Dr. Varsha Mohanan

Post Doctoral Fellow

Marine macroalga Kappaphycus alvarezii associated bacteria: interaction with the host and its field validation.

The red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) widely known as “cottonii’, is one of the most industrially important carrageenophyte cultivated in the Asian seawaters. The cultivation of introduced macroalgae Kappaphycus has recently become an alternative economic source of coastline population in many of the Asian countries with tropical coastal waters. The industrial demand of Kappaphycus can be met and scaled up only with sufficient biomass cultivation. But, overtime, the productivity of the red seaweed crop has declined. The microbial association of macroalgae supporting and enhancing the growth of macroalgae through production of PGRs is of great importance in this regard. Endophytic bacteria is considered to support growth by production of growth hormones and siderophores, by nitrogen fixation, and by inducing systemic resistance in macroalgal systems. The biology of Kappaphycus and microbiome associated with would provide a promising path to unravel the interactive network and cooperative working of these two systems for a sustainable survival of the microalgae. The understanding of the host microbe interactions can help establish cultivable systems in a more effective manner. Therefore, in the present study, it is proposed to characterize the Kappaphycus associated microbes using polyphasic approaches and screen them for macroalgal growth factors and their interactions for potential application in seaweed cultivation and micropropagation..

Publications

  1. Mohanan, V. C., Chandarana, P. M., Chattoo, B. B., Patkar, R. N., and Manjrekar, J. (2017). Fungal Histidine Phosphotransferase Plays a Crucial Role in Photomorphogenesis and Pathogenesis in Magnaporthe oryzae. Front. Chem. 5. doi:10.3389/fchem.2017.00031.

  2. Mohanan, V. C., Chandarana, P., Prasad, B. D., Sahni, S., Manjrekar, J., and Chattoo, B. B. (2022). Transcriptome analysis of Magnaporthe oryzae reveals the role of histidine phosphotransferase in pathogenesis and stress adaptation. Australas. Plant Pathol. 51, 155–165. doi:10.1007/s13313-022-00851-2.

  1. Varsha C. Mohanan and Sangita Sahni, 2017, Fungal transformations and advancements. In: Sangita Sahni, Bishun Deo Prasad, Prasant Kumar (eds.)- Transgenics, Stress Management, and Biosafety Issues, Plant Biotechnology, Vol.2, E-Book ISBN: 9781315213736. Apple academic press,USA.

  2. Varsha C. Mohanan, 2020, Induction of defense responses- pathogenesis related proteins, HR and reactive oxygen species. In: Sangita Sahni, Bishun Deo Prasad (eds.)- Host-pathogen interaction: A molecular approach,ISBN 13: 9788170196952, Today & Tomorrow’s Printers and Publishers, New Delhi, India

  3. Varsha C. Mohanan, 2020, Molecular basis of host-pathogen (fungi) interaction. In: Sangita Sahni, Bishun Deo Prasad (eds.)- Host-pathogen interaction: A molecular approach, , ISBN 13: 9788170196952. Today & Tomorrow’s Printers and Publishers, New Delhi, India.

  1. 1. Presented Poster at the 8th International Conference on Yeast Biology held at Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh from December 4-7, 2013. Transcriptome of Magnaporthe oryzae Histidine Phosphotransferase mutant offers new insights into stress management and pathogenicity. (Poster)

  2. Presented Poster at the two-day International conference on Integrating Basic and Translational Research in Modern Biology held at M. S. University of Baroda, December – 2013. Comparative Transcriptome analysis of Magnaporthe oryzae Histidine Phosphotransferase mutant under oxidative stress induced conditions reveals its role in nutritional uptake and pathogenicity.  (Poster)

  3. Scientific Poster at the world Brackish water aquaculture conference BRACQON-2019 held from 23-25 January2019. Transcriptome analysis of Etroplus suratensis: Identification of Growth, Reproduction and Immune-related genes and Microsatellite Markers. (Poster)

  4. Conference paper entitled “Identification of stress responsive genes in Magnaporthe oryzae” at the International conference on “Trends in Microbiology and Molecular Biology” August 20-21,2019, Iringalakuda, Thrissur, Kerala. (Oral)

  5. Conference paper entitled “Magnaporthe oryzae histidine phosphotransferase plays an important role in cell wall maintenance and pathogenicity” at the international conference on New Horizons in Biotechnology November 20-24, 2019, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. (Oral)

  6. Conference paper entitled “Histidine Phosphotransferase of Magnaporthe oryzae plays an important role in oxidative stress response and mitochondria driven amino acid homeostasis” at the DST SERB funded National seminar on “Recent perspectives in Molecular Pharmacognosy”, February 7-8 2023 conducted at Vimala College, Thrissur, Kerala. (Oral)

Mentor

Prof. Valsamma Joseph