specific cysteine rich peptide coding genes in chickpea and related wild species.
- Identified contrasting germplasm lines of major pulses for nodulation traits.
Current area of research
- Unravelling the molecular basis for variations in nodulation and symbiotic efficiency of chickpea.
- Nodule-specific Cysteine Rich (NCR) peptides in chickpea.
Publications
- Das A., Harika A., Shilpa S., Senthilkumar M.* and Singh N.P. (2020). Symbiotic nitrogen fixation and endophytic bacterial community structure in Bt-transgenic chickpea (Cicer arietinum L). Scientific Reports 10: 5453. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-62199-1
- Borase D.N., Nath C.P., Hazra K.K., Senthilkumar M.* Singh S.S., Praharaj C.S., Singh U., Kumar N. (2020).Long-term impact of diversified crop rotations and nutrient management practices on soil microbial functions and soil enzymes activity. Ecological Indicators 114: 106322. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1470160X20302594
- Mohan S., Senthilkumar M.* and Chaturvedi S.K. (2019). Genotypic variability for phosphorous acquisition efficiency of chickpea in P-deficient inceptisol. Journal of Food Legumes 32: 250-255.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0925857417300678 - Young K.L.,Senthilkumar M.*, Jeong I, Annapurna K, Swarnalakshmi K (2011). Gamma radiation induced modifications in substrate specificity of glucose dehydrogenase and carbon source utilization pattern of Pantoea strains. Biotechnology Letters 33: 2391-2396. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10529-011-0718-1
- Senthilkumar M.*, Swarnalakshmi K., Govindasamy V., Young-Keun Lee, Annapurna K. (2009). Biocontrol potentials of soybean bacterial endophytes against charcoal rot fungus–Rhizoctonia bataticola. Current Microbiology, 58: 288-293. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00284-008-9329-z
* = Corresponding Author
Awards and Fellowships
- Best Scientist Award-2020, by Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR) at Foundation day celebrations.
- Fellow – Indian Society of Pulses Research (ISPRD).