Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | Molecular characterization of phosphate starvation response in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Naveen Malik, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh |
Timeline Start Year : | 2022 |
Timeline End Year : | 2024 |
Contact info : | nmalik@jpr.amity.edu |
Equipments : | Workstation
Incubator shaker
Portable pH and conductivity meter |
Details
Executive Summary : | Phosphorus deficiency is one of the major abiotic factors contributing towards yield loss in crops. Although phosphorous is present in ample amount in soil, the plants face phosphorus deficiency as most of it is present in the unusable form. Pearl millet is a very important crop as it can be utilized both as cereal for human consumption as well as fodder for animals. Like other crops including rice and maize, it also requires the use of phosphate fertilizers in pearl millet to realize its yield potential. As phosphate reserves are limiting, there is a continuous need for enhancing its phosphate use efficiency to counter increasing fertilizer demand. The current proposal focuses on understanding phosphate starvation response in pearl millet at the molecular level. Initially, different pearl millet accessions will be screened for their response on primary/lateral root growth at low phosphate (Pi) level. Effects of low phosphate on different root growth parameters will be recorded at the seedling stage and contrasting accessions with differential response on low Pi level will be selected. To know about the genetic basis of this differential response, low pi responsive genes will be identified. To achieve this, RNA-Seq based transcriptome sequencing will be carried out in two selected contrasting pearl-millet accessions. RNA will be isolated from roots of contrasting accessions and transcriptome sequencing will be outsourced. Transcriptomics data will be analyzed to find out differentially expressed genes in response to low Pi in contrasting accessions. As miRNAs regulate the expression of many downstream target genes and along with other small RNAs regulate different biological processes, small RNA sequencing in these selected contrasting pearl-millet varieties will also be carried out and differentially expressed novel/known small RNAs will be identified followed by their target prediction. Finally, a co-expression network of expressed genes utilizing RNA-Seq data will be established followed by studying protein-protein interaction among selected novel/known co-expressed factors. Thus, the project will provide detailed information about genes/small RNAs responsive to low phosphate response in pearl millet which can be further utilized for the development of phosphate-use-efficient millet varieties in the future. |
Total Budget (INR): | 32,70,195 |
Organizations involved