Scientist V
Ph.D: CSIR-NBRI and Lucknow University, Lucknow India
Postdoctoral Fellow: Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
- 91-11-26741612,14,17 Ext. - 182
- amar@nipgr.ac.in, amartechnion@gmail.com
Profile
Research Area
Nutrient sensing, Molecular Biology and Development Biology.
Research Interests
Deciphering the Molecular Mechanisms of Root Developmental Adaptations Under Low Nitrogen Availability in Plants
Plants adapt to changing environments by modulating their growth physiology. Nitrogen (N) is a vital component for plant growth and development. Plant roots are essential organs involved in N uptake from the rhizosphere. However, low levels of N in the soil inhibit plant growth and yield. Phytohormones such as auxin and brassinosteroids (BRs) are well-known players that modulate almost every aspect of plant development. However, the genetic basis of root developmental adaptations under low N conditions by these phytohormones is still poorly understood. We are interested in identifying the genetic factors involved in root developmental adaptation for the exploitation of N from the rhizosphere and their regulation by phytochromes (auxin and BRs) in Arabidopsis, tomato, and rice. To address this, we are employing molecular, cell biology, and developmental biology tools and techniques, including live imaging, transgenics, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing approaches.
Understanding the Genetic Basis of Root Development During Ammonium Stress in Plants
High ammonium levels as the sole nitrogen (N) source can be toxic to plants. Under ammonium toxicity, plant roots undergo significant changes, including the inhibition of primary root elongation, which is associated with a reduction in the number of cells in the meristem zone and cell elongation. Our research aims to explore the genes and transcription factors involved in modulating root cellular dynamics, such as cell division, elongation and expansion, and proliferation to enhance plant performance under ammonium stress in Arabidopsis.
Investigating the Molecular Basis of Combined Stress: High Salinity and Low Nitrogen
In natural environments, plants frequently encounter combined stresses, such as high salinity and low nitrogen levels. However, the mechanisms and genes responsible for modulating plant growth physiology under the dual stress of low nitrogen and high salinity remain largely unexplored. Using Arabidopsis and rice as model systems, our research seeks to uncover plant adaptation strategies and the genes involved in them. Our ultimate goal is to develop plants with enhanced nitrogen use efficiency and improved salinity tolerance. To achieve this, we employ high-resolution imaging techniques, transcriptomics, genome editing, and transgenic approaches to unravel the mechanisms underlying the combined stress of low nitrogen and high salt.
Professional & Academic Background
Staff Scientist V (July 2023 - Present): National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, India
Staff Scientist IV (June 2020 - June 2023): National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, India
Staff Scientist III (June 2017 - June 2020): National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, India
Post- doctoral Research Fellow (2012 to 2017): Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
Ph.D. (2005-2012): CSIR-NBRI and Lucknow University, Lucknow India.
M.Sc. (2002-2004): CSJM University Kanpur India
B.Sc. (1999-2001): CSJM University Kanpur India
Awards & Honors
Year
Awards and Honors
2019
SERB-Early Career Research Award from Department of Science and Technology, India
2018
Innovative Young Biotechnology Award
2017
ILANIT Prize from Federation of the Israel Societies from Experimental Biology.
2015
ISPS Prize from the Israeli Society of Plant Sciences
2012-15
PBC Fellow (The Planning and Budgeting Committee Program for Outstanding Post-Doctoral Researchers from China and India) by Council for higher education, Israel.
2012
Blaustein Postdoctoral Fellowships from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev-Not availed.
2008-12
Senior Research Fellowship from CSIR India
2005
GATE in Life Science.
Interested to join the lab?
Highly motivated candidates with keen interest in molecular biology, development biology and nutrient sensing are welcome to contact via e-mail for Post-doctoral Fellow/ Research Associate/ Research Fellow position that may be available immediately.
Current Members
Anshika Pandey
Ph.D. student
I am interested to understand the regulation of ammonium stress in Arabidopsis
Loitongbam Lorinda Devi
Ph.D. Student
Exploring the function of brassinosteroids on root growth and nitrogen homeostasis during its deficiency in Arabidopsis
Shreya Gupta
Ph.D. Student
Deciphering the root developmental adaptation strategies under salinity and low nitrogen conditions in plants
Nidhi Gandhi
Ph.D. Student
Investigating the function of MicroRNAs regulated nutrient homeostasis in Arabidopsis
Kartika Singh
Ph.D. Student
Deciphering the nitrogen forms sensing and signaling mechanism during postembryonic growth in plants
Subham Agarwal
Ph.D. Student
Identification of gene regulatory networks during combinatorial nutrient deficiencies in rice
Dr. Ritesh Kumar Yadav
Research Associate
Former Group Members
Priyanka Kumari
Project Fellow
Anandani Mahapatra
Project JRF
Paulomi Goswami
Project JRF
Dr. Surabh Pandey
NIPGR-STRF
Publications
Pandey A, Devi LL, Gupta S, Prasad P, Agrwal K, Asif MH, Pandey AK, Bandyopadhyay K, Singh AP (2024). Jasmonate signaling modulates root growth by suppressing iron accumulation during ammonium stress, Plant Physiology, kiae390, https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiae390
Yadav RK, Analin B, Panda MK, Ranjan A, Singh AP (2023). Brassinosteroids-regulated nitrogen metabolism fine-tunes growth physiology and low nitrogen response in tomato, Environmental and Experimental Botany,105528, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2023.105528.
Devi LL, Pandey A, Gupta S, Singh AP (2022). The interplay of auxin and brassinosteroid signaling tunes root growth under low and different nitrogen forms, Plant Physiology, kiac157, https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiac157
Kumari P, Devi LL, Kumar A, Pandey A, Sinha SK, Singh AP (2022). Differential response of rice genotypes to nitrogen availability is associated with the altered nitrogen metabolism and ionomic balance, Environmental and Experimental Botany,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2022.104847.
Singh, P., Bharti, N., Singh, A.P. et al. Petal abscission in fragrant roses is associated with large scale differential regulation of the abscission zone transcriptome. Sci. Rep. 10, 17196 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-74144-3
Pandey A, Devi LL, Singh AP (2020) Emerging roles of brassinosteroid in nutrient foraging. Plant Science, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2020.110474.
Khandal H, Singh AP and Chattopadhyay D (2020). MicroRNA 397b-LACCASE2 module regulates root lignification under water- and phosphate deficiency. Plant Physiology, DOI:10.1104/pp.19.00921.
P Singh, AP Singh, SK Tripathi, V Kumar, AP Sane (2019) Petal abscission in roses is associated with the activation of a truncated version of the animal PDCD4 homologue, RbPCD1. Plant Science.
Pandey SP, Singh AP, Srivastava S, Chandrashekar K, Sane AP (2019). A strong early-acting wound-inducible promoter, RbPCD1pro, activates cryIAc expression within minutes of wounding to impart efficient protection against insects. Plant Biotechnology Journal. DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13071.
Singh P, Singh AP and Sane AP (2018). Differential and reciprocal regulation of ethylene pathway genes regulates petal abscission in fragrant and non-fragrant roses. Plant Science. DOI.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.12.013
Singh AP, Fridman Y, Holland N, Ackerman-Lavert M, Zananiri R, Jaillais Y, Henn A and Savaldi-Goldstein S (2018). Interdependent nutrient availability and steroid hormone signals facilitate root growth plasticity. (Developmental Cell-Accepted).
Singh AP and Savaldi-Goldstein S (2015). Growth control: brassinosteroid activity gets context. Journal of Experimental Botany, 66: 1123–1132.
Singh AP, Fridman Y, Friedlander-Shani L, Tarkowska D, Strnad M and Savaldi-Goldstein S (2014). Activity of the Brassinosteroid Transcription Factors BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT1 and BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1-ETHYL METHANESULFONATE-SUPPRESSOR1/ BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT2 Blocks Developmental Reprogramming in Response to Low Phosphate Availability. Plant Physiology, 166: 678-688.
Singh AP, Dubey S, Khan K, Lakhwani D, Dwivedi U, Nath P (2013). Transcriptome sequencing of rose petal abscission zone cDNA reveals differential expression of several XTH genes in petal abscission zones of R. bourboniana and R. hybrida. AoB plants, doi: 10.1093/aobpla/plt030
Singh AP, Sane AP, Tripathi SK and Nath P (2011). Petal Abscission in Rose is associated with the enhanced expression of a xyloglucan transglucosylase/hydrolase, RbXTH1 and RbXTH2. Journal of Experimental Botany, 62 (14) 5091–5103
Singh AP, Pandey SP, Rajluxmi, Pandey S, Nath P and Sane AP (2011). Transcriptional activation of a pectate lyase gene, RbPel1, during petal abscission in rose. Post Harvest Biology and Technology, 60: 143-148.
Tripathi SK *, Singh AP*, Sane AP and Nath P (2009) Transcriptional activation of a 37 kDa ethylene responsive cysteine protease gene, RbCP1, is associated with protein degradation during petal abscission in rose. Journal of Experimental Botany, 60: 2035-2044. (*Equal contribution)
Book Chapter
Gupta S *, Devi LL *, Singh AP (2024) Plant growth coordination during stress conditions: Role of phytohormones. Improving Stress Resilience in Plants, Academic Press, Pages 249-275 ttps://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-18927-2.00009-1).
Pandey A *, Singh K *, Singh AP (2024) Nitrogen forms and their availability-dependent root developmental adaptation in plants. Improving Stress Resilience in Plants, Academic Press, Pages 97-117 (https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-18927-2.00008-X).
Yadav RK, Devi LL, Singh AP (2023). Brassinosteroids in plant growth and development Plant Hormones in Crop Improvement, 185-203; https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91886-2.00004-5
Loitongbam LD, Pandey A, Singh AP (2020) Root Plasticity under Low Phosphate Availability: A Physiological and Molecular Approach to Plant Adaptation under Limited Phosphate Availability. (Improving Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants, CRC press).
Gupta S, Devi LL, and Singh AP (2022). Nitric Oxide: Interaction with Auxins, Brassinosteroids, and Abscisic Acid, Wiley ISBN: 978-1-119-80014-9
Review article
Singh K, Gupta S, Singh AP (2024) Review: Nutrient-nutrient interactions governing underground plant adaptation strategies in a heterogeneous environment. Plant Science,112024 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112024).
Patent
Savaldi-Goldstein S and Singh AP (2016). Plants adapted to low phosphorus soils. (WIPO Patent Application WO/2016/024280)
Pandey SP, Singh AP, Sane AP (2016). A wound inducible expression construct and a method of its preparation. (WO/2016/103279)