Project: Physiological and Molecular Basis of Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Wheat, mustard and Chickpea Sub- project: Plant growth regulators in amelioration of drought Objective: Molecular, biochemical and physiological basis of drought (water stress) tolerance in wheat Membrane intrinsic protein TaPIP2.2 and AQP7 contributed in drought tolerance in wheat (C 306). Isileucine, leucine, valine, proline and arginine were detected in drought sensitive (HD 2428) and tolerant wheat cultivar (C 306). Arginine was detected in drought sensitive cultivar of wheat. Amino acid composition was dependent on development of flag leaf in wheat. In the growing grass leaf, with a much looser mechanical association between mesophyll and epidermis, mechanical limitation of extension could be due particularly to stretching of protoxylem elements, while suberization of the bundle sheath or layers of small cells with low diffusivity for water may limit growth hydraulically. The xylem structure also affects the susceptibility of the root segment to cavitation, which generates transient drops of axial conductivity. These effects essentially affect the long-distance propagation of the transpiration-driven negative xylem tension. Xylem development in flag leaf of wheat cultivars is co-limited by carbohydrate supply due to changes in PS II.

Dr. Santosh Kumari Principal Scientist Plant Physiology Deciphering physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms of abiotic stress tolerance and nutrient use efficiency of crop plants Objective: Functional genomics for identifications of promoters, genes and epialleles associated with abiotic stress tolerance and nutrient use efficiency of rice and wheat Activities: Molecular analysis of abiotic stress tolerance for identification of genes/ aepialleles involved in abiotic stress tolerance of rice and wheat Dr. Santosh Kumari Principal Scientist Plant Physiology

Membrane intrinsic protein TaPIP2 Membrane intrinsic protein TaPIP2.2 and AQP7 contributed in drought tolerance in wheat (C 306). Technical programme: Regulation of water transport across roots by PIP in wheat and rice under water stress Regulation of leaf growth by PIP in wheat and rice under water stress Role of TIP in osmotic adjustment in wheat and rice under water stress Role of TIP in root and leaf growth in wheat and rice under water stress Analysis of role of PIP and TIP in wheat and rice screening for drought tolerance Practical Utility: Our understanding of aquaporins and their interaction with ABA will help to genetically design root conductivity to improve plant performance under drought stress.  

Thank You Teaching Physiology of Crop Plants (Associate) - 4L Responses of Plants to abiotic stresses (Associate) - 5L Principles of Plant Physiology (Associate) – 6L Physiology of Plant mineral nutrition (Associate) – 4L Total = 19 L No student allotted since 1997 Prepared and submitted final report of the Previous project Thank You