Research

Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Title :

Tissue-specific physiological, molecular, and metabolomics analysis of green gram (Vigna radiata) for shade adaptive traits in the context of agroforestry

Area of research :

Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Principal Investigator :

Dr. Hirdayesh Anuragi, National Research Centre On Agroforestry (NRCAF), Uttar Pradesh

Timeline Start Year :

2023

Timeline End Year :

2026

Contact info :

Equipments :

Details

Executive Summary :

Some of the critical challenges associated with climate change worldwide include food and nutritional security, restoration of degraded biodiversity and ecosystems, global warming, etc. Under the current scenario of population explosion and limited land availability, agroforestry has emerged as a silver bullet to ameliorate these challenges. However, the canopies of perennial trees in any agroforestry system are strongly associated with the shade effect on understory crops. This shade undoubtedly contributes to poor crop growth and the subsequent productivity. Also, Green gram is an important pulse crop known for its high-quality, easily digestible proteins, fiber, and minerals. Its drought tolerance and short life cycle make it a preferred choice of the crop by the farmers for agroforestry. Nonetheless, it suffers from shade stress by tree canopies, resulting in sub-optimal yield in any green gram-based agroforestry system. Furthermore, intercropping with other tall crops and practicing poor cultural methods such as high-density planting also impose severe shade stress on the normal development and productivity of the green gram crop. Although shade stress is key abiotic stress, almost no improved variety has been developed for shade tolerance in green gram. Even no comprehensive and in-depth studies for elucidating the molecular mechanisms and metabolomics pathways for shade adaptive traits have been attempted in green gram so far. Therefore, in this backdrop, the current study will aim at elucidating the tissue-specific morpho-physiological, molecular, and metabolomics responses of shade adaptive traits in green gram. This very important study will identify the key candidate genes, important metabolites, and molecular and biosynthetic pathways pertaining to shade adaptation in green gram for its optimum productivity and futuristic research.

Total Budget (INR):

31,97,059

Organizations involved