National Institute of Plant Genome Research
Digital India   Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav     
 
    Dr. Manoj Prasad
    FNASc, FNAAS, FNA, Staff Scientist VII & J. C. Bose National Fellow
    Ph.D: Calcutta University
    Postdoctoral Fellow: Institute for Plant Genetics & Crop Plant Research (AvH fellow), Gatersleben, Germany
    Tel: 91-11-26741612,14,17 Ext. - 160
    Direct - 26735160, Fax: 91-11-26741658
    E-mail: manoj_prasad@nipgr.ac.in, manoj_pds@yahoo.com
    Webpage: Google Scholar   Research Gate
 Career
Adjunct Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Telangana (2021-present).
Staff Scientist VII, National Institute of Plant Genome Research (2019-present).
Staff Scientist VI, National Institute of Plant Genome Research (2016-2019).
Staff Scientist V, National Institute of Plant Genome Research (2012-2016).
Staff Scientist IV, National Institute of Plant Genome Research (2008-2012).
Staff Scientist III, National Institute of Plant Genome Research (2004-2008).
Post Doctoral Fellow, Institute for Plant Genetics & Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben, Germany (2000-2003).
Research Associate, Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut (1998-2000).
 Awards and Honours
Birbal Sahni Medal (2021) of Indian Botanical Society, India
Distinguished Scientist Award (2021) of Society for Bioinformatics and Biological Sciences, India
Golden Peacock Award (2019) of International Buckwheat Research Association, Slovenia
J. C. Bose National Fellow - by the DST-SERB, Govt. of India (2018).
Fellow, The Indian National Science Academy (INSA), India (2017).
Fellow, Indian Virological Society (IVS), India (2015).
Fellow, The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), India (2013).
Fellow, The National Academy of Sciences (NASI), India (2012).
TATA Innovation Fellowship by the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India (2016)
National Bioscience Award - 2014 from Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.
Academic/Associate Editor of Nature Scientific Reports, BMC Plant Biology, PLoS ONE, Plant Molecular Biology Reporter, Plant Cell Reports, Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, Molecular Biology Reports, Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, Plant Breeding, Journal of Genetics
Coordinator, International Climate-Resilient Crop Genomics Consortium (ICRCGC)
Prof. Hira Lal Chakravarty Memorial award, Indian Science Congress Association, India (2010-2011)
Visiting Scientist, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Univ. of Minnesota, USA (2007)
Biotechnology Overseas Associateship, Department of Biotechnology, India (2006-2007)
NAAS Associateship, The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), India (2006-2010)
NAAS Young Scientist, The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), India (2003-2004)
Research Scientist, IPK, Gatersleben, Germany (2002-2003).
Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, AvH foundation, Bonn, Germany (2000-2001)
National Merit Scholarship, Government of India (1992-1994)
Medal and Certificate of Honour, Ramkrishna Mission V. C. Collage, Calcutta University, (1992)
 Research Area

Plant molecular biology

 Research Program
Deciphering the molecular mechanism of abiotic stress tolerance in C4 model crop foxtail millet

Of the diverse abiotic stresses, drought, salinity, and high temperature-stress contributes extensively to the yield reduction in agronomically valued crops. This urged us to decipher the molecular mechanisms involved in naturally abiotic stress-tolerant plants thus, we selected foxtail millet as our experimental model. In this context, we have examined the change in transcript profiles of foxtail millet at different time points of heat, dehydration, and salinity stress and identified a distinct set of genes in response to these stresses. Till date we have characterized the SiNAC, SiMYB, SiC2H2-type zinc fingers, SiAP2/ERF, SiWRKY, SiDof and SiHD-Zip transcription factor superfamily along with other classes of abiotic stress-related signalling molecules including SiALDH, SiWD40, Dicer-Like, Argonaute & RNA-Dependent RNA PolymeraseSi14-3-3, secondary cell wall synthesis-related gene family, SiARFs, SiHSP, SiSET, Aquaporins and C4-photosynthetic pathway associated gene families. Our ultimate aim is to utilize these genomic resources for improvement of highly consumed staple crops like rice through genetic engineering to design climate-smart future crops.
Delineating the physio-genetic basis of nitrogen responsiveness in foxtail millet.
A major part of the investigation aims at dissecting the genetic variability in nitrogen use among diverse foxtail milletaccessions and identify major candidate genes and pathways mediating high and low yield responsiveness, so that crops with better nitrogen use potential can be engineered for sustainable agriculture.
Understanding the molecular mechanism of Tomato leaf curl disease and development of molecular markers for crop improvement through marker assisted selection
India is the 2nd largest producer of tomato. Optimum tomato production is compromised due to several biotic and abiotic factors. Among these factors, viruses are a major threat mainly because of the lack of efficient control measures.  Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) causes leaf curl disease in several vegetable crops causing yield losses up to 100%. Lack of resistance sources against this virus prompted us to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying ToLCNDV tolerance in naturally tolerant tomato. We have looked into the role of proteasomal pathway genes, small RNAs, RNA helicases, cysteine proteases, autophagy related genes, etc. in host virus interaction. We are also developing molecular markers for disease identification and crop improvement through marker assisted breeding.
 Databases Developed (Download Flyer)
Foxtail millet Marker Database (FmMDb)

Foxtail millet Transcription Factor Database (FmTFDb)

Foxtail millet miRNA Database (FmMiRNADb)

Foxtail millet Transposable Elements-based Marker Database (FmTEMDb)

 Special Issues
Research topic Journal Editors Year
Abiotic Stress Signaling in Plants: Functional Genomic Intervention Frontiers in Plant Science Pandey GK, Prasad M, Pandey A, Boemer M 2016
Integrating plant genetics and genomics for delineating climate resilience and health benefitting characteristics from millets Frontiers in Plant Science Prasad M, Yadav R 2017
Harnessing Crop Biodiversity and Genomics Assisted Pre-Breeding Approaches for Next Generation Climate-Smart Varieties Frontiers in Plant Science Vikram P, Prasad M, Singh S, Raman H, Septiningsih EM 2017
 Books Edited
The Foxtail Millet Genome
Prasad, Manoj (Ed.)
Springer International Publishing
eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-65617-5
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-65617-5
 Group Members
 Selected Publications (View Complete List)
Research Articles
Sharma N, Sahu PP, Prasad A, Muthamilarasan M, Waseem M, Khan Y, Thakur JK, Chakraborty S, Prasad M. The Sw5a gene confers resistance to ToLCNDV and triggers an HR response after direct AC4 effector recognition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021;118:e2101833118. DOI:10.1073/pnas.2101833118
Prasad A, Prasad M. Interaction of ToLCNDV TrAP with SlATG8f marks it susceptible to degradation by autophagy. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2022;79:241. DOI:10.1007/s00018-022-04281-7
Bandyopadhyay T, Swarbreck SM, Jaiswal V, Maurya J, Gupta R, Bentley AR, Griffiths H, Prasad M. GWAS identifies genetic loci underlying nitrogen responsiveness in the climate resilient C4 model Setaria italica (L.). J Adv Res. 2022;doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2022.01.010.doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2022.01.010.
Lata C, Bhutty S, Bahadur RP, Majee M, Prasad M. Association of an SNP in a novel DREB2-like gene SiDREB2 with stress tolerance in foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.)]. J Exp Bot. 2011;62:3387-401. DOI:10.1093/jxb/err016
Sahu PP, Rai NK, Chakraborty S, Singh M, Chandrappa PH, Ramesh B, Chattopadhyay D, Prasad M. Tomato cultivar tolerant to Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus infection induces virus-specific short interfering RNA accumulation and defence-associated host gene expression. Mol Plant Pathol. 2010;11:531-44. DOI:10.1111/j.1364-3703.2010.00630.x
  
  Review
Sett S, Prasad A, Prasad M. Resistance genes on the verge of plant-virus interaction. Trends Plant Sci. 2022; DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.07.003
Prasad A, Sharma N, Hari-Gowthem G, Muthamilarasan M, Prasad M. Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus: Impact, Challenges, and Management. Trends Plant Sci. 2020;25:897-911.DOI:10.1016/j.tplants.2020.03.015
Puranik S, Sahu PP, Srivastava PS, Prasad M. NAC proteins: regulation and role in stress tolerance. Trends Plant Sci. 2012;17:369-81. DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2012.02.004
Kumar V, Thakur JK, Prasad M. Histone acetylation dynamics regulating plant development and stress responses. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2021;78:4467-4486.DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03794-x
Lata C, Prasad M. Role of DREBs in regulation of abiotic stress responses in plants. J Exp Bot. 2011;62:4731-48.DOI:10.1093/jxb/err210