Ongoing Projects
Engineering the Nodulation Signaling Pathway in Rice Plant
December 27, 2017
| Sustainable Agriculture
The study aims to engineer Nodulation signal perception mechanism in rice plant. This is a critical step in paving way for the development of N2-fixing symbiosis in this cereal crop to enable it to synthesise its own nitrogen fertiliser for its growth, akin to legumes.
The objectives are –- Incorporation of the nodulation signal transduction pathway in rice by transferring the legume-specific genes coding for Nod factor receptor proteins and the transcription factors to facilitate rhizobial nod signal perception/transduction in rice
Mapping, identification of molecular markers associated with heat tolerance QTLs in tomato
December 27, 2017
| Sustainable Agriculture
Tomato is one of the most significant vegetable crops grown worldwide. However, important traits such as pollen meiosis, germination, ovule development, viability and development of the embryo and fruit set of most tomato cultivars are adversely affected under temperatures higher than 35°C. This leads to non-availability in certain months.
Off the grid sensor controlled irrigation using bank filtration technology
December 27, 2017
| Sustainable Agriculture
The main objectives of this project are to: (1) Provide clean water to farmers using bank filtration technology; (2) Provide renewable electric power to off-the-grid farmers, thereby reducing stress on current electricity infrastructure; (3) Provide increased effectiveness solution for water use by farmers using IoT-based system.
TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Research Centre
December 1, 2017
| Sustainable Agriculture
The TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre, a collaboration between TERI and Deakin University, Australia has been working on using nanobiotechnology to provide sustainable agriculture solutions
The TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre (TDNBC) was established under this project in 2011 by TERI's Biotechnology and Bioresources Division in collaboration with Deakin University, Australia. Its mandate is to develop innovative nanobiotechnology-based solutions to address current challenges in the field of agriculture and environment.
Endocrine Disruptors in Indian Food: minimizing children exposure and fostering a safer space for agriculture and food market (EDIFY)
December 1, 2017
| Environment
| Sustainable Agriculture
| Health & Nutrition
The main objectives of this project are to: i) conduct a comprehensive assessment of exposure of the Indian population to endocrine disrupting substances (EDS)through the diet (food and water); ii) assess climate and anthropological drivers controlling levels of EDS in drinking water and agricultural products; iii) identify sound risk reduction measures and management options for reducing exposure to EDS;
Metatranscriptomics driven isolation of Tea root associated bacteria and their evaluation for drought tolerance properties.
March 21, 2017
| Microbes
| Sustainable Agriculture
Plant root microbiome plays the key role in plant health maintenance during conducive as well as a stressed situation and their population dynamics (culturable and non-culturable) varies with the surrounding environment. Therefore, culturable microbial strains associated with drought tolerant plants are explored and mobilized as input to sustain other plant growth during drought situation. However, the non-culturable microbes that represent substantial proportions of total microbiome are not explored yet for their beneficial role during stress condition.
Non-coding RNAs associated with abiotic stress and their role in plant-bacterial interactions using the plant-associated bacterium, Azospirillum brasilense and Sorghum as a model
March 1, 2017
| Sustainable Agriculture
Major issues of current plant growth promoting (PGP) formulations involving bacteria include maintained consistency of field results as field conditions are more variable and there are differences in bacterial community dynamics in the field. Hence the importance of new information regarding the molecular mechanism of plant-microbe interactions and the control of targeted microbial interactions in field conditions especially under environmental stress.
Ethnobotanical survey for antiulcer drug
February 13, 2017
| Environment
| Microbes
| Sustainable Agriculture
This project will select the medicinal plants of traditional use on ethno-botanical survey of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh for their biological screening of anti-ulcer activity in experimental animals. This will help find possible anti-ulcer drugs from the indigenous medicinal plants of Northeast.
Integrated Modelling Study of Food-Energy-Water-Food nexus in India
January 19, 2017
| Sustainable Agriculture
| Energy
| Environment
The food-energy-water nexus in India would be examined using scenario analysis using MARKAL and the integrated agricultural water use models. The work would form part of the Sustainable Growth Working Group with the NITI Aayog and other policy think tanks in India. The findings would be disseminated to key government departments.