We the Plant Molecular Biology (PMB) Group, engage in advanced interdisciplinary research at the convergence of plant biology, entomology, and biotechnology, with the goal of developing sustainable and innovative strategies for crop protection and pest control. Our research framework integrates insights from plant–insect and plant–fungal interactions, with a particular emphasis on decoding plant defence responses and elucidating the molecular basis of plant–pathogen interactions to improve crop resilience.
A significant component of our work involves the analysis and engineering of plant metabolic pathways, aimed at identifying and modifying key biosynthetic routes associated with innate resistance, growth enhancement, and adaptive responses to environmental stress. We also investigate the rhizosphere microbiome, focusing on plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPRs) that support plant vitality through beneficial plant–microbe interactions.
By leveraging tools from bioinformatics, microbiology, proteomics, and biotechnology, our research uncovers critical protein–protein interactions, employing interatomic approaches to map functional regulatory networks. These findings inform the engineering of insecticidal or fungicidal molecules, proteins, tailored to disrupt organism-specific biological targets, thereby contributing to precise and ecologically safe pest management solutions.
Additionally, our exploration into the metabolic regulation of insect development underpins the design of next-generation pest control technologies, offering targeted and environmentally sound alternatives to conventional pesticides. This integrative research approach places CSIR-NCL at the forefront of scientific efforts to decode complex plant–microbe–insect ecosystems, with applications in precision agriculture, biological crop protection, and the development of nature-inspired agro-technologies.