Research Interests

Our laboratory is interested in studying the mechanism of bacterial virulence and plant defense using Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) and rice as a model system. In the area of rice functional genomics, our group is working towards identification and characterization of genes involved in important agronomic traits in rice such as disease (bacterial blight, sheath blight) and pest (yellow stem borer) resistance, abiotic stress resistance, higher yield, early maturation etc. We are attempting to develop novel markers for some of these important agronomic traits using genetic methodologies, NGS and bioinformatic analysis. The novel markers will be useful for the development of newer rice varieties.

Selected Publications
Interaction of the Xanthomonas effectors XopQ and XopX results in induction of rice immune responses. Deb et al. The Plant Journal. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.14924

Dual activities of receptor like kinase OsWAKL21.2 induce immune responses. Malukani et al. Plant Physiology. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.19.01579

Overexpression of OsPUB41, a Rice E3 ubiquitin ligase induced by cell wall degrading enzymes, enhances immune responses in Rice and Arabidopsis. Kachewar et al. BMC Plant Biology. (2019). 19; 530.

Action of multiple cell wall degrading enzymes is required for elicitation of innate immune responses during Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae infection in rice. Tayi et al. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. (2016). 29(8):599-608.

Transcriptional profiling of rice leaves undergoing a hypersensitive response like reaction induced by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae cellulase. Jha et al. Rice. (2010). 3: 1-21.