Home » BIODIVERSITY AND PALAEOBIOLOGY TEST

Welcome To Biodiversity and Palaeobiology Group

This thematic group has been created to consolidate ARI’s research activities related to biodiversity of archaea, bacteria, diatoms, fungi, lichens, plants, viruses, as well as fossils.

Our Vision

Our vision is to explore variations occurring at the level of ecosystems, species and genes. ARI scientists are currently exploring the distribution and diversity of archaea, bacteria, diatoms, fungi, lichens, plants and viruses in Indian subcontinent, with particular emphasis on the two biodiversity hotspots, viz. Eastern Himalayas and Western Ghats. Microbial diversity of extreme/pristine/niche environments is also being investigated. Our findings have important spin-offs in ex situ and/or in situ conservation of some rare/endangered indigenous organisms.

Palaeobiology research deals with the taxonomic descriptions of fossil forms that helps us trace back lineages that once existed and offers a holistic interpretation of paleo-ecology and palaeo-environment that led to the modern day earth.

Google Scholar / Social Media

Name : Dr. Sanjay K Singh

Designation : Scientist – G

Brief Background :

Fungi have ancient linkage with human civilization display extraordinary structural and functional diversity exists in many pristine environments and diverse ecosites. Over the years emphasis has been on screening rapidly growing and easily cultured species of fungi. Recent trends however shifted towards lesser investigated taxa belonging to different taxonomic groups that may be a source of hitherto unrecognized/unusual chemicals of great potential to generate bioeconomy.

Documentation and databases reveal that global estimates of number of species identified continues to rise leading to increased source to be explored for biofertilizer, food, health and environmental applications. Fungi are prolific producers of enzymes and secondary metabolites including polyketide pigments such as carotenoids, melanins, azaphilones, flavins, phenazines, quinones, monascin, violacein, indigo, etc. Besides, fungi do have potential to produce biofuel.

Omnipresence and evolutionary ancestry make them interesting as model organism for biotechnological inventions. Current understanding on fungal biology has provided opportunity to acknowledge the wide range of applications useful in various sectors. Fundamental mycology, especially systematics, conventional taxonomy has seen dynamic change in recent past and has significantly supported the studies on biodiversity.

However, the modern sequence-based molecular approaches are getting more prominence.Knowledge on fundamental aspects help in protecting IPR and also compliment to the strategic requirements of in vitro culturing, authentication and conservation efforts being deliberated under flagship program of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to support the country’s academic and industrial R& D program on sustained basis.

Contact Details :

+91 20 25325103 (Telephone)

+91 9552709158 (Cell Phone)

Educational Qualification

BSc, MSc& PhD (Botany-Mycology)

B Sc [Botany & Chemistry] Kanpur University, UP, INDIA 1990
M Sc [Botany-spl Plant Pathology] Kanpur University, UP, INDIA 1992
Ph D Botany Gorakhpur University, UP, INDIA 1996

Research Interests

Fungi are considered promising goldmine for various applications and biotechnological inventions. Research interests are centred on discovering novel and uncommon fungi from pristine and other diverse habitats of Western Ghats and Himalayan regions in India.

Understanding structural diversity and biological relationships with plants and insects and exploitation of their metabolic potential in various sectors has been the primary interests. Examination of enntomogenous fungi and other biocontrol agents and their potential applications are another area of interests. Endophytic fungi from plants of unique ecological settings, and study of their bioactive substances, and authentication by conventional and modern methods; multigene sequencing and phylogenetic analyses is the main interests.

More recently, began to examine fungi producing colors/pigments for understanding the mechanisms of biosynthesis of polyketide pigments and their applications, primarily in textile and food industries. Capacity building and human resource generation in fundamental aspects of taxonomic mycology and conservation of indigenous fungal resources under the framework of CBD and Indian BD Acts & Rules are the high priority areas of interests. Besides, extending knowledge-based services and support R&D programs undertaken by academic, research institutions and industry.

List of Publications

Rana S and Singh SK.2025.A new species of Waiteadescribed and illustrated based on morphology and phylogeny from Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa 700 (3) 269-278.
Rana S, Pawle G, Nischitha R and Singh SK. 2025.Diversity and biological activities of endophytic fungi: insights from in-silico docking studies. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology1007/s42770-025-01616-x
Nischitha R and Singh SK 2025. Endophytic fungi of Cynodondactylon: a treasure trove of bioactive compounds. Archives of Microbiology 207(6):142. doi:10.1007/s00203-025-04296-1.
Pawar K,Singh PN, and Singh SK.2025.Conidiobolussrinivasanii (Conidiobolaceae, Entomophthorales), a novel species from Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India.Phytotaxa 682 (2): 151–160.
Rana S and Singh SK.2024. Discovery of Alanomycesmanoharacharyi: A novel fungus identified using genome sequencing and metabolomic analysis. Journal of Fungi 10(11):791
Rana S and Singh SK. 2024. Fusarium kamalianum, a New Species of Fusariumfrom India from Ornamental Chamaedoreaseifrizii. Phytotaxa 659, 1-23.
Singh PN, Singh SK, Rana S, Lagashetti AC. 2024. Agaricus agharkarii Fungal diversity notes 1717–1817: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa (in Liu et al.) Fungal Diversity https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-023-00529-0
Rana S and Singh SK. 2023. Insights into the genomic architecture of a newly discovered endophytic Fusariumspecies belonging to the Fusarium concolor complex from India. Frontiers in microbiology 14,1266620.
Borde M and Singh SK.2023. Enhanced production of cordycepin under solid‐state fermentation of Cordyceps militaris by using combinations of grains/substrates. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology https://doi.org/10.1007/s42770-023-01169-x
Suthar M, Dufossé L, Singh SK. 2023. The enigmatic world of fungal melanin: a comprehensive review. Journal of Fungi.https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9090891
Zehra A, Dhondge HV, Barvkar VT, Singh SK, Nadaf AB. 2023. Evidence of polyamines mediated 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline biosynthesis in aromatic rice rhizosphere fungal species Aspergillus niger. Brazilian Journalof Microbiology 54(4):3073-3083.
Pawar KS, Singh PN, Singh SK. 2023. Fungal alkaline proteases and their potential applications in different industries. Frontiers in Microbiology 14:1138401. https://doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1138401.
Rana S, Singh SK andDufossé L. 2022. Multigene Phylogeny, Beauvericin Production and Bioactive Potential of FusariumStrains Isolated in India. Journal of Fungi 8, 662.
Rana S and Singh SK. 2022. A review on beauvericin production from Fusarium, its biosynthesis, mode of action and bioactivities. Research J Biotechnology 17(2):149-157.
Bali GK, Singh SK, Chauhan VK, Joshi N, Bhat FA, Malla WA, Ramanujam B, Varshney R, Kour M, Pandit RS. An insight in proteome profiling of Tuta absoluta larvae after entomopathogenic fungal infection. 2022. Scientific Data 9(1):507doi: 10.1038/s41597-022-01593-y.
Lagashetti AC, Singh SK, Singh PN.2022.Keithomyces indicus nov. in Crous et al. Fungal Planet Description Sheets 1383–1435. Persoonia 48: 261– 371.
Lagashetti AC, Singh SK, Dufossé L, Srivastava P and Singh PN. 2022. Antioxidant, antibacterial and dyeing potential of crude pigment extract of Gonatophragmiumtriuniaeand its chemical characterization. Molecules 27: 393. https:// doi.org/10.3390/molecules270203
Rana S and Singh SK. 2020. Srinivasanomyceskangrensis Gen et sp. nov. In: Fungal diversity notes 1151–1276: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa (Hyde et al. 2020). Fungal Diversity 100: 156-159.
Singh SM and Singh SK. Bhagirathimyceshimalayensis Gen et sp. nov. In: Fungal diversity notes 1151–1276: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa (Hyde et al. 2020). Fungal Diversity100: 93-101
Lagashetti A, Dufossé L, Singh SK and Singh PN. 2019. Fungal Pigments and their Prospects in Different Industries. Microorganisms7(12): 1-36
Singh PN and Singh SK. 2019. Neoacladium indicum Gen et sp. nov. Fungal diversity notes 1036–1150: Taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa (Hyde et al. 2019). Fungal Diversity 96 (1): 189–200.
Rana S and Singh SK. 2019. Kamalia indica, a new genus and species belonging to Diaporthales (Ascomycota, Fungi) described based on morphology and molecular phylogeny. Phytotaxa427(4): 233–243
Mehta N, Hagen F, Aamir S, Singh SK and Baghela A. 2017. Development of a High-Resolution Multi-Locus Microsatellite Typing Method for Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Mycobiology45(4): 401- 408.

Book/Monograph Published

Manoharachary C, Singh HB, Singh SK and Sharma YP (Editors). 2025. Developments in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology: Biodiversity, Bioengineering, and Biotechnology of Fungi. Academic Press (An Imprint of Elsevier), pp. 763.
Tarafdar JC, Kumar D, Singh SK, and Singh KP. 2025. Nanobiotechnology for Agricultural Sciences: Nano-Agri-Input Products for Crop Production and Environmental Protection. Apple Academic Press Inc., pp.544.
Singh SK, Kumar D, Md. Shamim, Sharma R. (editors). 2023. Applied Mycology for Agriculture and Foods: Industrial Applications. Apple Academy Press (AAP), pp. 504.
Gupta N, Manoharachary C, Singh SK, Behera R and Mekro P. 2023. Fungi of Odisha. Part II. Regional Plant Resource Centre, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department. Government of Odisha, Nayapalli, Bhubneshwar, pp. 276.
Srinivasan MC and Singh SK.2022.Practical Guidebook to Actinomycete Biology and Technology Applications. MACS-Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, pp.116 (ISBN 978-81-955906-0-5).
Manoharachary C, Atri NS, Prameela Devi T, Kamil D, Singh SK and Singh AP. 2022. Bilgrami's Fungi of India, List and References (1988-2020). Today & Tomorrow’s Printers and Publishers, New Delhi, pp. 475 (ISBN: 9789391734411).

Google Scholar / Social Media

Name : Dr. Ritesh Kumar Choudhary

Designation : Scientist – E

Brief Background :

Dr. R.K. Choudhary has more than 15 years of experience in the field of taxonomy and molecular systematics of plants. He has worked in all four biodiversity hotspots of India, i.e., the eastern Himalayas, the Western Ghats, Sundaland, and the Andaman Islands.

After completing his Ph.D. from the Botanical Survey of India and Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar on the topic ‘Floristic diversity of Upper Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh’ Dr. Choudhary worked in S. Korea and Vietnam for his post-doctoral research.

Contact Details :

, ritesh.bsi@gmail.com

+91-20-25325142 (Telephone)

+91-20-25651542 (Fax)

Labpage: https://sites.google.com/view/mol-sys-lab-ari/home

ResearchGate: https://sites.google.com/view/mol-sys-lab-ari/home

Educational Qualification

B. Sc. (Hons.) in Botany: T.M. Bhagalpur University, Bihar
M.Sc. in Botany (Specialization: Cytogenetics & Plant Breeding): T.M. Bhagalpur University, Bihar
Ph. D. (Botany): Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.
Research Fellow at Botanical Survey of India, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India (2004-2009)
Research Associate at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, India (2009-2010)
Post-Doctoral Fellow at Korea Research Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, S. Korea (2010 to 2013).

Research Interests

Our lab’s research is centered on plant systematics, with a primary focus on understanding plant diversity. We investigate questions related to phylogeny, taxonomy, and evolutionary processes through the application of contemporary methodologies and tools.

Although a variety of plant groups are examined, the lab’s long-term research agenda is dedicated to unravelling the mechanisms of endemism, floral diversification, ontogenesis, and floral evolution within native flora. Our work is carried out across multiple settings, including the laboratory, herbarium, and field environments.

BOOKS: 05 (FIVE)

Pandey, A.K., R.K. Choudhary, M.D. Dwivedi, S. Kasana (2024) Plant Molecular Systematics: A Laboratory Manual. Deepika Book Agency, New Delhi, India. ISBN: 978-81-976745-1-8
Sukhramani, G., T. Sahu & R.K. Choudhary (2024) Smilacaceae of the Indian Subcontinent. Published by MACS-Agharkar Research Institute, Pune. ISBN: 978-81-955906-1-2. Pp. 1-119.
Maurya, S.K., Datar, M. N., R.K. Choudhary (2020) The genus Capparis L. in India. Published by MACS-Agharkar Research Institute, Pune. ISBN: 978-81-946051-0-2. Pp. 1-92.
Floristic diversity of HonBa Nature Reserve, Vietnam (2014). Published by Korea National Arboretum, S. Korea. ISBN: 9788997450671-93480. Pp: 1-752.
Useful flowering plants in Vietnam Vol. II. (2012). Published by Korea Research Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology (KRIBB), S. Korea. ISBN: 978-89-6709-007-4. Pp: 1-480.

RESEARCH PAPERS: 99 (NINETY NINE)

See the Google Scholar Profile (https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=YYWTmckAAAAJ&hl=en) for an updated list of publications.

BOOK CHAPTER: 01 (ONE)

Choudhary R.K.,T. Bach, N. Hanh, L.V. Nong, S.H. Park. C. Lee, Y.M. Lee, K.S. Chang & J. Lee (2012). Cultivation prospects of medicinal plants in Vietnam: A case study of HonBa Natural Reserve. Recent advances in medicinal plants and their cultivation (eds: A. Kumari et al.). Mangalam Publications, Delhi, India. (ISBN: 978-93-81142-66-4) pp: 37-47.

Name : Dr. Karthick Balasubramanian

Designation : Scientist – E

Brief Background :

Dr. Karthick Balasubramanian is a scientist at Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, and leads the Diatom Diversity and Distribution Lab, specializing in freshwater biodiversity with a focus on diatom taxonomy, ecology, and their applications in environmental monitoring. His research covers modern and past diatom communities, water quality assessment, the impact of emerging pollutants like microplastics, and exploring the potential of diatoms for carbon sequestration in open environments.

He has described several new diatom species from Indian rivers and leads long-term monitoring projects on the Mula-Mutha and Indrayani rivers, focusing on pollution gradients, heavy metals, and microplastics. Dr. Karthick serves as an associate editor of Diatom Research and as the academic editor for Phytotaxa. He collaborates with national and international researchers and actively engages in science outreach through school programs, public talks, and workshops. His work aims to bridge scientific research with societal impact, promoting awareness of freshwater ecosystems and environmental conservation across diverse communities.

Contact Details :

, diatomist@gmail.com

+91-20-25325051, 5053 (Telephone)

+91-20-25651542 (Fax)

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Balasubramanian-Karthick

D3 Lab Link: tinyurl.com/diatomlab

Educational Qualification

Ph.D. in Botany (2010), University of Mysore
- Focus: Ecology of Stream Diatom Communities in Central Western Ghats Streams.
Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Environmental Science (2004), JJ College of Arts and Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli
- Focus: Stream Ecology in Sharavathi River Basin, Western Ghats.
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Microbiology (2002), KSR College of Arts and Science, Periyar University, Salem
- Specialization: Microbiology with Entomology and Biochemistry.

Research Interests

Diatom Taxonomy and Systematics:Exploring the taxonomic diversity of diatoms across the Indian subcontinent to understand their evolutionary relationships and biogeographic patterns.
Diatoms for Environmental Monitoring:Applying diatom assemblages as bioindicators for assessing the health and ecological status of rivers, lakes, and other freshwater systems.
Diatoms and Climate Change: Using diatoms as paleoenvironmental indicators to reconstruct past climate and environmental conditions from the Pleistocene to the Anthropocene.
Diatom Biofuel:Investigating the lipid production capacity of various diatom groups to assess their potential in sustainable biofuel production.
Diatoms in Archaeology and Forensics:Employing diatom analysis for archaeological studies and forensic investigations to provide critical environmental and situational insights.
Emerging Contaminants and Their Interaction with Diatoms:Studying the effects of emerging contaminants such as microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and heavy metals on diatom communities to understand their ecological impact and potential use in pollution monitoring.
Environmental Education Using Diatoms:Promoting diatom-based environmental awareness programs to foster a deeper understanding of freshwater ecosystems among students and the public

Research Projects

Bioresource and sustainable livelihoods in North East India Sub project: Quantitative assessment and mapping of the diversity of non-flowering plants (Diatom) of Northeast India sponsored by Department of Biotechnology. (March 2018- September 2021)
Deciphering the past environmental conditions of freshwater Myristica swamps of Western Ghats using Diatom assemblages sponsored by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. (April 2017-September 2021).
Diatom and cyanobacteria flora of peninsular India; molecular reinvestigation of endemic and cosmopolitan taxa across biodiversity hotspot (Western Ghats) sponsored by the International Division of Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology (August 2017-March 2021).
Freshwater Diversity of Peninsular India (excluding Tamil Nadu) Taxonomic enumeration and Developing online Flora sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (January 2018-2021)
Community Structure and Ecology of Diatoms in the Rocky Pools of the Western Ghats (as Mentor) sponsored by Science and Engineering Research Board (April 2018-April 2020).
Can diatom communities across spatial and environmental gradients of Western Ghats reflect water quality conditions of streams? sponsored by the Science and Engineering Research Board (February 2016-February 2019).
A Biological Survey of the Freshwater Algae and Benthic Macroinvertebrates of Rivers of the Western Ghats, India (as Co – Investigator) sponsored by National Geographic Society (2012-2013)
SimRiver- Developing SimRiver in Indian languages (as Co – Investigator) sponsored by Heiwa Nakajima Foundation, Japan.(2012-2013)
Preparation of “Illustrated Guide to Common Freshwater Diatoms of Western Ghats” sponsored by Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment Small Grant Program (2010-2011)

List of Publications

(Only 10 representative publications are listed here). Please refer to Google Scholar / ResearchGate profile for the full list of publications

Sharon, Chintan Thakar, Swati Verma, Akanksha S. Kashikar, Shanti Pappu (2025) Flakes, Feelings, and Finesse: Skill Acquisition in Novice Knappers and Implications for the Palaeolithic. PaleoAnthropology. 1: xxx−xxx. https://doi.org/10.48738/2025.iss1.xxxKumar Akhilesh, Prachi Joshi, Sutonuka Bhattacharya, Yeshaswini Rajagopalan, Shalaish Baisla, Ankita Dey, Surendra Ghaskadbi, B Karthick, Mrudula Mane, Akash Pandey, Srinath Perur, Chandni Roy, Alok Sharma, Ammel
Sunil Kumar, Kumar Ajay, Diptimayee Behera, Arif Yaseen, Balasubramanian Karthick, Sushma Prasad, Sami Ullah Bhat, Arshid Jehangir, Ambili Anoop (2024) Co-occurrence of microplastics and heavy metal contamination in freshwater aquatic system in Kashmir Himalaya: Distribution and influencing factors. Emerging Contaminants. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100394
N Lahiri, B Phartiyal, B Karthick (2024). Significance of radiocarbon AMS chronology of Bandhavgarh National Park and Tiger Reserve from an archaeological perspective. Current Science 127 (1), 98-101.
Pratyasha Nayak, Mital Thacker, PB Hamilton & B. Karthick (2024) Description of a new freshwater diatom (Bacillariophyta) species– Geissleria triundulata sp.nov. from the Mula-Mutha River Basin, India. Phytotaxa 661 (1), 109-119. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.661.1.9
Mital Thacker, Dwivedi A, Gayathri CR, & B. Karthick* (2023) Diatoms from the Ancient Pots: Exploring Pottery Sherds and Paleoenvironmental Insights in the Lower Kaveri River Basin Archaeological Landscape, Tamil Nadu. Current Science. 126(8), 916-922. 10.18520/cs/v126/i8/916-922
Mital Thacker, Kumaran K.P.N, Paul Hamilton & B. Karthick (2023) Appraisal of Asian monsoon variability in the Indian subcontinent and East Asia through the Quaternary using diatom records. Earth Science Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2023.104622
Neha Wadmare, Bart Van de Vijver, & B. Karthick (2023) What is the real Stauroneis acuta W.Smith? A critical analysis of the type material and taxonomic revision of the Indian Stauroneis acuta complex (Bacillariophyta) with the separation of two new species. Nova Hedwigia. https://doi.org/10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2023/0844
Balasubramanian Karthick*, Murugesan Yogeshwaran & J. Patrick Kociolek (2023) A new freshwater gomphonemoid diatom genus from India, with the description of a new species from the Eastern Ghats, Phycologia, https://doi.org/10.1080/00318884.2023.2268381
Samadhan Pardhi, Thiruvalan Kokila, Mital Thacker, B. Alakananda, & B. Karthick* (2023) Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) of the world’s highest aquatic environments from the Western Himalayas, India. Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies. 52 (2), 172-205. https://doi.org/10.26881/oahs-2023.2.04
Thacker, Mital; Limaye, Ruta B.; D, Padmalal; Rajaguru, S.N.; Kumaran, K.P.N.; Punekar, S.A; B. Karthick* (2023) “Holocene climate dynamics and ecological responses in Kaas Plateau, Western Ghats, India: Evidence from lacustrine deposits. Quaternary Science Advances, Volume 11, July 2023, 100087. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.qsa.2023.100087

Google Scholar / Social Media

Name : Dr. Rajesh Kumar K. C

Designation : Scientist – E

Brief Background :

Dr Rajesh Kumar K. C. is Ph.D. from the Forest Research Institute University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India where he worked in the field of plant pathology and thrived to study the pathogenic fungal diversity of the Western Ghats of Kerala. He pursued his postdoctoral research with CABI UK (formerly IMI,Kew) on biocontrol of Himalayan Balsam and Hedychium species and extensively surveyed the fungal biocontrol agents of the mid Himalayas. His hard work and passion in the field of mycology, enlisted him as a Scientist B in NFCCI, Pune, India where he serves as an integral part of the core fungal taxonomy team. With his significant contributions in the field of mycology and the NFCCI, he continued his career as Scientists C and D.

His work presently focuses towards most modern polyphasic taxonomy of Indian Ascomycota. He has been an active member of various committees of the institution and has disposed his services to enhance the structural and functional stability of the institute. He has established collaborative research work with eminent stalwarts, including Dr Amy Rossman, Dr Hyde, Prof.Crous, Dr Seifert, Prof. Castaneda and Dr Wijayawardene that have been emanated asvaluable contributions in the field of mycology. With his pervasive experience in fungal taxonomy, he is a valuable member of many international groups and collaborations. He also serves as an editor for prestigious journals including, MycoAsia, Frontiers in Fungal Biology etc. and is an active reviewer for research published in journals, Mycological Progress, Mycokeys, Plant Disease journal etc.

Dr Rajesh has been a mentor to Ph.D. and M.Sc research scholars and continues to strive for his passion and work in the field of mycology.As an ardent promoter of fungal biology as a subject, his assiduousness makes him believe in the concept of scientific learning with practical relevance. He has been an active organiser of scientific events, including workshops, conferences and symposiums, that has not only provided the participants a transcendent wellspring of knowledge, but with his sublime methods coupled with employment of various modern learning platforms, he has been able to gain popularity as an efficient mentor for understanding and learning fungal taxonomy.

Contact Details :

, rajeshfungi@gmail.com

0091+020 25325106 (Telephone)

0091 20 25651542 (Fax)

Loop: https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/1088188/bio

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rajeshkumar_K_C

Educational Qualification

Scientist D, National Fungal Culture Collection of India (July 2018 to present), Biodiversity and Palaeobiology(Fungi) Group, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune.
Scientist C, National Fungal Culture Collection of India (Jan 2014 to June 2018),Biodiversity and Palaeobiology(Fungi) Group, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune.
Scientist B, National Fungal Culture Collection of India (October 2008 to June 2013), Biodiversity and Palaeobiology(Fungi) Group, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune.
Post-Doctoral Fellow (2008) in a project entitled “Studies on Natural Enemies of Impatiensglandulifera and Hedychium spp. in the Himalayas” by CAB International, London, UK
Doctor of Philosophy Degree (2008): Doctoral thesis in Forestry (Mycology & Plant Pathology), topic entitled “Biodiversity of Plant Pathogenic Fungi in Natural Forests in Kerala part of the Western Ghats” under Forest Research Institute University, Dehra Dun. India
Master’s Degree (2001): Masters in Life Sciences (First Rank), Kuvempu University, Karnataka. Bachelor of Botany, Kannur University, Kerala

Research Interests

Dr Rajesh Kumar is a dedicated member of the NFCCI,B&P (Fungi) group. His interest lies in the subject mycology with his expertise in taxonomy of fungi, plant pathology, molecular biology of fungi and lichens, etc. He has proved himself to be an adept and proficient member of the institute, that is much apparent from his publications, collaborative research, presentations, and articles. His work lies primarily in developing and substantiating baseline information about fungal systematics by exploring the diversity of plant pathogenic fungi, soil and litter fungi from the Western Ghats and Indian Himalayas. His research group visions the modern aspects of the culture dependent studies on sexual and asexual relations in these fungi, determination of generic as well as family relationships using multi-gene sequencing and phylogeny and profiling of secondary metabolite for applied research.
Dr Rajesh has accrued knowledge in the Polyphasic Taxonomy of fungal families such as Aspergillaceae andTrichocomaceae, that includes the morphological, molecular and chemical characterizationsof fungal genera.He and his group also enterprises in studying the fungal diversity in Western Ghats; especially micro-fungal diversity that lies underexplored and underutilized especially in applied research. Studies on economically important genera like Aspergillus, Penicillium and Talaromycesare also undertaken. The morphological characterization, molecular data, secondary metabolite profiling and database related to these fungal species augurs the researchers, academicians as well as the industrialists to tap the potential of these Indian fungi for applied and basic research.His future goals envisage fungal research to gain momentum and prosper. He aims to make significant contributions,both academic and administrational, making his institution stand to more firm foundations. His utmost priority stands tall for continuous enhancement of the knowledge and understanding of fungal biology to students and researchers to reach global standards.

List of Publications

Hyde KD, Dong Y, Phookamsak R.…Rajeshkumar KC, Haelewaters D, Mortimer PE, Zhao Q, Lumyong S, Xu J, Sheng J. (2020) Fungal diversity notes 1151–1276: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa. Fungal Diversity100: 5–277. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-020-00439-5
RajeshkumarKC, Hyde KD, Wijayawardene NN, Madrid H, Lad SS, Boonmee S, Fatima S. (2019). Tubeufiasahyadriensis (Tubeufiaceae), a new dictyosporous anamorph from theWestern Ghats, India.Phytotaxa 423 (3): 171–181 (IF 1. 18)
RajeshkumarKC, Yilmaz N, Marathe SD, Seifert KA. (2019). Morphology and multigene phylogeny of Talaromycesamyrossmaniae, a new synnematous species belonging to the section Trachyspermi from India. MycoKeys. 45: 41–56. (IF 3.2)
Wijayawardene NN, Pawłowska J, Letcher PM, Kirk PM, Humber RA, Schüßler A, Wrzosek M, Muszewska A… RajeshkumarKC et al. (2018). Notes for genera: basal clades of Fungi (including Aphelidiomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Calcarisporiellomycota, Caulochytriomycota, Chytridiomycota, Entomophthoromycota, Glomeromycota, Kickxellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Mortierellomycota, Mucoromycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Olpidiomycota, Rozellomycota and Zoopagomycota). Fungal diversity. 92(1):43-129. (IF 14. 1)
RajeshkumarKC, Bhat DJ, Lad SS, Wijayawardene NN, Singh SK, Pandkar MR, Maurya DK, Ashtekar ND, Hyde KD. (2018). Morphology and phylogeny of Tamhinisporasrinivasanii nov. (Tubeufiaceae) from northern Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa 346(1): 113–120 (IF 1. 18)
Wijayawardene NN, Hyde KD, Divakar PK, RajeshkumarKC, Weerahewa D, Delgado G, Wang Y, Fu L. (2018). Notes for genera update – Ascomycota: 6616-6821. Mycosphere 9(1):115–140 (IF 2.0)
Wijayawardene NN, Hyde KD, RajeshkumarKC, Hawksworth DL, Madrid H, Kirk PM et al. (2017). Notes for genera: Ascomycota. Fungal Diversity 86 (1): 1– (IF 14. 1)
Tibpromma S, Hyde KD, Jeewon R, Maharachchikumbura SSN, Liu JK, RajeshkumarKC … et al. (2017). Fungal diversity notes 491–602: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungal taxa. Fungal Diversity 83 (1): 1– (IF 14.1)
RajeshkumarKCand Prakash PY. (2017). Taxonomic Updates with Key Focus on Medically Important Aspergilli. In Molecular Markers in Mycology, 251-255., Springer International Publishing, Switzerland.
RajeshkumarKC, Crous PW, Groenewald JZ, Seifert KA. (2016). Resolving the phylogenetic placement of Porobeltraniellaand allied genera in the Beltraniaceae. Mycological Progress. 15 (10-11): 1119-1136. (IF 1.9)
M Hernández-Restrepo, Schumacher RK., Wingfield MJ., Ahmad I, Cai L, Duong TA, Edwards J, Gené J, Groenewald JZ,Jabeen S, Khalid AN, Lombard L, Madrid H, Marin-Felix Y, Marincowitz S, Miller AN, RajeshkumarKC, Rashid A, SarwarS, Stchigel AM, Taylor PWJ, Zhou N, Crous PW (2016) Fungal Systematics and Evolution: FUSE 2. Sydowia 68:193–230. (IF 0.8)
RajeshkumarKC, Marathe SD, Madhusudhanan K, Castaneda-Ruiz RF (2016) Taxonomic re-evaluation and phylogenetic position of Hemibeltraniacinnamomiwithin Xylariales. Mycotaxon 131 (1):87–94. doi:10.5248/131.87
RajeshkumarKC, Marathe SD, Sneha S. Lad, Deepak K. Maurya, Sanjay K. Singh, Santosh V Swami (2016) Rediscovery of Penicillium paradoxum (Ascomycete, Aspergillaceae) from Maharashtra, India. Journal of Threatened taxa 8(6): 8919-8922.
RajeshkumarKC (2014) A reappraisal of the fungus genus Phalangispora with the rediscovery of bharathensis on leaf litter of Mangiferaindica from the northern Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened taxa 6(9): 6278-6281.
RajeshkumarKC and Amy Y. Rossman. (2013).Taiwanascussamuelsii nov., an addition to Niessliaceaefrom the Western Ghats, Kerala, India. IMA Fungus 4 (1), 1–4. doi:10.5598/imafungus.2013.04.01.01
RajeshkumarKCand Sharma R.(2013). Tamhinisporaa new genus belongs to familyTubeufiaceaefrom the Western Ghats, India based on morphology and phylogenetic analysis. Mycosphere 4(2), 1–10, Doi 10.5943/mycosphere/4/2/2
RajeshkumarKC, Kajale S, Sutar SA and Singh SK. (2012). Ellisembiakaradkensis nov. from the Western Ghats, India. Mycotaxon 121:181-186.
RajeshkumarKC and Singh SK. (2012). Manoharachariellaindica nov. from the Western Ghats, India. Mycotaxon 120: 43-48.
RajeshkumarKC, Rahul P. Hepat, Swami SV, Singh PN & Singh SK. (2011). Morphology and molecular studies onPseudocercosporakamalii nov. a foliar pathogen on Terminalia from India. Mycotaxon 117: 227–237.
RajeshkumarKC, Rahul P. Hepat, Subhash B. Gaikwad & Sanjay K. Singh(2011). Pilidiellacrousii nov. from the northern Western Ghats, India. Mycotaxon115: 155-162.
RajeshkumarKC, PN Singh, LS Yadav, Santosh Swami, SK Singh(2010).Chaetospermumsetosum nov. from the Western Ghats, India. Mycotaxon113: 397-404.
Mohanan C, Rajeshkumar KC,Yesodharan K (2010)Coniella causing foliage diseases in forest species in Kerala, India. Indian journal of Forestry, 33 (3): 355-360.
Mohanan C, Ratheesh N, Rajeshkumar KC (2010). Teak (TectonagrandisL.f.) roottrainer nurseries: Diseases and their management. Indian journal of Forestry, 33 (4): 519-523.

Google Scholar / Social Media

Name : Dr. Paras Nath Singh

Designation : Scientist – E

Brief Background :

Born in January 1968. After Post Graduation for a short period, Dr. Paras Nath Singh worked as Supervisor in the Mechanical Maintenance Department and In-charge of a Drinking Water Purification Plant for Quality Control of Drinking and Factory Water Supply at Vindhya Telelinks Limited, a Birla Group Telephone and Optical Fiber Cable Making Company in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.

Dr. Singh started his teaching career as a temporary Lecturer, at Dept. of Botany, Udit Narayan Post Graduate College Padrauna, Kushinagar, UP. After that, Dr. Singh joined as Research Associate in Mycology and Plant Pathology Group, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India (12 Dec. 2003-11 Nov. 2005). Afterward, Dr. Singh joined as Scientist- B in 2005 at ARI.

Presently Dr. Paras Nath Singh is working as a Senior Scientist at Biodiversity & Palaeobiology (Fungi) Group and focused his research work on fungal diversity, systematics, conservation, and their potential applications.

Contact Details :

+91 20 25325104 (Office)

+91- 9423531352, 91-9325451694 (Mobile)

Educational Qualification

B.Sc. 1988 (Botany, Zoology, Chemistry), Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, U.P., India
B.Sc. Bridge Course 1989 (Botany, Zoology), Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, U.P. India
M. Sc. 1991 (Botany- Spec. in Pl. Pathology), Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, U.P. India
Ph. D. 1997 Botany (Fungal Taxonomy), Gorakhpur University, UP, India

Research Interests

“Fungal Biodiversity Fungal Systematics, Characterization, Biopotential,Identification and conservation of Micromycetes”:

The field of biodiversity and paleobiology is very vast but I am especially interested in the fungal diversity, exploration, systematics, biopotential and conservation of micromycetes. AnamorphicAscomycetes have been the focus of my research andcan be considered as my thrust area. Mycology forms the backbone for the understanding of plant pathogen and disease management and contributed to the research relating the control of powdery mildew in grapes caused by Erysiphe necatorusing some fungal bioagents.Isolated various novel indigenous fungal taxon from different habitats which can only be isolated by using specific media and techniques. Also worked on the phosphate solubilizing potential of Aspergillus, Penicillium etc. and was able to find good results that could be of commercial significance in concern to phosphate mineralisation in agricultural practices. The most exciting part of mycological research is the uncertainty in the outcomings of the results. Some interesting group of filamentous funguslike organisms viz. Saprolegnia, Phytophthora, Pythium were also isolated, out of these I was able to study the entire life cycle of Saprolegnia.
Fungal identification service and culture collection activities of NFCCI which is a unique centre to provide opportunity to contribute to the valued customers/client from academic, research and private centres in India. In this facility, I am actively involved in identification and taxonomy of the received cultures, soil samples, diseased crop samples etc. from various academia/industries and horti-biotech companies. As a scientist my expertise is in the field of fungal taxonomy, identification & conservation. Annually across the country, different academia, scientific institutions, farmers and industries are frequently benefited out of this. The various cultures isolated and identified by me belong to different group of fungi which include bio agent/plant pathogenic,nematophagous, entomopathogenic, phosphate solubilising and pigment producing etc. and are of academic and commercial importance.

List of Publications

Research Papers Published:

Budathoki U & Singh PN (1994) Some new black mildews from Kathmandu valley. Indian Phytopath. 47 (4):377–380.
Singh PN, Singh, SK & Tripathi SC (1996) New species of Pseudocercospora causing leaf spots of forest plants of Nepal. Mycol. Res. 100:1129–1132.
Kharwar, RN, Singh PN &Chaudhadary RK (1996) New species of Mycovellosiellaassociated with foliar spots in Nepal. Mycol. Res. 100: 689–692.
Bhartiya HD, Singh AN, Kumari N. &Singh PN (1997) Foliicolous fungi in the forest flora of North-Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Kavaka, 25: 43–51.
Rao HSG, Moses AS &Singh PN (1996) Some new species of Pseudocercospora from India. Mycol. Res. 100: 1071–1074.
Chaudhary RK Tripathi MS, Singh PN & Kamal (1997) Further additions to hyphomycete genus PhaeoramulariaMuntanola causing leaf spots in forest flora of Indian sub-continent. Kavaka, 25:79–85.
Singh SK, Singh PN& Bhalla, K (1997) Novel taxa of Pseudocercosporella From Nepal Himalaya. Mycol. Res. 101: 542–544.
Singh PN,Kharwar RN & Rao HSG (1997) Additions to hyphomycete genus Indian Phytopath. 50: 7–15.
Singh PN, Tripathi MS & Chaudhary (1997) Hitherto undescribed species of Pseudocercospora hyphomycete causing leaf blights in India and Nepal Himalaya. Kavaka, 25: 31–42.
Chaudhary RK, Tripathi MS, Singh, PN & Chaudhary S (2001) Novel Taxa of Stenella from forest flora of North-Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Indian Phytopath. 54: 226–232.
Chaudhary RK, Singh SK, &Singh, PN (2002) Additions to Phaeoramularia Indian Phytopath. 55: 469–472.
Sharma N,Singh PN& Kamal (2003) Three new taxa of Corynespora causing foliar blight in forest plants of North Eastern Uttar Pradesh. J. Mycol. Pl. Pathology 33: 26–32.
Singh SK &Singh PN (2004) Some new species of Indian Phytopath. Phytopath. 57: 155–160.
Singh SK, Singh PN (2005) New species of Sarcinella from India. Indian Phytopath. 58: 341–342.
Singh SK, Singh Singh PN&Waingankar V (2005) Additions to the genus Ramularia (Hyphomycetes) from Maharashtra. J Eco Taxon Bot 29: 206–211.
Singh SK, Singh Singh PN& Mishra P (2006) Contribution to the genus Polychaetonfrom South-West India. J. Mycol. Pl. Pathology 36: 101–103.
Singh PN, Gaikwad SB & Singh SK (2007) Two interesting and undescribed species of Septoria from India. J. Eco. Taxon. Bot. 31: 543–546.
Singh SK, Singh PN& Mishra P (2008) New species of Passalora(cercosporoid hyphomycete) from Western Ghats, India Czech Mycol. 60 (2):243–249 (Journal of the Czech Scientific Society for Mycology, CzechRepublic).
Singh SK, Yadav Lal Sahab, Singh PN& Rahul Hepat (2009) A new species of Gonatophragmium from Western Ghats India. Mycotaxon 110: 183–187.(Impact Factor: 599)
Singh PN, Satya P, Yadav LS and Singh SK (2009) “Disease Syndrome in Capsicum– A Case Study”. Indian Phytopathology 62 Part (3).
KC Rajeshkumar,Singh PN, Yadav L S, Santosh VS & Singh SK (2010) Chaetospermumsetosum nov. from the Western Ghats, India. Mycotaxon Vol. 113: 397–404.(IF: 0.799).
Singh SK,Yadav L S, Singh PN, Sharma R & KC Rajeshkumar (2010) New record of Gliocephalotrichum simplex from India. Mycotaxon :163–169.(IF: 0.799).
Singh SM, Ydav LS, Singh SK, Singh P, Singh PN & Ravindra R (2011) Phosphate Solubilizing ability of two Arctic Aspergillus niger strains. Polar Research 30, 7283:1–(IF: 1.616).
Singh SM, Yadav LS, Singh PN, Hepat R, Sharma R & Singh SK (2012) Arthriniumrasikravindriinov. from Svalbard, Norway. Mycotaxon 122:449–460. (IF: 0.752).
Singh SK, Yadav LS, Singh PN, Sharma R &Mukhergee G (2012)Additions to Gliocephalotrichum (anamorphic Hypocreales) from fruit litter of the medicinal plant Terminaliachebula in the Western Ghats, India. Mycoscience Vol.53. No.5, 391–395.(IF: 1.2).
Singh SM, Singh SK, Yadav LS, Singh PN, &Ravindra R (2012) Filamentous soil fungi from Ny-Alesund Spitsbergen and screening for extracellular enzymes. Arctic 65 (1): 45–55 (IF 0.988).
Singh SM, Singh PN, Singh SK & Sharma PK (2013) Pigment, fatty acid and extracellular enzyme analysis of a fungal strain Thelebolusmicrosporus from Larseman Hills, Antarctica. Polar Record, First View Article: 1– (IF:0.981). doi: 10.1017/s00322412000563.
Singh PN, Baghela A, Singh SK & Maurya DK (2015) Exosporiumgymnemae nov. from India. Mycosphere 6 (5): 508–514. Doi 10.5943/mycosphere/6/5/1
Karandikar KG, Singh PN and Singh SK (2015) Mycoenterolobiumflabelliforme: a new anamorphic fungus from India. Plant Pathology & Quarantine 5(2): 49–51. Doi 10.5943/ppq/5/2/3
Singh PN and Singh SK (2016) Additions to helicoid fungi for India. Current Research in Environmental & Applied Mycology 6 (4): 248–255. Doi 10.5943/cream/6/4/2
Lagashetti A, Tetali S, PN Singh & SK Singh (2017) ParopjiviBurshidwareBhuriRogacheNiyantran. Drakshbrit, Sept.:17–18.
Singh PN, Baghela A, Singh SK & Amir S., (2017) Evlachovaea indica nov. (:139-144) in Fungal diversity notes 491–602: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa, in Tibpromma et al. Fungal Diversity. 83 :1–261. IF: 15.870
Singh PN, Singh SK, Baghela A, Maurya DK &Lagashetti AC (2017) A new record of Helicosporium for India – linderi from Western Ghats.Austrian J. Mycol. 26, 43–50.
Rana S, Singh PN, Gaikwad S B & Singh SK (2017) Morphology, phylogeny and ex-situ conservation of (ApiosporaceaeXylariales): a new record from India Kavaka 49:1–5.
Singh PN., Singh SK, Tetali SP &Lagashetti AC (2017) Biocontrol of powdery mildew of grapes using culture filtrate and biomass of fungal isolates. Plant Pathology & Quarantine 7(2): 181–189. Doi 10.5943/ppq/7/2/12
Surywanshi J, Rai AN, Singh PN (2018)Saksenamyceskamalii gen &spnov., from India. 133:423–428.https: doi.org/10.5248/133.423IF: 0.488
Singh PN, Singh SK, Lagashetti AC1 &Ackah FK (2018) Morphotaxonomic and phylogenetic analysis of Saprolegnia ferax from India. Studies in Fungi 3(1): 49–58. Doi 10.5943/sif/3/1/7
Rana S, Singh S K and Singh P N (2019) Morphology and phylogeny of a new species of Trichomerium from North‑Western Himalayas, India. IndainPhytopatholohy. 72: 427–435. IF: 0.23
Singh P N & Singh S K (2019)Hyweljonesia indica nov. in Fungal Diversity Notes 929–1035: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungiin Phookamsaket al. Fungal Diversity95:1–273IF: 15.386
Singh PN & Singh S K (2019)Neoacladium indicumet. sp. nov., in Fungal diversity notes 1036–1150: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa, in Hyde, K.D., et al. Fungal Diversity. 96 issue1:1–242.IF: 15.386
Rana S, Singh SK and Singh PN (2019) Strelitzianasarbhoyi nov. (Strelitzianaceae, Chaetothyriales), from NorthWesternHimalayas, India, described based on morphology and molecular phylogeny. Phytotaxa 427 (1): 051–059.IF:1.230
Singh A, Singh Singh NK, Singh P N, Singh R K & Dubey NK (2019) Additions to Ochroconis from India. Phytotaxa 427(3): 186–199.IF:1.230
Lagashetti AC, Dufossé L, Singh S K & Singh PN (2019) Fungal pigments and their prospects in different industries. Microorganisms 7, 604:1–36. IF:4.167

Book Chapters:

Narayana S, Singh PN and Rao GP (1999) Taxonomic treatment of Cercosporiod fungi causing foliar spots of weed flora of Sugarcane crop: Cercospora In: Sugarcane Pathology (Volume I: Fungal Diseases), Eds. GP Rao, A.Bergamin Filho, RC Magarey and L.J.C. Autrey. Science Publishers, Inc., U.S.A., pp. 53-106.
SK Singh, PN Singh, SB Gaikwad & DK Maurya (2018) Conservation of fungi: A review on conventional approaches: In soil Biology, SK Sharma &Ajit Varma Microbial Resource Conservation: Conventional to Modern Approaches, Springer Nature Switzerland.

Google Scholar / Social Media

Name : Dr. Mandar Datar

Designation : Scientist – E

Brief Background :

Dr. Mandar Datar has been working in the field of plant taxonomy for the last 20 years. After doing his M. Sc. in Plant taxonomy from Pune University, he received a Research Fellowship from “Ministry of Environment and Forests and climate change (MOEFCC)” between 2001 and 2004. For his Ph. D., he worked in the Botanical Survey of India on Flora of BhagwanMahavir (Molem) National Park, Goa, and received his degree in 2007 from Pune University.

BSI later published the same work in the form of a book. He is working as a Scientist in the Biodiversity and Paleobiology group of Agharkar Research Institute since December 2010. He is a nominated Member of the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s SSC-Western Ghats Plant Specialist Group. He also works as a member of the ‘Grassland and Fodder study group’ constituted by the Government of Maharashtra.

He is also involved in popularizing the science by giving talks, writing books and articles in local newspapers and magazines, and conducting a “Certificate course in Home Gardening” organized by MACS.

Contact Details :

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mandar_Datar

Educational Qualification

M.Sc. Ph.D

Research Interests

Presently, our lab is studying the ecology of unique habitats of Northern Western Ghats (NWG), primarily focusing on species composition, their unique traits and endemism. NWG shows an extreme climate of four months of heavy rains and eight months of the severe dry period and is dominated by habitats such as rock outcrops and vertical basaltic cliffs, treasure-troves of endemism. Species growing in this region have adapted in various ways to survive in these extremities. Exploring these species for their traits that help them survive has multiple applications in the current scenario of climate change and global warming..
One such trait of species that is being studied by maintaining germplasm in the garden is desiccation-tolerant grasses. We also research the effect of fragmentation on the forest composition of NWG focusing our research on protected areas and sacred groves. Our lab has studied wild edible plants of the Northern Western Ghats region, documenting 157 species, and the work was published as a book.
This study is of immense value in terms of widening the food basket of growing populations. We also work to conserve threatened and rare species by multiplying them using micro-propagation methods and reintroducing them in the wild. A few species have already been propagated and will be planted in the wild soon. The lab also collaborated with Dr. RK Choudhary to do taxonomy and molecular phylogeny of plants like Ischaemum, Capparis, and Eriocaulon. Very recently we also published a ‘Compendium of Raw Botanical Drugs of Maharashtra’ documenting major medicinal plant resources of the state.

Research Projects

Research grants were received from Science and Engineering Research Board, DST, New Delhi; Tata power corporation, India: Rajiv Gandhi Science and technology commission, Mumbai and Forest department, Maharashtra state.

Extramural Ongoing as PI

Conservation of Selected Endemic Species of Orchids of Northern Western Ghats through Ex-Situ Multiplication and Reintroduction in Wild. Funding agency: Tata Power Company Limited. Funds Received: 30 lakh

Extramural Completed as PI

Muraina-grasses of India: addressing the polymorphism and interspecific variations through morphological, ecological and molecular phylogenetic studies. Funding agency: SERB, Funds Received: 46 lakh.
Development of Crude Drug Repository for medicinal plant resources from Maharashtra. Funding agency: Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology commission, Funds Received: 53 lakh.
Survey of Wild edible Plants and wild relatives of crop plants from Maharashtra. Funding Agency: Forest Department, Maharashtra State. Funds Received: 5. 10 lakh.

In house as PI

Digitizing AHMA (Core and ongoing activity)
Plant Community studies of selected grassland patches of Maharashtra (Completed).
Unravelling vascular plant endemism of northern region of Western Ghats (Completed).

Ph. D. Projects

Plant life between inundation and desiccation: a study on rock outcrops of Northern Western Ghats, India: Ms. Aboli Kulkarni
Forests of Northern Western Ghats: diversity, composition and effect of disturbances on tree diversity: Mr. BhushanShigwan
Study of cliff dwelling vascular chasmophytes from Northern Western Ghats with special emphasis on desiccation tolerant species: Mr. Smrithy Vijayan

List of Publications

1. Books:

Datar MN, AS Upadhye (2016) Forest Foods of Northern Western Ghats. Agharkar Research Institute publication.
Datar MN, P. Lakshminarasimhan (2013) Flora of BhagwanMahavir (Molem) National Park and Adjoinings, Goa. Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata
Maurya S., Datar MN, Choudhary RK (2020). The Genus Capparis L. in India. Agharkar Research Institute publication.
Upadhye AS, Datar MN (2020) Compendium of Raw Botanical Drugs of Maharashtra Agharkar Research Institute publication.
Ghate VS, Sane HD, Datar MN (2010) Manual For Field Botany. MACS and Nisargsevak.
Pande S, Sant N, Vishwasrao V, Datar MN (2010) Wild Orchids of Northern Western Ghats Tata Power and Ela Foundation.
Pande S and Datar MN (2016) Seeds of Western India. Ela Foundation and Directorate of Social Forestry, Forest Department, Maharashtra.

2. Recent Research Publications:

Shigwan, B. K., Kulkarni, A., Vijayan, S., Choudhary, R. K., & Datar, M. N. (2020). An assessment of the local endemism of flowering plants in the northern Western Ghats and Konkan regions of India: Checklist, habitat characteristics, distribution, and conservation. Phytotaxa, 440(1), 25-54.
Bokil, S. A., Choudhary, R. K., Tamhankar, S., & Datar, M. N. (2020). Ischaemum janarthanamii (Poaceae, Andropogoneae), a new species from the Western Ghats, India: evidence from morphological and molecular data. In AnnalesBotaniciFennici (Vol. 57, No. 4-6, pp. 321-330). Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board.
Maurya, S., Darshetkar, A. M., Datar, M. N., Tamhankar, S., Li, P., &Choudhary, R. K. (2020). Plastome data provide insights into intra and interspecific diversity and ndh gene loss in Capparis (Capparaceae). Phytotaxa, 432(2), 206-220.
Datar, M. N., Dongre, S., &Gadgil, M. (2019). A critical evaluation of environmental impact assessments: a case study of Goa mines, India. Current Science, 117(5), 776.
Darshetkar, A. M., Datar, M. N., Rao, G. R., Tamhankar, S., Prabhukumar, K. M., &Choudhary, R. K. (2019). Eriocaulonkaraavalense (Eriocaulaceae), a new species from India based on morphological and molecular evidence. In AnnalesBotaniciFennici Vol. 56, No. 4-6, pp. 305-316
Darshetkar, A. M., Datar, M. N., Tamhankar, S., Li, P., &Choudhary, R. K. (2019). Understanding evolution in Poales: Insights from Eriocaulaceaeplastome. PloS one, 14(8), 1-16.
Datar, M. N., &Tetali, P. (2019). Hill Forts: Abodes of Endemic Plants and Potential Priority Conservation Areas of Northern Western Ghats. National Academy Science Letters, 42(4), 375-378.

Google Scholar / Social Media

Name : Dr. Tushar Kaushik

Designation : Scientist – D

Brief Background :

Genetic and morphological diversity in Foraminifera.
Re-evaluation of species specific foraminiferal proxies using combined taxonomic approach.
Integration of genetic diversity in Paleoceanography.
Late Neogene Biostratigraphy (~ 6.0 Ma).

Contact Details :

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tushar_Kaushik2

Educational Qualification

PhD (Neogene Planktic Foraminifera & Paleoceanography) from University of Delhi
M.Sc. Geology from University of Delhi
B.Sc. (Hons.) Geology from University of Delhi

Research Interests

Current research focus on Foraminifera, a group of highly diverse single cell eukaryotic protists and widely used as proxy for deciphering present and past changes in marine environment.
We employ traditional morpho-taxonomic tools in-tandem with advance DNA based genetic tools (DNA barcoding and environmental DNA metagenomic analysis) for exploring hidden/crypticgenetic diversity, establishing robust taxonomic platformand understanding evolution.
We use the integrated taxonomic approach inre-evaluation of variousforaminiferal species specific proxies used in paleo-environmental and geochemical studies.
We work on understanding evolutionary lineages, biostratigraphy and diachrony amongst the extant and/or extinct planktic foraminiferal species spanning last ~6.0 million years using deep sea cores obtained from International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP/ODP).

List of Publications

Kaushik, T., Thirumalai, M. 2020. First report on Psammophaga simplora (Arnold, 1982), an organic-walled benthic foraminifer from the west coast of India, Arabian Sea. Journal of the Paleontological Society of India, v. 65(1).
Kaushik, T., Sinha, D. K., Singh, A.K. 2020. Late Neogene – Quaternary planktic foraminiferal biostratigraphy and biochronology from ODP Site 807A, Ontong Java Plateau, Western Equatorial Pacific. The Journal of Foraminiferal Research, v. 50(2).
Kaushik, T., Thirumalai, M., Dagar, S. S. 2019. Morphological variation in the porcelaneous benthic foraminifer Quinqueloculina seminula (Linnaeus, 1758): Genotypes or Morphotypes? A detailed morphotaxonomic, molecular and ecological investigation. Marine Micropaleontology, v. 150, 101748.
Kaushik, T., Thirumalai, M. 2019. Application of Molecular Tools in Benthic Foraminiferal Research: A Concise Review. In Vistas in Geological Research, U. U. Special Publication in Geology, vol. 17, pp. 105-108. (ISBN: 81-900907-0-4).
Kaushik, T. 2017. Paleoceanography. Current Science, v. 112(11), 2183-84.
Shrivastav A., Singh A.K., Sinha D.K, Kaushik T., Singh V.P., Mallick K. 2016. Significance of Globigerina bulloidesd’Orbigny: a foraminiferal proxy for palaeomonsoon and past upwelling records. Journal of Climate Change (IOS Press), vol. 2(2), pp. 99-110.

Google Scholar / Social Media

Name : Dr. Nischitha R

Designation : Scientist – B

Brief Background :

Dr. Nischitha R. is a scientist at the National Fungal Culture Collection of India (NFCCI), Department of Biodiversity and Palaeobiology – Fungi group. With a Ph.D. in Botany and a specialization in applied mycology from Kuvempu University, Karnataka, she has a strong academic foundation that supports her research endeavors.

Her work centers on the diversity and bioprospecting of endophytic fungi, particularly in grass species. This includes fungal metabolite profiling, advanced biological assays, and comparative genomics to study plant-endophyte interactions. By employing techniques such as LC-MS, GC-MS, and FTIR, her research has identified bioactive compounds with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and plant growth-promoting properties, showcasing their potential for pharmaceutical, agricultural, and environmental applications. Globally recognized for contributions to her field, she has published extensively, authored book chapters, and presented at numerous conferences. As an associate and executive editor, journal reviewer, and active member of mycological associations, she plays a significant role in advancing fungal biotechnology. Her research integrates computational methods, such as molecular docking, to accelerate drug discovery and bridge traditional knowledge with modern innovation.Her vision is to harness the untapped potential of endophytic fungi to provide sustainable solutions for global challenges, including food security, human health, and biodiversity conservation. This interdisciplinary approach blends ecological insight and biotechnological expertise to drive impactful advancements and foster a more sustainable future.

Contact Details :

, nischithalraj9@gmail.com

+91-20-25325138 (Telephone)

ORCHID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4906-2969

Scopus Author ID: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57216993911

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nischitha-R-2

Educational Qualification

B. Sc. (Seed Technology, Botany, Chemistry)- Sahyadri Science College, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, Karnataka.
M.Sc. (Applied Botany), Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, Karnataka (Specialization: Mycology, medicinal plant in Applied Botany).
Ph.D. (Botany), Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, Karnataka
Ph.D. thesis title: “ENDOPHYTIC FUNGAL ASSEMBLAGES IN CERTAIN GRASSES OF SUB FAMILY PANICOIDEAE AND THEIR BIO-PROSPECTING”
COMPUTER TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMME (CTTP) – Sahyadri Shikshna Grameena Abihivruddi Samste at Shrunga Computer Education, Shimoga

Research Interests

Endophytic Fungal Diversity and Host Interactions: Investigating the diversity and distribution of endophytic fungi in grass species using both culture-dependent and next-generation sequencing approaches, exploring the morphological, molecular, and ecological aspects of fungi to understand their role in host-plant interactions and their biotechnological potential.
Bioactive Metabolites and Functional Applications: Profiling bioactive compounds from endophytic fungi using advanced analytical, in vitro, in vivo and in silico techniques to evaluate their biological activities and accelerate drug discovery.
Sustainable Solutions for Crop and Human Health: Exploring plant-endophyte interactions to improve crop protection, promote growth, and enhance stress tolerance while also harnessing fungal metabolites for diverse biological applications.

List of Publications

Nischitha R*. and Sanjay K. Singh– Exploring the potential source of endophytic fungal bioactive metabolite of Cynodon dactylon. Archive of Microbiology.207(6):142. (IF- 2.8). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-025-04296-1
Nischitha R*, Shivanna MB – (2025). Phyto and myco-chemical profiling, bioactivity and in-silico docking study of endophytic fungi and host- Setariaflavida. International Microbiology. 1-14. (IF: 2.9). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10123-025-00646-7.
Shiwali Rana*, Gauri Pawle, Nischitha R*and Sanjay K. Singh*. (2025).Diversity and biological activities of endophytic fungi: insights from in-silico docking studies. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology. (IF-2.4).10.1007/s42770-025-01616-x
Aishwarya K. Kamunkar and R. Nischitha*., (2025). Exploring endophytic fungi from Cynodon dactylon: GC-MS profiling and biological activity. Fungal Genetics and Biology. 176. 1-9. (IF- 2.4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fgb.2024.103959
Nischitha R. (2024). Role of grass endophytic fungi as a natural resource of bioactive metabolites- Archive of Microbiology. 206 (10), 418. (IF- 2.8). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-024-04132-y
R Nischitha* and Shivanna MB. (2024). In vitro and in silico studies on plant growth promotion of endophytic fungi of Ischaemum ciliare Journal of Plant Pathology. 106, 593-607. (IF- 2.30). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-023-01586-9.
Ashoka, G.B, Nischitha, R., Gagana, L. S., & Shivanna, M. B*. (2023). Diversity of endophytic fungal community in Jatropha heynei NP Balakr.Journal of Mycopathology Research. 61(4): 489-501, (IF- 4.9).
Nischitha, Shravya, Pooja, D.V., Mahesh G. Shetty and S.K. Ghosh* (2023). Impact of Edible Coating in Extending the Shelf life of Post-harvested Banana under Storage Condition. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(11): 76-81. (NAAS- 4.96).
Nischitha R, Shivanna MB* (2023) – Comparativemetagenomicanalysesofendophyticfungiassemblages inshootandrootregionsofHeteropogoncontortus. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, 93(1), 161-167. (IF- 1.70). https://doi.org/1007/s40011-023-01506-y.
Nischitha R, Shivanna MB* (2023) – Screening of secondary metabolites and antioxidant potential of endophytic fungus Penicillium citrinum and host Digitaria bicornis by spectrophotometric and electrochemical methods. Archive of Microbiology, 204(206), 1-13. (IF- 2.55). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-022-02795-z.
Nischitha R, Shivanna MB* (2022) – Diversity and insilicodockingofantibacterialpotentcompoundsofChaetomiumsubaffineSergeevaendophyticinHeteropogoncontortus(L.)P.Beauv. Process Biochemistry, 112, 124-138. (IF-3.75). https://org/10.1016/j.procbio.2021.11.013.
Nischitha R, Shivanna MB* (2021). – Metabolite fingerprinting, in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and in-silico docking in Alloteropsis cimicina and its endophytic fungus Penicillium pinophilum. Molecular biology reports. 48(5), 4021-4037 (IF- 2.3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-021-06410-0.
Anusha T. N., Nischitha R, Shivanna MB* (2021). Diversity of Mycoflora in Root and Rhizosphere Regions of Alloteropsis Cimicina (L.) Stapf. Shanlax International Journal of Arts, Science and Humanities, 8 (S1-Feb), 31-35. (IF- 3.02). https://doi.org/10.34293/sijash.v8is1-feb.3928.
Nischitha R, and Shivanna MB* (2021). Antimicrobial activity and metabolite profiling of endophytic fungi in Digitaria bicornis (Lam) Roem. & Schult. and Paspalidiumflavidum(Retz.) A. Camus. 3 Biotech 11(2), 1-15. (IF- 2.23). https://doi.org/10.1007/s1320502002590-x.
Nischitha, R., Vasanthkumari, M. M., Kumaraswamy, B. E., & Shivanna, M. B*. (2020). Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and chemical profiling of Curvularia tsudae endophytic in Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. 3 Biotech, 10(7), 1-12. (IF- 2.5). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-020-02250-0.
Nischitha R, Shivanna M. B.* (2020). – Influence of seasons on endophytic fungal assemblage in Alloteropsis cimicina (L.) Stapf. and Heteropogon contortus (L.) P. Beauv. of the sub-family panicoideae. Current Research in Environmental & Applied Mycology (Journal of Fungal Biology) 10(1), 10–25. (IF- 0.45). https://doi 10.5943/cream/10/1/2.

Books Chapters:

R. Nischitha*, Sunil, L. Gagana Suryavamshi, G. B. Ashoka, and M.B. Shivanna (2025) – Spotlight on the hidden treasure of endophytic fungal bioactive metabolites. In Manoharachary, Harikesh Bahadur Singh, Sanjay Singh and Yash Pal Sharma (Eds.), Biodiversity, Bioengineering, and Biotechnology of Fungi Current and Future Advancements. 1^st ed., Academic Press, Elsevier Inc., USA. (pp. 129-150). ISBN 978-0-443-13856-0. doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-13856-0.00008-7
Shivanna MBand Nischitha R* (2024) – Diversity of endophytic fungi of Ischaemum ciliare as a potential source of antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. In A.M. Singh and A. K. Roy (Eds.), Biodiversity conservation, present scenario and future prospect.1^st ed., Walnut publication, India. 156-170. (ISBN: 978-93-5911-652-5/eBook ISBN: 978-93-5911-577-1).

Awards/ Medals received:

Awarded by NFSC UGC (JRF and SRF) No. RGNF- 2017- 18-SC-KAR-38457.
Best oral award for Nischitha, R. and M. B. Shivanna. Occurrence of endophytic fungal species in some grasses of sub-family panicoideae growing in Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka. International conference on “Recent Scenario in Plant Science Research-Climate Change and its Associated Variations” to be held during 23rd- 25th March 2018. In Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu.PP-10, P-104.
Best poster award for Nischitha, R. and M. B. Shivanna. Antimicrobial activity of Cochliobolus australiensis (Tsuda & Ueyama) Alcorn. endophytic in Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. in forest regions of Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. National conference on “Fungal Biology: Present trends and future prospects & 44th Annual Meeting of the Mycological Society of India” in Jammu University on November 16- 18, 2017 Organized by Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu. PP-55, P-110.

Journal reviewer:

Indian Phytopathology
Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences

Life member

Association of Fungal Biologists

Google Scholar / Social Media

Name : Dr. Shiwali Rana

Designation : Scientist – B

Brief Background :

Dr. Shiwali Rana is ascientist at the National Fungal Culture Collection of India (NFCCI), housed within the Department of Biodiversity and Palaeobiology – Fungi Group at the Agharkar Research Institute, Pune. Her academic journey spans multiple institutions, including Himachal Pradesh University Shimla, National Institute of Technology Hamirpur, and Agharkar Research Institute Puneproviding her with a strong multidisciplinary foundation. Dr. Rana has demonstrated academic excellence by qualifying prestigious national-level examinations, including CSIR-JRF, GATE, and ARS-NET.

Dr. Rana’s research primarily focuses on fungal taxonomy and systematics, phylogenetics, genomics, and fungal metabolite production and their bioactivities. She has established two new genera and 12 new species of fungi significantly contributing to fungal biodiversity and systematics. She has also secured accolades for her research presentations at national and international conferences, underscoring her role in advancing fungal systematics and applied mycology.

Beyond research, she plays a key role in training and mentoring students and researchers in mycological techniques, fungal taxonomy and systematics, phylogenetics through workshops. Her association with NFCCI ensures the preservation and characterization of indigenous fungal cultures, supporting scientific advancements in agriculture, industry, and environmental sustainability.

Contact Details :

+91-20-25325105 (Telephone)

Educational Qualification

Ph.D. in Biotechnology (2023)

Agharkar Research Institute, Pune; Affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University.
Ph.D. thesis title: Studies on Fusarium spp. for beauvericin production and its applications

Master of Technology (M.Tech.) in Energy Technology (Renewable) (2013)
National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh

Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Microbiology(2011)
Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

Bachelor of Science, B.Sc.(Hons.) in Biotechnology (2009)
Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

Research Interests

Fungal taxonomy and systematics
Phylogenetics
Genomics
Fungal Metabolomics
Bioactivities

List of Publications

Rana S and Singh SK.2025.A new species of Waitea described and illustrated based on morphology and phylogeny from Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa, 700 (3)269-278
Rana S, Pawle G, Nischitha Rand Singh S.K. 2025.Diversity and biological activities of endophytic fungi: insights from in-silico docking studies. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology. (IF-2.4). 10.1007/s42770-025-01616-x
Rana S and Singh SK.2024. Discovery of Alanomyces manoharacharyi: A Novel Fungus Identified Using Genome Sequencing and Metabolomic Analysis. Journal of Fungi, 10(11):791
Rana S and Singh SK. 2024. Fusarium kamalianum, a new species of Fusarium from India from ornamental Phytotaxa 659(1):001-023
Singh PN, Singh SK, Rana S, Lagashetti AC. 2024. Agaricus agharkarii nov. Fungal diversity notes 1717–1817: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa (in Liu et al.) Fungal Diversity https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-023-00529-0
Rana S, Singh SK. 2023. Insights into the genomic architecture of a newly discovered endophytic Fusarium species belonging to the Fusarium concolor complex from India. Frontiers in microbiology, 14, 1266620.
Rana S, Singh SK, Dufossé L. 2022. Multigene Phylogeny, Beauvericin Production and Bioactive Potential of Fusarium Strains Isolated in India. Journal of Fungi 8, 662.
Rana S, Singh SK. 2022. A review on beauvericin production from Fusarium, its biosynthesis, mode of action and bioactivities. Research Journal of Biotechnology 17(2):149-157
Mattoo BB, Singh AP, Dhingra GS, Singh SK, Rana S, Maurya DK. 2022. Molecular and morphological characterization of a new species of Gloeophyllum (Basidiomycota, Agaricomycetes) from India. Nova Hedwigia 114(3-4) DOI: 10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2022/0683
Rana S, Singh SK. 2021.Paraconiothyriumajrekarii nov. Fungal diversity notes 1387–1511: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa (in Boonmee et al. 2021). FungalDiversity111, 1–335
Rana S, Singh SK. 2020. Srinivasanomyceskangrensis Gen et sp.nov. Fungal diversity notes 1151–1276: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa (in Hyde et al. 2020). Fungal Diversity 100:93–101.
Rana S, Singh SK, Singh PN. 2019. Strelitzianasarbhoyi nov. (Strelitzianaceae, Chaetothyriales), from North-Western Himalayas, India, described based on morphology and molecular phylogeny. Phytotaxa 427 (1): 051–059.
Rana S, Singh SK. 2019. Coniochaetasimbalensis nov. Fungal diversity notes 929–1035: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungi: (in Phookamsa et al. 2019). Fungal Diversity 95 (1):151–155.
Rana S, Singh SK. 2019. Kamalia indica, a new genus and species belonging to Diaporthales (Ascomycota, Fungi) described based on morphology and molecular phylogeny. Phytotaxa 427(4): 233–243.
Rana S, Singh SK, Singh PN. 2019. Morphology and phylogeny of a new species of Trichomerium from North-Western Himalayas, India. Indian Phytopathology 72(3): 427–435.
Rana S, Baghela A, Singh SK. 2018. Morphology and phylogeny of Microdochiumfisheri, a new record from India. Plant Pathology & Quarantine 7(2): 191–200.
Rana S, Singh PN, Gaikwad SB, Singh SK. 2017. Morphology, phylogeny and ex situ conservation of Arthriniumrasikravindrae (ApiosporaceaeXylariales): a new record from India. Kavaka 49: 1–5.
Khattar JIS, Kaur S, Kaushal S, Singh Y, Singh DP, Rana S, Gulati A. 2015. Hyperproduction of phycobiliproteins by the cyanobacterium Anabaena fertilissima PUPCCC 410.5 under optimized culture conditions. Algal Research 12: 463–469

Books Chapters:

Rana S, Kumar M, Maurya DK, Singh SK. 2023. Fungal metagenomics: An emerging approach to determine the imperceptible facets of fungal diversity. In Applied Mycology for Agriculture and Foods Industrial Applications, eds, Singh SK, Kumar D, Shamim M, and Sharma R. Apple academic press, Canada pp. 19-36.
Singh PN, Singh SK, Rana S, Lagashetti A and Pawar K. 2023. Progresses in Systematics of Bird’s Nest Fungi, Cyathus, Preservation and Their Potential Significance. In Mycotalk, eds, Vyas D and Singh C. AkiNik Publication New Delhi, pp. 39-68
Singh SK, Singh PN, Maurya DK, Rana S. 2020. Advances in Systematics, Taxonomy, and Conservation of Trichoderma In: Trichoderma: Agricultural applications & Beyond (eds) Manoharachary C, Singh HB and Varma A. Springer Nature, Switzerland, pp. 351.

Name : Kiran Hemant Sable

Designation : Technical Officer – B

Job Description :

Beautification of Garden, maintenance of garden and research plants. Coordination and organising Home gardening course.

Contact Details :

Educational Qualification

MSc. Horticulture

Publications / Achievements / Awards

Receive Dr. Agate cash award
Received first5 and second 4 awards in different categories in PMC Annual Garden Competition for 3 consecutive Years
Invited as Judge in PMC Annual competitions

Google Scholar / Social Media

Name : Dr. Bharati Sharma

Designation : Technical Officer – B

Job Description :

Over 30 years experience on lichenized fungi in Mycology group at Agharkar Research Institute and associated with various projects in Lichenology on various aspects of lichens viz. taxonomy, tissue culture, study of metabolites, molecular taxonomy and bioactivity studies.

Looking after lichen herbarium for their nomenclature, curetting the specimen for long term preservations.

Handled in-house and sponsored research projects in capacity of Project Investigator.

Recognized as a Post Graduate teacher (by research) in Botany from the University of Pune.

Contact Details :

Educational Qualification

M.Sc., Ph.D. (Botany)

Google Scholar / Social Media

Name : Dr. Subhash Gaikwad

Designation : Technical Officer – A

Job Description :

Exploration of Biodiversity rich localities for survey and collection of Fungi & Lichens samples.
Arranging herbarium specimens for accession in Ajrekar Mycological Herbarium(AMH – Fungi & Lichens).
Chemo-taxonomic studies of Lichens
Studies on lichen metabolites for its various biological activities.
Preservation of fungal cultures and their long-term maintenance.

Contact Details :

020-25325110 (Office)

+91- 9049852220 (Mobile)

Educational Qualification

M.Sc., Ph.D. (Botany)

Publications / Achievements / Awards

Research Publications:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=vB4FN7IAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate

Sutar, R. R., Mapari, S. V., Gaikwad, S. B., Khare, R., &Behera, B. C. (2024). An investigation on the cardioprotective potential of lichen compound protocetraric acid by H2O2-induced toxicity in H9c2 rat heart cells through in vitro and in silico analysis. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Archives of Pharmacology, 1-18.
Sonawane, H., Shelke, D., Arya, S., Ghole, V., Behra, B., & Gaikwad, S.B. (2024). Hypoglycemic and hepatoprotective activity of Phellinus fastuosus on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated rats, respectively. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 10(1), 79
Thakare, Y., Shelke, D., Sonawane, H., Ahire, S., Champaneria, P., Borde, M., … & Gaikwad, S.B. (2024). Molecular and metabolites characterisation of Inonotusrickii: a medicinal mushroom from Western Ghats of India and its biological activities. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1-17.
Ansil, P. A., KC, R., Sruthi, O. P., Gaikwad, S. B., & Sharma, B. (2023). Decoding the evolutionary association among lichen symbionts in Dyplolabiaafzelii from the Western Ghats, India. Microbial Biosystems, 8(2), 17-24.
Gaikwad, S. B., Mapari, S. V., Sutar, R. R., Syed, M., Khare, R., &Behera, B. C. (2023). In Vitro and in Silico Studies of Lichen Compounds Atranorin and Salazinic Acid as Potential Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Anticancer Agents. Chemistry & Biodiversity, 20(12), e202301229.
Sharma, B., Fatima, S., Rajeshkumar, K.C., Škaloud, P., Divakar, P.K., Gaikwad, S. B., Ansil, P.A., Mohan, A.S. and Sequeira, S.Y., (2023). Molecular studies of Flavopunctelia and Punctelia species and their Trebouxia photobiont from the Himalayas, India. Mycotaxon, 137(4), 853-869.
Khare, R., Gaikwad, S. B., Mapari, S., Ade, A. B., &Behera, B. C. (2022). Primary Investigation of Lichenized Fungi in and around High-altitude Sacred Wetland Hemkund in Western Himalaya. Cryptogam Biodiversity and Assessment, 6(01), 45-51.
Fatima, S., PA, A., KC, R., Sharma, B., Gaikwad, S. B., Mohan, A., &Sequeira, S. (2021). Deciphering the symbiosis of endemic Usneaghattensis and their photobiont Trebouxia sp. through molecular tools from the northern Western Ghats, India. Microbial Biosystems, 6(2), 30-42.
Sutar, R. R., Gaikwad, S. B., Mapari, S. V., &Behera, B. C. (2021). Lichens: traditional use and biological activities. Bot Pac, 10, 69-82.
Mapari, S.V., Gaikwad, S. B., Khare, R., Syed, M., Doshi, P., &Behera, B. C. (2021). Neuroprotective potential of selected lichen compounds on mouse neuroblastoma (N2a) cells. EXCLI journal, 20, 491.
Wijayawardene, N. N., Hyde, K. D., Al-Ani, L. K. T., Tedersoo, L., Haelewaters, D., Rajeshkumar, K. C., … Gaikwad, S. B., … &Castañeda-Ruiz, R. F. (2020). Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa. Mycosphere Online: Journal of Fungal Biology, 11(1), 1060-1456.
Singh, S. K., Singh, P. N., Gaikwad, S. B., &Maurya, D. K. (2018). Conservation of Fungi: a review on conventional approaches. Microbial Resource Conservation: Conventional to Modern Approaches, 223-237.
Wijayawardene, N. N., Hyde, K. D., Rajeshkumar, K. C., Hawksworth, D. L., Madrid, H., Kirk, P. M., … Gaikwad, S. B., … &Karunarathna, S. C. (2017). Notes for genera: Ascomycota. Fungal diversity, 86, 1-594.
Rana, S., Singh, P. N., Gaikwad, S. B., & Singh, S. K. (2018). Morphology, phylogeny and ex situ conservation of Arthriniumrasikravindrae (Apiosporaceae: Xylariales): a new record from India.
Savale, S. A., Pol, C. S., Khare, R., Verma, N., Gaikwad, S. B., Mandal, B., &Behera, B. C. (2016). Radical scavenging, prolyl endopeptidase inhibitory, and antimicrobial potential of a cultured Himalayan lichen Cetreliaolivetorum. Pharmaceutical Biology, 54(4), 692-700.
Behera, B. C., Morey, M. V., & Gaikwad, S. B. (2016). Anti-lipoxygenase, radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities of lichen species of genus Heterodermia (Physciaceae). Botanica Pacifica: A Journal of Plant Science and Conservation, 5(1), 79-85.
Gaikwad, S. B., Verma, N., Sharma, B. O., &Behera, B. C. (2014). Growth promoting effects of some lichen metabolites on probiotic bacteria. Journal of food science and technology, 51, 2624-2631.
Rajeshkumar, K. C., Hepat, R. P., Gaikwad, S. B., & Singh, S. K. (2011). Pilidiellacrousii sp. nov. from the northern Western Ghats, India. Mycotaxon, 115(1), 155-162.
Singh, P. N., Gaikwad, S. B., & Singh, S. K. (2007). Two interesting and undescribed species of Septoria from India. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany, 31(2), 543-546.

Association with Scientific Society (Membership):

Mycological Society of India-MSI (Life Member)
Indian Lichenological Society-ILS (Life Member)
Association of Fungal Biologists – AFB(Life Member)

Name : Dr. Pradeep Gopinath Gamre

Designation : Technical Officer ‘A’ – Palaeobiology (B&P)

Job Description :

Provide technical assistance to scientists in their research;
Preparation of thin sections of petrified wood for study;
Participationin Public outreach programmes at ARI and Khodad;
Maintenance of the fossil processing workshop;

Contact Details :

+91- 9096881434 (Mobile)

Educational Qualification

BSc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Botany) University of Pune

Publications / Achievements / Awards

Chate, SV, Bonde, SD and Gamre, PG. 2019. Palmoxylonphytelephantoidesnov.-A New Fossil Palm from the Deccan Intertrappean Beds of Umaria, Madhya Pradesh, India. International Journal of Advanced Scientific Research and Management, Volume 4 Issue 6:189-193.
Chate SV, Bonde SD. &Gamre PG. Palmoxylonkauliisp.nov.- a new fossil palm stem from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Umaria, Madhya Pradesh, India. Research Journey-International Multidisciplinary E-Research Journal. Special Issue -113, 89-92. Impact Factor -(SIIF)-6.261, (CIF)- 3.452, (GIF)- 0.676, UGC Approved No. 40705
Navnith K.P. Kumaran, Damodaran Padmalal, Ruta B Limaye, Vishnu Mohan S, T Jennerjahn and Pradeep G Gamre. Tropical peat and peatland development in the floodplains of the Greater Pamba Basin, South-western India during the Holocene. PLOS ONE(PONE-D-16-00903). 11(5): e0154297. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0154297
Bonde, S.D., Gamre, P.G.&Nipunage, D.S. 2010. Rhizopalmoxylonmacrorhizon(Stenzel) Bondeet al. from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Barbaspur, Dindori district, Madhya Pradesh, India. Geophytology, 38(1-2): 65-69.
Bonde, S.D., Chate, S.V. &Gamre, P.G.Rhizopalmoxylonsingularesp.nov., coralloid palm roots from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Nawargaon, India. Palaeobotanist, 58(1-3): 57-65.
Bonde, S.D., Chate, S.V., Gamre, P.G.&Nipunage, D.S. 2008. A dichotomously branched fossil palm stem from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of India.Current Science, 94(2): 182-183.
Bonde, S.D., Gamre, P.G.&Mahable, T.S. 2004. Further Contribution to Palmoxylon(Cocos)sundaramSahni: Structure of the rooting base and its affinities. Vistas in Palaeobotany and Plant Morphology Evolutionary and Environmental Perspectives. Professor D.D. Pant Memorial Volume. P.C. Srivastava (ed.) 2004: 229-235, U.P.Offsef, Lucknow, India.
Bonde, S.D., Varghese, P., Kumaran, K.P.N., Shindikar, M.R. &Gamre, P.G. 2004. Fossil chromosomes in an extinct Gondwana seed plant (Pentoxylon). Current Science, 87(7):865-866.
Kulkarni, D.K., Gamre, P.G., Patil, M.A. &Kumbhojkar M.S. 2000. Conservation Studies on genetic diversity in Neem (Azadirachtaindica Juss.). Journal of Economic Taxonomic Botany, 24(2): 283-286.

Name : Namrata Subhash Gaikwad

Designation : Laboratory Assistant – C

Job Description :

Exploration of Biodiversity rich localities for survey and collection of plant specimens.
Arranging herbarium specimens for accession in Herbarium (AHMA).
Authentication of Crude drugs and Analytical Services
Tissue Culture of rare and endangered plants and reintroduction in nature.

Contact Details :

+91- 9096881434 (Mobile)

Educational Qualification

B.Sc. (Applied Biotech), M.Sc.-PPPR (Botany)

Publications / Achievements / Awards

AS Upadhye, PB Waghmode, NS Gaikwad, PM Dhavare. (2016). Conservation of Ceropegiamaccannii Ansari through in-vitro raised seedlings. Indian Forester, 142(12):1054-1185.
AS Upadhye, PB Waghamode, PM Dhavare,NSGaikwad. (2015). Standardization and re-introduction of Critically Endangered CeropegiamahabaleiHemadri and Ansari by in vitro propagationAnnals of Plant Sci 4 (2), 987-993
NS Gaikwad, MN Datar. (2015). Notes on the distribution of some angiosperms from Maharashtra, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 6940-6942.

Name : Deepak Kumar Maurya

Designation : Lab Assistant – D

Job Description :

Fungal Culture Collection.

Contact Details :

+91- 9156128442 (Mobile)

Educational Qualification

B.Sc. (Botany, Chemistry), M.Sc. (Applied Microbiology)

Publications / Achievements / Awards

07 Research Article, 05 Book Chapter, International Conference-02

Name : Ms. Sneha Subhash Lad

Designation : Laboratory Assistant – C

Job Description :

NFCCI: Receipt, verification, preservation, maintenance and accession of cultures. It also includes microscopic slide preparation for observation and identification of fungi and preparation of various nutrient media, sterilization, pouring and plugging. She supervises cleaning and maintenance of laboratory, and autoclaving of glass wares/plasticwares on regular basis.

Fungal Identification Services: Provides assistance for morphological identification of fungal cultures to Scientists, also includes analysis for TVC/CFU, deposition and accession of fungal culture. Fungal strains are supplied to academia, research institutions and industries by her. Report typing, data entry, voucher preparation and filing of necessary documents like authority letter, data-sheets, payment receipts, invoice etc.

Human Resource Development: Provides assistance in laboratory preparations for individuals under workshop/certificate courses as per requirement by concerned Scientist and organizing workshop/field trips/collection trip for participants of national workshop.

Contact Details :

, sneha.nfcci@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

Bachelor of Science(Microbiology) Mumbai University, Maharashtra.

Publications / Achievements / Awards

Rajeshkumar KC, Marathe SD, Sneha S. Lad, Maurya DK, Singh SK, Swami SV. 2016. Rediscovery of Penicillium paradoxum (Ascomycete: Aspergillaceae) from Maharashtra, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 8919–8922. DOI:10.11609/joft.2569.8.6.8919-892.

Hyde KD…. Sneha Lad, …. Rajeshkumar KC…et al. 2020. Fungal diversity notes 1151–1276: Taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa. Fungal Diversity. 100: 5–277 (Revision of family Tetraplosphaeriaceae by addition of five new species from India)
Rajeshkumar KC, Hyde KD, Wijayawardene NN, Madrid H, Sneha Lad, Boonmee S, Fatima S. 2019. Tubeufia sahyadriensis (Tubeufiaceae), a new dictyosporus anamorph from the Western Ghats, India.Phytotaxa 423(3): 171-181.
Rajeshkumar KC, Bhat DJ, Lad SS, Wijayawardene NN, Singh SK, Pandkar MR, Maurya DK, Ashtekar ND, Hyde KD. 2018. Morphology and phylogeny of Tamhinispora srinivasanii sp. nov. (Tubeufiaceae) from northern Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa 346 (1): 113–120.
Nikhil Ashtekar*, Sneha Lad, SK Singh, Rajeshkumar KC. 2018. Studies on Phylogenetic Complexities of Indian Penicillium. International Symposium on Fungal Biology: Advances, Applications and Conservation & 45^th Annual Meeting of Mycological Society of India (MSI) during 19^th – 21^st November 2018; organized by NFCCI, ARI, Pune, pp 61.

Name : Mr. Samadhan Ananda Pardhi

Designation : Laboratory Assistant – B

Job Description :

Working as an Assistant in various laboratories at biodiversity and paleobiology (plants and diatoms).
Assistant to the scientists and research scholars in the field work for collecting diatoms and plants in different regions of the country.
Processing the diatom samples and preparing permanent slides for counting and identification.
Accessioning and maintaining the diatom database as well as the herbarium.
Preparing the herbarium for sampled plants followed by poisoning and mounting the plant specimens as well as identification.
Preparation of standard solutions, molecular & common reagents, weighing and measuring of salts and chemicals, filtration, precipitation etc.

Contact Details :

Educational Qualification

B Sc, M.Sc. Botany

Publications / Achievements / Awards

Samadhan Pardhi, Thiruvalan Kokila, Mital Thacker, B. Alakananda, & B. Karthick* (2023) Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) of the world’s highest aquatic environments from the Western Himalayas, India. Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies. 52 (2), 172-205. https://doi.org/10.26881/oahs-2023.2.04
Samadhan Pardhi, Anbukkarasu Vigneshwaran J. Patrick Kociolek, Anton Glushchenko, Maxim Kulikovskiy & Balasubramanian Karthick. Morphological investigation and description of two new Gomphonema Ehrenberg (Bacillariophyta) species from India and Vietnam with biogeographical comments, Phytotaxa 468 (2): 175–189 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.468.2.2
Radhakrishnan, C., Pardhi, S., Kulikovskiy, M., Kociolek, J. P., & Karthick, B. (2020). Navicula watveae sp. nov.(Bacillariophyceae) a new diatom species from the Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa, 433(1), 20-26. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.433.1.3

Name : Sunil Namdeo Gajbhar

Designation : Attendant D

Job Description :

Garden Work

Contact Details :

Gajbhar1963@gmail.com

Publications / Achievements / Awards

Dr. Sukhatme Award

Google Scholar / Social Media

Name : Sarang Ashok Bokil

Designation : PhD Scholar

Job Description :

I have completed M.Sc. in Botany with specialisation in Angiosperm taxonomy. Since then I am actively working in the field of angiosperm taxonomy. Started research career as a research fellow on DST-SERB funded project entitled ‘Systematic studies on little known genera of Cucurbitaceae in India’ in Department of Botany, Nowrosjee Wadia College, Pune, University of Pune, India. Presently working as a Research Student on the DST-SERB funded project entitled ‘Muraina grasses of India: addressing the polymorphism and interspecific variation through morphological, ecological, and molecular phylogenetic studies’in Biodiversity and palaeobiology group (Plants & Diatoms), Agharkar Research Institute, Pune.

Contact Details :

bokilsaraang@gmail.com

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Satish-Maurya-2?ev=hdr_xprf

Educational Qualification

B.Sc (Botany), M.Sc (Botany-Angiosperm taxonomy)

Research Interests

Grass taxonomy, Molecular systematics and Evolution, Botanical nomenclature, Plant tissue culture, Gardening and landscaping.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Bokil, S. A., Choudhary, R. K., Tamhankar, S., & Datar+, M. N. (2021). A novel species of Ischaemum (Poaceae, Andropogoneae) from the northern Western Ghats, India, based on morphological and molecular data.
Tetali, P., Tetali, S., Muralidharan, E. M., Bokil, S. A., Choudhary, R. K., & Datar, M. N. (2021). Pseudoxytenanthera madhavii (Poaceae: Bambusoideae), a new species of woody bamboo from the northern western Ghats, India.
Bokil, S. A. (2022). (150) Proposal to add a Recommendation on type specimens of taxa with microscopic distinguishing characters. TAXON, 71(3), 707-707.
Ghate, P., Shigwan, B. K., Bokil, S. A., & Watve, A. V. (2024). Documenting Fodder as an Important Provisioning Service of Sada Grasslands in Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra. Journal of Ecological Society, 34(1), 1-13.
Bokil, S.A., Alan Thomas S.,Shigwan B. K.†, Choudhary R. K. &Datar M. N.Lectotypification of Ischaemum heterotrichumHack. (Andropogoneae,Poaceae),Phytotaxa369 (2): 126–128.
Bokil, S. A., Darshetkar, A. M., Maurya, S., Choudhary, R. K., &Datar, M. N. (2019). Lectotypification of two names of SmithsoniaSaldanha (Orchidaceae).Phytotaxa. 427(1): 80-84.
Maurya, S., Bokil, S. A., Darshetkar, A. M., Datar, M. N., &Choudhary, R. K. (2020). Second-step lectotypification of the name Wormiamansonii, the basionym of Dilleniamansonii(Dilleniaceae).Phytotaxa, 432(2): 221-222.
Bokil, S.A., Choudhary R. K., Tamhankar S. &Datar M. N. (2020) Ischaemum janarthanamii(Poaceae, Andropogoneae), a new species from the Western Ghats, India: evidence from morphological and molecular data. Ann.Bot.Finnici, 57: 321-330.

Name : Deepika Choudhary

Designation : UGC-JRF

Brief Background :

Native from Jodhpur,Rajasthan.
Pursued B.Sc from K.N. College (JNVU) Jodhpur in 2016.
Pursued M.Sc (Botany) from Jai Narain Vyas University,Jodhpur in 2018.
Qualified NET-JRF in 2018&2019.

Contact Details :

, choudharydeepika106@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

M.Sc in Botany (NET JRF)

Research Interests

Studies on Different endophytic fungi and their applications in Agriculture.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Shigwan, B.K.& Kulkarni, A. (2019). Extended distribution of a rare orchid Cheirostylisparvifolia from northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India. ZOO’S PRINT, 34(11), 49-51.
Shigwan, B.K., Kulkarni, A., Vijayan, S., Choudhary, R.K., &Datar, M.N. (2020). An assessment of the local endemism of flowering plants in the northern Western Ghats and Konkan regions of India: checklist, habitat characteristics, distribution, andconservation. Phytotaxa, 440(1), 25-54.
Shigwan, B., Ghate, K., Karandikar, M., &Datar, M. N. (2020). Traditional Knowledge in Sealing Reassessment Gaps of Threatened Species: an Example of a Grass from Northern Western Ghats of India. National Academy Science Letters, 1-5.

Name : Kadambari Pawar

Designation :Ph.D. Scholar (UGC-JRF)

Brief Background :

Belongs to Karad, Maharashtra.
Completed B.Sc. Microbiology from YashwantroChavan college of Science, Karad.
Completed M.Sc. Microbiology from YashwantroChavan college of Science, Karad.
Qualified NET-JRF(2018), JGEEBILS (2018).
Project- “Bacterial decolorization of azo dye Red m5b and its metabolite analysis” Nov. 2016 – Mar. 2017

Contact Details :

, kadambaripawar5@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

B.Sc. Microbiology, M.Sc. Microbiology,CSIR-UGC NET

Research Interests

Morphotaxonomy, molecular phylogeny and ex-situ conservation of different taxonomic groups of fungi.
Isolation and identification of fungi from extreme environmental conditions especially alkali-tolerant and alkaliphilic fungi.
Screening of fungi for their ability to produce extracellular enzyme.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Name : Malika Suthar

Designation :CSIR-JRF

Brief Background :

Native from Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Pursued school education from St. Patrick’s VidhyaBhawan, Jodhpur.
Pursued B.Sc from Lachoo Memorial College, Jodhpur in 2015.
Pursued M.Sc (Botany) from Jai NarainVyas University, Jodhpur in 2017.
Qualified NET-JRF in 2017 and GATE in 2018.

Contact Details :

Educational Qualification

M.Sc in Botany (NET and GATE)

Research Interests

Screening of melaninproducing fungi and assessment of their potential applications in different industries.
Morphotaxonomy and molecular phylogeny of different taxonomic groups of fungi producing melanin.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Name : Dr. Mital Thacker

Designation : Research Fellow

Brief Background :

I have completed M.Sc. in Botany with specialisation in Angiosperm taxonomy. Since then I am actively working in the field of angiosperm taxonomy. Started research career as a research fellow on DST-SERB funded project entitled ‘Systematic studies on little known genera of Cucurbitaceae in India’ in Department of Botany, Nowrosjee Wadia College, Pune, University of Pune, India. Presently working as a Research Student on the DST-SERB funded project entitled ‘Muraina grasses of India: addressing the polymorphism and interspecific variation through morphological, ecological, and molecular phylogenetic studies’in Biodiversity and palaeobiology group (Plants & Diatoms), Agharkar Research Institute, Pune.

Contact Details :

,mital.thacker01@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

B.Sc., M.Sc. Environmental Science & Technology

Research Interests

My research expertise includes diatom taxonomy, diatom ecology, paleolimnology, climate reconstruction, micropaleontology, and water quality monitoring.
I study both living and fossil diatoms in freshwater environments, using them as bioindicators to infer present and past environmental conditions. My work also examines the role of diatoms in archaeological contexts to understand the interactions between ancient civilizations and their natural environments.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Thacker, M., Kumaran, K. P. N., Hamilton, P. B., & Karthick, B. (2023). Appraisal of Asian monsoon variability in the Indian subcontinent and East Asia through the Quaternary using diatom records. Earth-Science Reviews, 104622.
Thacker, M., Limaye, R. B., Padmalal, D., Rajaguru, S. N., Kumaran, K. P. N., Punekar, S. A., & Karthick, B. (2023). Holocene climate dynamics and ecological responses in Kaas Plateau, Western Ghats, India: Evidence from lacustrine deposits. Quaternary Science Advances, 100087.
Thacker, M., Dwivedi, A., Gayathri, C. R. & Karthick, B. (2024). Diatoms from ancient pots: exploring pottery sherds and paleoenvironmental insights in the lower Kaveri River Basin archaeological landscape, Tamil Nadu, India. Current Science., 126 (8), 916.
Nayak, P., Thacker, M., Hamilton, P. B., & Karthick, B. Description of a new freshwater diatom (Bacillariophyta) species– Geissleria triundulata sp. nov. from the Mula-Mutha River Basin, India. Phytotaxa, 661(1), 109-119.
Kulikovskiy, M. S., Thacker, M., Glushchenko, A. M., Kuznetsova, I. V., Iurmanov, A. A., Karthick, B., & Kociolek, J. P. (2023). Gandhia gen. nov.—A New Diatom Genus with Unusual Morphology Split Off from the Genus Navicula Bory. Plants, 12(23), 3941.
Thacker, M., Karthick, B. (2022). Response of Diatoms to the Changing Water Quality in the Myristica Swamps of the Western Ghats, India. Diversity, 14(3), 202.
Thacker, M., Roy, S., Kociolek, J. P., Lowe, R. L., & Karthick, B. (2019). A new species of Germainiella (Bacillariophyta) from the Myristica swamps of the Western Ghats, India. Diatom Research, 34(3), 181–191.
Pardhi, S., Kokila, T., Thacker, M., Alakananda, B., Karthick, B. (2023). Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) of the world’s highest aquatic environments from the Western Himalayas, India. Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies, 52(2), 172–205.

Book Chapter:

Thacker, M. & Karthick, B. (2023). A catalogue of Quaternary diatoms from the Asian tropics with their environmental indication potential for paleolimnological applications. In: ‘The Role of Tropics in Climate Change’. Elsevier publications.

Name : Ms. Monali Sanjay Kadu

Designation : SARTHI-JRF (CSMNRF-JRF)

Brief Background :

I pursued my graduation and post-graduation from University of Mumbai securing distinction. I competed my dissertation on topic “Pharmacognostic Specification of Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.)”I am working as a JRF on a project entitled as “Repository of Crude drugs and Authentication services”. I am glad to receive this wonderful opportunity at Agharkar. Research institute which has helped me to achieve my goals. Exposure to Agharkar Research institute has helped me update my knowledge in research, where I have got opportunities to learn from highly knowledgeable mentors and competitive peer group.

Contact Details :

Educational Qualification

Bsc in Botany
Msc in Botany (Angiosperms Taxonomy)

Research Interests

Authentication and Evaluation of Medicinal Plants, Pharmacognosy of Ayurvedic plants, Pharmacognostic specification of Crude drugs, Angiosperms Taxonomy
(Botany),Chromatographic techniques like HPTLC and TLC, Molecular Systematics

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Work in process

Name : Radhakrishnan Cheran

Designation : Project Associate, Ph.D.Student

Brief Background :

I completed Bachelor of Zoology at Bishop Heber college, and Masters in Environmental Science from Bharathidasan University,Tiruchirappalli, TamilNadu.After my Master’s I was interning with Wildlife Conservation Society and ATREE. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D.with Dr. Karthick Balasubramanian ARI, Pune affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune.

Contact Details :

,radha.cheran@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

B.Sc. Zoology (Bishop Heber college, Bharathidasan University)
M.Sc. in Environmental Science & Technology (Bharathidasan University)

Research Interests

Diatom taxonomy, Water quality, Diatom ecology, Biodiversity conservation, Environmental pollution.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Radhakrishnan, C., Das, S. K., Kumar, V., Kociolek, J. P., & Karthick, B. (2020) A new freshwater Gomphonema Ehrenberg (Bacillariophyta) species from Eastern Himalayas, India. Fottea, Olomouc, 20(2): 128–136
Lokhande, V., Radhakrishnan, C., Kociolek, J. P., Lowe, R., & Karthick, B. (2020). The diatom genus Luticola DG Mann (Bacillariophyceae) in the Western Ghats of India and its biogeography. European Journal of Phycology, 1-17.
Das, S. K., Radhakrishnan, C., Kulikovskiy, M., Glushchenko, A., Kociolek, J. P., & Karthick, B. (2020). Pinnulariasikkimensis nov. (Bacillariophyceae), from Eastern Himalayas and its distribution in Southeast Asia. Phytotaxa, 447(3), 163-175.
Radhakrishnan, C., Kulikovskiy, M., Glushchenko, A., Kuznetsova, I., & Karthick, B. (2020). A First Finding and Morphology of the Neglected Diatom Genus Pseudostaurosiropsis from Anthropogenically Impacted Urban Lake in India. Inland Water Biology, 13(2), 170-177.
Roy, S., Radhakrishnan, C., Taylor, J. C., Kulikovskiy, M. S., & Karthick, B. (2020). Encyonemakeshrii, sp. nov.: a new diatom species (Cymbellales, Bacillariophyceae) from the Indian subcontinent. Cryptogamie, Algologie, 41(2), 7-17.
Radhakrishnan, C., Pardhi, S., Kulikovskiy, M., Kociolek, J. P., & Karthick, B. (2020). Naviculawatveae nov. (Bacillariophyceae) a new diatom species from the Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa, 433(1), 20-26.
Radhakrishnan, C., Kulikovskiy, M., Glushchenko, A., Kuznetsova, I., Kociolek, P., & Karthick, B. (2018). Oricymbasagarensis (Gandhi) comb. nov., an endemic diatom from the Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa, 382(3), 267-274.
Das, S. K., Radhakrishnan, C., Kociolek, J. P., & Karthick, B. (2018). Three new species of Gomphonema Ehrenberg (Bacillariophyta), from Eastern Himalayas, with a note on the unique girdle band structure. NovaHedwigia, Beihefte, 359-372.

Name : Ruchira Ramesh Sutar

Designation : Junior Research Fellow, Biodiversity- Lichen

Brief Background :

I am a post graduate in botany studied from Mumbai University, currently doing PhD at Agharkar Research Institute at Pune. I have two publications from the research work carried during post-graduation on studies of mycorrhizae in plant Ceropegia. Currently my PhD research work is focused on Studies of Lichen secondary metabolites and their applications in medicine and food.

Contact Details :

Educational Qualification

Bachelors of Science in Botany (2011-2014) Bhavans College, Andheri, Mumbai;
Masters of Science in Botany, (2014-2016) Bhavans College, Andheri, Mumbai;
UGC NET(2018); MHT SET(2018)

Research Interests

Research interest lie in the search for natural products derived from Lichens that can be developed further for pharmaceutical use. Hence to study the bioprospection of the lichens by deriving different biological activities.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

1. A New Record of Endemic and Endangered Mycorrhizal Plant: Ceropegia media (Huber) Ansari from India; IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology (IOSR-JESTFT) e-ISSN: 2319-2402, p- ISSN: 2319-2399.Volume 10, Issue 5 Ver. I (May. 2016), PP 79-85.
2. A New Record of Endemic and Critically Endangered Mycorrhizal Plant: Ceropegia rollae (Hemadri) from India; International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 5 Number 6 (2016) pp. 190-203.

Name : Vigneshwaran Anbukarasu

Designation : Ph.D. student

Brief Background :

I am a Ph.D. student with a keen interest in studying the diversity of diatoms across environmental gradients and exploring their potential applications in water quality monitoring. Currently, I am working on developing diatom-based pollution monitoring protocols to assist water quality managers in assessing and managing aquatic ecosystems effectively.

Contact Details :

Educational Qualification

M. Sc., (Microbiology)

Research Interests

I am interested inunderstanding the diatom community structure of the Western Ghats streams and rivers and I am exploring the possibility of using diatoms as bioindicators to monitor aquatic health. Also, I am associated with many novel taxa discoveries from the Western Ghats region.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Vigneshwaran, A., Kulikovskiy, M. S., Glushchenko, A., Kociolek, J. P., & Karthick, B. (2019). A new species of Cymbella (Bacillariophyceae, Cymbellaceae) from the Pavana River, Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa395(3): 209-218. DOI: 11646/phytotaxa.395.3.5
Guiry M. D.; Vigneshwaran, A.; Karthick, B. (2020). Validation and replacement of some diatom names published by H.P.Gandhi. Notulae algarum. 133
Vigneshwaran, A., Wetzel, C. E., Williams, D. M., & Karthick, B. (2020). A re-description of Fragilaria fonticola Hustedt and its varieties, with three new combinations and one new species from India. Phytotaxa453(3):179-198. DOI: 11646/phytotaxa.453.3.2
Pardhi, S., Vigneshwaran, ADOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.468.2.2Kociolek, J. P., Glushchenko, A., Kulikovskiy, M., & Karthick, B. (2020). Morphological investigation and description of two new Gomphonema Ehrenberg (Bacillariophyta) species from India and Vietnam with biogeographical comments. Phytotaxa468(2): 175-189.

Name : Yogeshwaran Murugesan

Designation : Project Associate, PhD student

Brief Background :

My specialization is on diatoms and their application as a proxy for understanding microbial evolution and biogeography. I study more about the mechanisms underlying microbial diversification, their ecological adaptations, and the factors affecting their geographic distributions.
Currently, my research interest is understanding the phylogenetic relation and biogeography of the Gomphonemoid diatoms of the Western Ghats

Contact Details :

, yogieekrish1710@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

B.Sc., M.Sc. (Microbiology)

Research Interests

My research interest is to document the diatoms from the Northeast India and also relating the diatom community to the environmental variables especially water chemistry.
I am culturing the diatoms to exploring the economically important bioactive compounds such as lipids.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Name : Pratyasha Nayak

Designation : CSIR SRF

Brief Background :

I graduated with honors in Botany from Ramjas College at the University of Delhi in 2015. I went on to earn my Master’s in Botany from Punjabi University, Patiala in 2017. Post qualifying GATE XL in 2019 and CSIR JRF in 2020, I joined the Agharkar Research Institute in Pune in 2021. As a member of Diatom Diversity and Distribution Lab, led by Dr. Karthick Balasubramanian. Currently, I am working on the ecological assessment of a small river basin in Maharashtra through morphology and molecular (DNA metabarcoding) methods and exploring the seasonal changes in its quality through physico-chemical and biological (diatoms) parameters.

Contact Details :

, pratyashanayak9@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

B.Sc Botany
M.Sc Botany

Research Interests

I focus on advancing diatom-based DNA metabarcoding technique within tropical environments. My research aims to integrate this method as complementary tool alongside classical tools for ecological studies in freshwater ecosystems. Additionally, I investigate the seasonal dynamics of the Mula-Mutha river basin by analyzing water quality parameters and diatom communities. This work would contribute to developing robust, long-term monitoring programs to ensure the health and sustainability of river ecosystems.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

1. Nayak, P., Thacker, M., Hamilton, P. B., & Karthick, B. (2024). Geissleria triundulata sp. nov., a new freshwater diatom (Cymbellaceae, Bacillariophyta) from the Mula-Mutha River Basin, India. Phytotaxa, 661(1), 109-119.
2. Radhakrishnan, C., Nayak, P., Williams, D. M., & Karthick, B. (2023). Genkalia aravindia sp. nov.: a new diatom (Bacillariophyta) associated with wet wall habitats from Eastern Himalayas and comments on the related genera. Nova Hedwigia, 191-202.

Name : Ajay Chandrakant Lagashetti

Designation : Ph.D. Scholar (CSIR-SRF)

Brief Background :

He is a native of Solapur, Maharashtra, and completed his B.Sc. Microbiology from D.B.F. Dayanand College of Arts & Science, Solapur, in 2014. He completed his M.Sc. in Microbiology from the Department of Microbiology, S.P. Pune University, Pune, in 2016. He qualified CSIR-NET (AIR-69) in 2015, GATE in 2016, and MH-SET in 2017.
He worked as a JRF on a project entitled “Screening fungi for bio-control of Powdery mildew in grapes (BD-5)” at MACS, ARI, Pune. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Biotechnology on “fungal pigments and their applications in textile industries” under the guidance of Dr. S. K. Singh and Dr. P. N. Singh.

Contact Details :

, lagashettiajay@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

Research Interests

His area of research work includes morphotaxonomy, molecular phylogeny, bioprospecting, and ex-situ conservation of different taxonomic groups of fungi. He is currently working on secondary metabolites of fungi, especially fungal pigments (myco-pigments), their chemical characterization and potential applications in various industries (textile, health, etc.).
He also worked on the biocontrol of powdery mildew on grapes using fungi. He has screened fungi for their different enzymes (phosphatases, proteases, etc.) production potential. He also has working experience on fungal endophytes of plants and their characterization.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Name : Ansil P A

Designation : Senior Research Fellow (CSIR)

Brief Background :

Completed Bachelor’s degree in Botany from Sacred Heart College affiliated with Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, and a Master’s degree in Applied Plant Science from Dept. of Botany, University of Calicut, Kerala. He was also selected as a Summer Research Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences at Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru, Karnataka, under the guidance of Dr. Aravind Madyastha.
His passion for fungi was developed during his Master’s degree, in which he worked on Agaric taxonomy under the guidance of Dr. P. Manimohan. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in lichenized fungi at Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, as a Senior research fellow (CSIR) under the guidance of Dr. Rajesh Kumar K.C.

Contact Details :

Educational Qualification

Research Interests

Lichenized fungi, Photobiont, Polyphasic taxonomy, Phylogeny, Ecology.
He is working on the polyphasic taxonomy of the lichen family Graphidaceae from the Western Ghats, India. He is also interested in multigene sequencing of myco- and photobionts, phylogeny, thallus chemistry, distribution studies, and Biomonitoring.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Name :Vaishnavi Dixit

Designation : Project JRF (SERB)

Brief Background :

Hi, I am Vaishnavi. I have completed my masters from Abasaheb Garware College Pune. Currently, sI am working in the Department of Biodiversity and Paleobiology under guidance of Dr. Tushar Kaushik. My project funded by SERB (Scientific Engineering and Research Board) pertains to molecular and taxonomic reassessment of genus Ammonia along the coastline of India.

Contact Details :

,vaishnavimdixit@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

Research Interests

Currently I am working as a morphological and molecular taxonomist. My interests are working in the field of marine micropaleontology along with bioinformatics. In my work, I would like to strengthen the use of metagenomics (e-DNA) and whole genome sequencing (WGA) as proxies for environmental monitoring.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Name : Sruthi O P

Designation : Junior Research Fellow (CSIR -JRF)

Job Description :

I completed graduation in Botany from S N college (Kannur university) and post-graduation in Applied Plant Science from Department of Botany, Calicut university, Kerala. I have qualified both CSIR junior research fellowship (2020) and GATE (2020) in life science.

I have joined as a JRF on a SERB project entitled “Unravelling the symbiosis of algal and fungal partners in lichen family Graphidaceae and Parmeliaceae from the Western Ghats through polyphasic taxonomic approach and ecological studies” at ARI Pune.

Currently pursuing Ph.D. in lignicolous Ascomycota at Biodiversity & Palaeobiology (Fungi) Group, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune under the guidance of Dr. Rajesh Kumar K.C.

Contact Details :

, sruthi.o.p1211@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

Research Interests

Lignicolous Ascomycota, Fungal systematics, Phylogeny, Lignin degradation
Currently, I am working on the molecular reappraisal of lignicolous Ascomycota from the Western Ghats region using modern phylogenetic approaches and screening for their lignin degrading activities.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Name : Shweta Kumavat

Designation : Ph.D. Scholar (MJPRF-Fellow)

Job Description :

She completed her B.Sc. Botany from N.V.P. College, Lasalgaon, in 2019 and completed M.Sc. in Botany from the Department of Botany, S.P. Pune University, Pune, in 2021. She qualified SPPU-PET 2021 and currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Botany on entomogenous fungi under the guidance of Dr. S. K. Singh and Dr. Mahesh Borde.

Contact Details :

, shw10031998@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

Research Interests

Her area of research includes fungal taxonomy and molecular phylogeny. She is specifically interested in entomogenous fungi, their secondary metabolites and their bioactivities. She is also interested in in-silico analysis of fungal metabolites and molecular docking.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Name : Harikrishnan K

Designation : Junior Research Fellow (UGC)

Job Description :

Completed Bachelor’s degree in Botany from Nirmalagiri College (Kannur University), followed by Master’s degree in Plant Science from Mahatma Gandhi Govt. Arts College (Pondicherry University). Qualified UGC-JRF in 2021 and GATE-XL in 2022. Joined as a JRF on a SERB sponsored project entitled “Unravelling the symbiosis of algal and fungal partners in lichen family Graphidaceae and Parmeliaceae from the Western Ghats through polyphasic taxonomic approach and ecological studies” at ARI Pune. Currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Taxonomy of Aspergillus under the guidance of Dr Rajesh Kumar K.C.

Contact Details :

, harikrishnan7991@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

Research Interests

Modern Systematics of Aspergillus, Lichens, Polyphasic taxonomy, Phylogeny. He is currently working on modern systematics of genus Aspergillus from India and its applications.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Name : Utkarsha Tikhole

Designation : Project Assistant

Job Description :

I have completed five years integrated M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Institute of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune. I joined ARI for my master’s dissertation project entitled “Exploring the lipid yielding potential of freshwater diatom species – Gomphonema parvulum (Kützing) Kützing” in the Diatom: Diversity and Distribution (D3) lab. Currently I am working as a project assistant on an industrial sponsored project under the guidance of Dr. Karthick Balasubramanian.

Contact Details :

, tikholeutkarsha@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

Research Interests

My current research primarily focuses on the isolation and cultivation of specific diatom species for use as a feed source in shrimp farming and hatcheries. Additionally, I am actively involved in the extraction and comprehensive analysis of lipids, carbohydrates, and pigments derived from microalgae, with a specific emphasis on diatoms and green algae. Furthermore, I am engaged in the identification and characterization of various microalgae species, specifically targeting diatoms and green algae.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Name : Sachin Mapari

Designation : Ph.D. Scholar

Job Description :

Bachelor of Science (Chemistry)

Master of Science (Biochemistry) (“A” Grade)

DBT-JRF, CSIR-NET, MH-SET, GATE (Life Sciences)

I completed my master’s in biochemistry from the Department of Chemistry, SPPU, Pune. I started my research career as project-JRF after joining ARI’s in-house project (BD-06) “Study of Neuroprotective Potential via Antioxidant Action and Active Constituents Determination of Parmelioid Lichens from Western Himalaya Region”. While working on this project, my interest in lichens and their secondary metabolites increased, and I started my doctorate in biotechnology on lichen bioprospection.

Contact Details :

, Sachinmapari14@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

Research Interests

Phytochemistry and ethnopharmacology

Lichens are the dominant life-form available throughout the world. It presents a symbiotic association between two or more organisms (photobiont and mycobiont). These unique organisms produce many secondary metabolites that are often structurally unique. Currently, we are working on western Himalayan High altitude lichens (Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) in search of potential multitarget drug candidates with neuroprotective and anti-cancer potential.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Name : Geetika Sukhramani

Designation : PhD Student (DST INSPIRE FELLOW-SRF)

Job Description :

I have completed my undergraduate studies from Smt CHM College (Mumbai University) in the subject of Botany during 2015-2018. Following that, I completed my masters degree from the Department of Botany, SPPU in 2020 with Plant biotechnology specialization. I qualified GATE XL 2020 and joined Agharkar Research Institute, Pune in 2021 in the Molecular Systematics Lab under Dr. Ritesh Kumar Choudhary.

Contact Details :

, geetikasukhramani12@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

Undergraduate studies from Smt CHM College (Mumbai University) in the subject of Botany during 2015-2018
Masters degree from the Department of Botany, SPPU in 2020

Research Interests

My research interests are focused on understanding plant diversification using molecular tools, exploring plastome evolution, and tracing the biogeographic patterns of plants.
Currently I am working on a medicinally important plant (Sarsaparilla) Smilax- Taxonomy, molecular phylogenetics and biogeographic patterns of the genus Smilax in India .

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Name : Aditi Sarawgi

Designation : PhD student UGC-SRF

Job Description :

I graduated in Botany from St. Xavier’s college, Ranchi (Jharkhand). Following that, I pursued my Master’s degree with specialization in “Plant Taxonomy, Ethnobotany & Medicinal plants” from Ranchi University, Ranchi (Jharkhand). I cleared CSIR-UGC NET in the 2019 June diet with AIR-75 and MH-SET (2019). Currently, I am enrolled in a doctoral program, working in Angiospermic plants in the Molecular Systematics lab of Agharkar Research Institute under the mentorship of Dr. Ritesh Kumar Choudhary.

Contact Details :

, 4147aditi.sarawgi@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

Graduation in Botany from St. Xavier’s college, Ranchi (Jharkhand)

Research Interests

I am interested in Molecular taxonomy. Presently, I am working on the systematics of the genus Canscora Lam. (Gentianaceae) In India. My interest lies in understanding the evolutionary pattern of the genus using molecular, morphological, and anatomical tools. I am excited about elevating my knowledge in this field and hope to make valuable academic contributions in the field of Science.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Name : Raiping Raleng

Designation : Phd Student (CSIR-JRF)

Job Description :

I have completed my undergraduate from Baburaoji Gholap College, Pune and Post Graduate from SP college, Pune.

I have qualified CSIR-JRF 2022 and now I’m working in Molecular Systematics Lab as a PhD student under Dr. Ritesh Kumar Choudary.

Contact Details :

Educational Qualification

Undergraduate from Baburaoji Gholap College, Pune.
Post Graduate from SP college, Pune.

Research Interests

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Name : Truptimayee Sahu

Designation : JRF

Job Description :

I am basically from Odisha and completed my B.Sc. in Botany honors from Rayagada Autonomous College, Odisha in 2018 and completed my M.Sc. in Botany from Andhra University, Andhra Pradesh in 2020. I have cleared GATE-XL in 2020 and 2021. I joined Agharkar Research Institute in April 2023, working in Molecular Systematics Lab as a JRF in a DST funded project under Dr. Ritesh Kumar Choudhary, Scientist-E.

Contact Details :

, truptimayeesahu98@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

B.Sc. in Botany honors from Rayagada Autonomous College, Odisha in 2018.
M.Sc. in Botany from Andhra University, Andhra Pradesh in 2020.

Research Interests

I am interested in plant taxonomy and molecular phylogenetics to understand the biogeographic patterns of the particular plant species.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Name : Madhan P

Designation : Research Project Assistant

Job Description :

Contact Details :

, madhanbiotech6@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

Master of Science in Biotechnology
Research Interests: molecular diatom research

Research Interests

I am interested in plant taxonomy and molecular phylogenetics to understand the biogeographic patterns of the particular plant species.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Patents/Varieties:Muralikrishnan. S, Madhan. P, Nagendran N.A.,
Pandiaraja D. and Kubendran T. 2018. Studies on assessment of heavy metals in samples collected from surrounding area of recycling plant in Madurai district of Southern India. Global journal of Bio-science and Biotechnology. vol 7 (3).

Name : Ashlesha Nade

Designation : Research Fellow

Job Description :

I completed my BSc and MSc in Biotechnology from Rajarshi Shahu Mahavidyalaya (Autonomous), Latur affiliated to Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded. During my MSc, I worked at Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, where my dissertation focused on the diatom diversity of alkaline lakes. Currently, as a Research Fellow, I am part of a project sponsored by the Department of Archaeology, Tamil Nadu, under the guidance of Dr. Karthick Balasubramaniam. Currently, my work involves studying diatoms and their palaeoenvironmental significance in an archaeological context, which contributes to our understanding of past ecosystems and their role in human history.

Contact Details :

ashleshanade88@gmail.com

Educational Qualification

B.Sc. Biotechnology
M.Sc. Biotechnology

Research Interests

My research focuses on examining diatom diversity and their paleoenvironmental significance within archaeological contexts. I aim to analyze diatom assemblages from selected sites across Tamil Nadu to reconstruct past environmental conditions and understand the interplay between ancient human activities and their natural surroundings.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Name : Balakumar S

Designation : DST INSPIRE Fellow

Job Description :

I completed Bachelor in Botany at PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, TN and Masters in Botany from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. Currently, I am pursuing my PhD under Dr. Mandar Datar. My Specialization is on Desiccation Tolerant plants and Plant Functional Traits.

Contact Details :

Educational Qualification

Bachelor in Botany at PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, TN
Masters in Botany from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu

Research Interests

Plant Ecology, Plant Functional Traits. Cliff Ecology, Forest Ecology.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Google Scholar / Social Media

Name : Dr. Satishkumar Maurya

Designation : Post-Doctoral Fellow (CSIR-RA)

Job Description :

I am currently working as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Molecular Systematics Lab, led by Dr. Ritesh Kumar Choudhary, ARI, Pune, India. I completed my Ph.D. in 2022 Currently, I am trying to understand the parasitic evolution and gene regulation pattern in selected plants.

Contact Details :

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Satish-Maurya-2?ev=hdr_xprf

Educational Qualification

Research Interests

My research expertise encompasses molecular systematics, phylogeny, phylogenomics, genomics, transcriptomics, next-generation sequencing (NGS), molecular taxonomy, biogeography, and DNA barcoding.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

Books:

Maurya, S., Datar, M.N. & Choudhary, R.K. (2020). The Genus Capparis L. in India. MACSAgharkar Research Institute, Pune, India, p. 96. ISBN: 978-81-946051-0-2 Soft copy available at: https://tinyurl.com/4tx42k83

Research Articles:

Patil, P.B., Vaidya, S., Maurya, S. and Patil, N.P., 2025. New species of Hymenagaricus and Xanthagaricus (Agaricaceae), from Maharashtra, India. Mycoscience, p.MYC660.https://doi.org/10.47371/mycosci.2024.11.003 (IF: 1.5)
Sukhramani, G., Maurya, S. and Choudhary, R.K., 2024. Plastome comparison reveals hotspots of nucleotide diversity and positive selection pressure on accD, matK, psaA and rbcL genes in Smilacaceae. Brazilian Journal of Botany, pp.1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-023-00973-x (IF: 1.6)
Maurya, S., Barvkar, V.T., Choudhary, R.K., Singh, L., Dwivedi, M.D., Naik, M.C., Ekka, G.A., Kandwal, M., Mathur, R.R. and Pandey, A.K., 2023. Plastome characterization of Musa indandamanensis, an endemic banana in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. The Nucleus, pp.1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13237-023-00418-6 (IF: 1.8)
Maurya, S., Cornejo, X., Lee, C., Kim, S.Y. and Choudhary, R.K., 2023. Molecular phylogenetic tools reveal the phytogeographic history of the genus Capparis L. and suggest its reclassification. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, p.125720. (IF: 3.8). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2023.125720
Maurya, S., Darshetkar, A.M., Datar, M.N., Tamhankar, S., Li, P. and Choudhary, R.K., 2020. Plastome data provide insights into intra and interspecific diversity and ndh gene loss in Capparis (Capparaceae). Phytotaxa, 432(2), pp.206-220. (IF: 1.17). https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.432.2.1
Maurya, S., Darshetkar, A.M., Yi, D.K., Kim, J., Lee, C., Ali, M.A., Choi, S., Choudhary, R.K. and Kim, S.Y., 2020. Plastome comparison and evolution within the tribes of Plantaginaceae: Insights from an Asian gypsyweed. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 27(12), pp.3489-3498. (IF: 4.219). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.09.040
Darshetkar, A.M., Maurya, S., Lee, C., Bazarragchaa, B., Batdelger, G., Janchiv, A., Jeong, E.J., Choi, S., Choudhary, R.K. and Kim, S.Y., 2021. Plastome analysis unveils Inverted Repeat (IR) expansion and positive selection in Sea Lavenders (Limonium, Plumbaginaceae, Limonioideae, Limonieae). PhytoKeys, 175, p.89. (IF: 1.635). https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.175.61054
Patil, P.B., Patil, P.N., Chahar, S., Maurya, S., 2024. Leucoagaricus karjaticus (Agaricaceae), a new species from Maharashtra, India. Mycoscience, (Accepted 18th July, 2024). (IF: 1.4)
Yadav, L. S., Kanade, P., Kushwaha, V., Maurya, S., Patil, P., Santiago, A. A. 2024. Lichtheimia indica, a new species of Mucorales (Mucoromycota) from India. Sydowia, 77, pp. 17-37. (IF: 2.0)
Patil, P.B., Vaidya, S., Maurya, S. and Yadav, L.S., 2024. Coltricia raigadensis (Hymenochaetaceae, Basidiomycota), a new species from India. Mycoscience, 65(3), pp.105-110. (IF: 1.4)
Maurya, S. and Choudhary, R.K., 2022, June. Species complexes in Capparis (Capparaceae) resolved with plastidial markers. In Annales Botanici Fennici (Vol. 59, No. 1, pp. 159-173). Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board. (IF: 0.6). https://doi.org/10.5735/085.059.0124
Patil, P.B., Vaidya, S., Maurya, S. and Patil, N.P., 2022. Micropsalliota pileocystidiata (Agaricaceae), a new species from Maharashtra, India. Mycoscience, p.MYC581. (IF: 1.4). https://doi.org/10.47371/mycosci.2022.07.001
Maurya, S. and Choudhary, R.K., 2021. Bringing Capparis zeylanica (Capparaceae) out of chaos: nomenclatural updates and amended description. Phytotaxa, 528(4), pp.263-268. (IF: 1.17). https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.52 8.4.6
Maurya, S., Datar, M.N. and Choudhary, R.K., 2021. Lectotypification of four names in the genus Capparis (Capparaceae). Phytotaxa, 500(2), pp.125-132. (IF: 1.17). https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.500.2.5
Maurya, S., Bokil, S.A., Darshetkar, A.M., Datar, M.N. and Choudhary, R.K., 2020. Second-step lectotypification of the name Wormia mansonii, the basionym of Dillenia mansonii (Dilleniaceae). Phytotaxa, 432(2), pp.221-222. (IF: 1.17). https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.432.2.11
Bokil, S.A., Darshetkar, A.M., Maurya, S., Choudhary, R.K. and Datar, M.N., 2019. Lectotypification of two names of Smithsonia Saldanha (Orchidaceae). Phytotaxa, 427(1), pp.80-84. (IF: 1.17). https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.427.1.10
Jagtap, A., Maurya, S., Jadhav, P., Dighe, B., Kashikar, A., Punekar, S., Sardesai, M., Karmalkar, N. and Bhargava, S., 2018. Phylogenetic and population studies of geophytic Euphorbia species (subgenus Euphorbia) from some deciduous forests and hill top plateaus in India Webbia, 73(2), pp.269-279. https://doi.org/10.1080/00837792.2018.1476207

Google Scholar / Social Media

Name : Dr. Priyanka Joshi

Designation : ANRF- National Post Doctoral Fellow

Job Description :

I am currently working as a ANRF-National Post Doctoral Fellow under the mentorship of Dr. Karthick Balasubramanian at the Diatom Diversity and Distribution laboratory, ARI, Pune. I was awarded my PhD in Geology in 2022 from BSIP, Lucknow and CAS, Department of Geology, BHU, Varanasi.

Contact Details :

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Priyanka-Joshi-2?ev=hdr_xprf

Educational Qualification

B.Sc and M.Sc in Geology from Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand.

Research Interests

Palaeoclimatic reconstruction and ecological impacts of climate variability, with a focus on glacial lakes and diatom records in high-altitude regions.

My research investigates glacial lakes in the Trans-Himalayan region, with particular attention to high-altitude passes, to contribute to palaeoclimatic research. I use diatom records to explore past climate variability and its ecological effects.

Publications / Patents / Varieties

List of Publications:

Priyanka Joshi, Binita Phartiyal,Mallickarjun Joshi, Shailesh Agrawal, Pankaj Kumar and Rajveer Sharma. Reconstruction of landscape and climate of the largest drainage basin in the Ladakh Range, NW Trans Himalaya during the last 7000 years. Catena, 223, p.106907. (6
Priyanka Joshi, Binita Phartiyal, and Mallickarjun Joshi. “Hydro-climatic variability during the last five thousand years and its impact on human colonization and cultural transition in Ladakh sector, India.” Quaternary International 599 (2021): 45-54.(2.2)
Binita Phartiyal, Randheer Singh, Priyanka Joshi, and Debarati Nag. “Late-Holocene climatic record from a glacial lake in Ladakh range, Trans-Himalaya, India.” The Holocene 30, no. 7 (2020): 1029-1042. (3.0)
Debarati Nag, Binita Phartiyal, Pankaj Kumar, Priyanka Joshi, and Randheer Singh. “Geomorphological and sedimentological evidences of palaeo-outburst flood events from TanglangLa-Gya catchment of River Indus, Ladakh, India.” Physical Geography (2022): 1-23.(2.1)

Welcome To Biodiversity and Palaeobiology Group

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Name : Dr. Sanjay K Singh

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RESEARCH PAPERS: 99 (NINETY NINE)

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Name : Dr. Karthick Balasubramanian

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Name : Dr. Rajesh Kumar K. C

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Name : Dr. Paras Nath Singh

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Name : Dr. Mandar Datar

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Name : Dr. Nischitha R

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Name : Dr. Shiwali Rana

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