Research Interests

Unravelling Symbiotic Interactions in Legumes for Sustainable Crop Productivity

My research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of nitrogen acquisition in plants and their symbiotic interactions, with a specific emphasis on legumes and their association with rhizobia for biological nitrogen fixation.

Current Research

Currently, I am a Post-doctoral Research Associate in Dr. Sebastian Schornack's group at the Sainsbury Laboratory (SLCU), Cambridge University, United Kingdom (UK) where I am investigating legume nodule symbiosis. My overall objective is to improve nitrogen fixation and field performance in legumes such as Medicago, soybean, and others, utilizing molecular, genetic, and cell-biological approaches.

Previous Research

During my first postdoctoral research at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico, I focused on studying the nodulation process in common-bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under phosphorus deficiency. By exploring the influence of internal phosphate levels on the establishment of the bean-rhizobia symbiosis, I aimed to develop a comprehensive model for better understanding and managing the nutritional requirements of beans, thereby improving crop productivity.

In my Ph.D. research at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Delhi, India, I concentrated on the root nodule symbiosis in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). I specifically investigated the role of LysM-RLKs in chickpea, which are key receptors involved in perceiving Nod factors (NFs) during the formation of symbiotic interactions with rhizobia. Additionally, I identified MAP kinase as the downstream signalling molecule responsible for transmitting the NF signal from the plasma membrane receptor to the nucleus in chickpea. These findings significantly advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the chickpea-rhizobia symbiosis.

Prior to my Ph.D. research, I worked at Jai Narain Vyas University (JNVU), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India on a project titled "Comparative Proteomic Analysis for Salinity Stress Tolerance in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) R. Br." This project involved studying the phenotypic and biochemical responses of different pearl millet genotypes to salt stress.

Publications

1. Singh, J., & Verma, P. K. (2022). Genome-wide identification, expression, and characterization of CaLysM-RLKs in chickpea root nodule symbiosis. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 202, 104999. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2022.104999
2. Jha, S., Singh, J., Chouhan, C., Singh, O., & Srivastava, R. K. (2022). Evaluation of multiple salinity tolerance indices for screening and comparative biochemical and molecular analysis of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] genotypes. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 41(4), 1820-1834. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-021-10424-0
3. Singh, J., & Verma, P. K. (2023). Role of Nod factor receptors and its allies involved in nitrogen fixation. Planta, 257(3), 54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-023-04090-7.
4. Singh, J., Isidra-Arellano, M.C., & Valdés-López, O. (2023). Harnessing the potential of symbiotic associations of plants in nutrient-deficient soil for sustainable agriculture-Plant and Cell Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcad059
5. Singh, J., & Verma, P. K. (2021). NSP1 allies with GSK3 to inhibit nodule symbiosis. Trends in Plant Science, 26(10), 999-1001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2021.07.001 2.
6. Singh, J., & Valdés-López, O. (2022). A nodule peptide confiscates haem to promote iron uptake in rhizobia. Trends in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2022.11.005
7. Singh, J., & Valdés‐López, O. (2022). Discovering the genetic modules controlling root nodule symbiosis under abiotic stresses: salinity as a case study. New Phytologist, 237(4), 1082-1085. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.18627