I am an Agricultural researcher investigating how beneficial microbes can enhance plant resilience to both abiotic and biotic stresses. Previously, I have studied microbial interactions with Xanthomonas oryzae and Phytophthora capsici in crop systems including rice, wheat, and black pepper. I also used CRISPR gene editing to improve nitrogen-use efficiency in rice, contributing to more sustainable agricultural solutions.
Can we optimise microbes so precisely that plants become much more resilient under stress?
My research focuses on developing a systematic approach to screen, compare, and optimise microbial biological agents. I use controlled model systems representing both biotic and abiotic stresses to study how different microbes activate plant defence and stress-response pathways, and to identify the mechanisms that make some strains more effective than others.
