Chetan Pandey Research Portfolio
Chetan Pandey
PhD Student
Department of Plant Sciences
Schornack Group
Email: cp850@cam.ac.uk
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Marchantia paleacea WT thallus showing infection by the ARI-td zoospores of pathogenic oomycete Phytophthora palmivora. Images by Chetan Pandey.
Research
My project explores how Marchantia polymorpha — a non-vascular bryophyte liverwort — interacts with invading pathogens at the molecular level. I investigate how specific transcription factors in the liverwort coordinate immune signalling and microbial colonization to uncover molecular principles that shaped plant–microbe interactions.
By examining the roles of these transcription factors in not only pathogen defense but also in key developmental processes such as reproduction, my work seeks to reveal how plants balance growth and microbial interactions. Understanding these conserved regulatory mechanisms provides insights into the evolutionary roots of plant resilience and informs strategies to enhance disease resistance in crop plants.
Transverse section of a Marchantia paleacea midrib colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi showing bright red pigmentation.
'The Marchantia Bed'— Painting by Chetan Pandey (Acrylics on Canvas).