Research

Merit medal presentation.mp4

PhD Merit Medal Presentation

61st Convocation of the Institute

(Represented Division of Microbiology, ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi)

Prospecting the potential of cyanobacterial biofilms as options for Fe and Zn mobilisation in Maize

This research program focuses on the use of cyanobacteria and cyanobacterial biofilms to improve soil nutrient availability, stimulate plant growth, and biofortify produce. The study begins by characterizing the biochemical and metabolite profiles of Anabaena torulosa, Trichoderma viride ITCC 2211, and Providencia sp., as well as their biofilm combinations. The results show that co-culturing cyanobacteria with partners significantly increases exopolysaccharides and total chlorophyll production. The study also reveals the modulation of metabolite profiles in cyanobacterial biofilms when interacting with partner microorganisms. Further experiments on maize crops show that the application of An-Tr biofilm formulations can increase soil nitrogenase activity and chlorophyll production. Inoculation with cyanobacterial biofilms also leads to improved mobilization and translocation of iron and zinc micronutrients to maize kernels, resulting in increased iron and zinc content in the produce. The inoculation also led to a higher relative expression of zinc and iron-related transporter genes - ZmZIP6 and ZmZIP8 in the kernels of Pusa Vivek QPM9 Improved. This study demonstrates the potential of cyanobacterial biofilms as a promising priming option for improving soil fertility, plant growth, and nutrient uptake while reducing the need for nitrogen fertilizers.

Enzyme mediated lignin derived aromatics from lignocellulosic biomass

A two-step depolymerization process was developed for selectively producing low molecular weight (LMW) aromatics from lignocellulosic biomass (LCB). The process begins with pretreatment of the biomass using organosolv, alkaline hydrogen peroxide, and Enzolv technology with laccase enzymes (LccH) from Hexagonia hirta MD2, a white rot basidiomycete. This is followed by depolymerization using optimized metal catalysts.

Salient findings:

Among the catalysts tested, Ru/C (1%) yielded a higher monomer recovery of 67% compared to Ni/C.
Lignins from birchwood and corncob were largely converted to aromatic compounds, while cellulose partially degraded in both organosolv and Enzolv treatments.
However, alkaline hydrogen peroxide pretreatment of pearl millet and Melia dubia resulted in less than 40% conversion to aromatics, with over 50% remaining as cellulose and hemicellulose derivatives.
Depolymerization of organosolv-treated birchwood lignin at 260°C for 6 hours produced more than 20% aromatics, including syringol, eugenol, and vanillin, without requiring an external hydrogen source. Ethanol and formaldehyde were used to prevent repolymerization in the pretreatment process.
Characterization of the depolymerized products and catalysts revealed efficient lignin breakdown, with a monomer yield of 38.75% and lignin recovery of 40%. This cost-effective, environmentally friendly approach demonstrates an efficient route for converting LCB into valuable aromatic compounds.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse