Puja Ohri

• PhD
• Professor at Guru Nanak Dev University

Microplastics are a sort of developing contaminant that are present in large quantities in soil and are still moving and changing. The possible dangers that microplastics (MPs) entail to the ecological system and soil welfare have recently drawn a lot of attention. The main ways that MPs got into soil were through organic fertilizer and mulch break...

Due to their ubiquity, resistance and protracted persistence in the ecosystem, microplastic pollution has emerged as a major environmental hazard on the global scale. For the time being, the majority of investigation has been concentrated on freshwater and marine environments, but there hasn’t been much investigation on terrestrial ecosystems, espe...

When plastic waste is dumped in the water, it eventually breaks down into small pieces. These plastic pieces, which fall into the category of microplastics (MPs), are typically 0.05–5 mm in size, and because of their small size, aquatic species regularly utilize them. As a result, extensive MPs infiltration poses a threat to already-existing life f...

Various abiotic and biotic stressors, including water extremes, temperature fluctuations, salinity, and heavy metals, pathogens and diseases significantly reduce global crop yields. Rapid plant responses are essential for adapting and minimizing metabolic losses. In this context, plant transporters (PTs) are essential for modulating stress response...

Biotic stress is a major constraint affecting crops and their yield globally. Meloidogyne incognita, the root-knot nematode (RKN), is a harmful plant-parasitic nematode that is a major concern worldwide because of its impact on crop yield and quality. Additionally, the use of chemical nematicides has negative effects on beneficial soil microbes and...

Vegetables are an irreplaceable part of human diet as they bestow human body with vitamins, proteins, vital micro- and macronutrients, etc. They are constantly encountered with various phytopathogens like bacteria, fungi, viruses, nematodes and herbivores and environmental stressors like temperature, drought and salinity that have an adverse impact...

Different secondary metabolites (SMs) with novel biological properties, such as antifungal, antibacterial, antiplasmodium, cytotoxic, aggregation, antiplatelet, immunostimulant, enzyme-inhibiting, algicide, antitumor, anticancer, antiviral, and phytotoxic activities, are produced by microorganisms, algae, lichens, and plants. Secondary metabolites...

Root Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is a major agricultural pest that significantly reduces crop yield. This study investigates the nematicidal potential of Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain 11477 against M. incognita to regulate its pathogenicity in Solanum lycopersicum. Tomato seeds were treated with bacterial cells and supernatant, grown un...

Natural enzymes called lipoxygenases (LOXs) are present in a vast array of animal and plant species. LOXs can be redox enzymes that contain manganese, non-heme iron, or non-sulfur iron dioxygenases. One of the key elements impacting the viability and durability of crop seeds is the deoxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) possessing a mi...

Silicon (Si) is an element that has been long used in the form of fertilizer to give a variety of benefits to plants. In plants, it improves germination, enhances root elongation, photosynthetic pigments, and leaf area index thereby improving the relative growth and yield along with the physiological and metabolic processes. The chemical compositio...

Metalloid stress, arising from the exposure of plants to elements such as arsenic, selenium, and antimony, poses a significant threat to global agriculture and ecosystem health. Comprehending the molecular processes underlying plant responses to metalloid stress is essential for developing strategies to enhance plant tolerance and mitigate environm...

Siderophores are specialized molecules that are produced by microorganisms and plants to acquire essential transition metal ions from their surroundings, with a primary focus on iron. However, recent research suggests that siderophores may also interact with other metal and metalloid ions, which has sparked growing interest in their potential for e...

Modernization causes regular and noticeable changes in the environmental components, which consequently influence the productivity of agriculture globally. Environmental components include biotic and abiotic factors. Biotic factors like pests, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and nematodes degrade agriculture output and pose a potential risk to the growth...

Plants have to face several pathogenic agents that pose a threat to growth and development. Their immune response strategy terminates progression of pathogenic microbial agents. Failure in the plant immune system permits entrance of pathogens, whosr reproduction harnesses primary production. Plants recognise pathogens through membrane receptors tha...

Cadmium (Cd) is an unnecessary trace element in plants that is also present in almost all parts of the ecosystem. The environment is exposed to cadmium through both anthropogenic and geogenic sources. Industrial processes, such as iron and steel plants, mining, electroplating, and battery manufacturing, use Cd and frequently discharge it into the e...

Plants are exposed to a plethora of disease-causing agents like bacteria, fungi, viruses, and nematodes in their natural habitat. To counteract the harmful effects of these phytopathogens, plants have developed certain mechanisms where they stimulate or suppress a diverse array of genes. Among these, are the plant microRNAs (miRNAs), which are smal...

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Abiotic stresses including heavy metal toxicity, drought, salt and temperature extremes disrupt the plant growth and development and lowers crop output. Presence of environmental pollutants further causes plants suffering and restrict their ability to thrive. Overuse of chemical fertilizers to reduce the negative impact of these stresses is deterio...

Changing climatic conditions generate a serious menace to the planet’s sustainability and life on it. Both Abiotic and biotic factors contribute to altered environmental conditions that further affect food security. Microbial inhabitants like pests, insects, and other transmitters of soil are disturbed by changing environmental conditions and later...

Since the advent of industrialization, there has been a significant increase in the accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in the soil, which further pose a major threat to plant growth and productivity. To address this issue and meet the global demand for food and energy, it is crucial to develop strategies that mitigate the toxicity induced by increa...

In constantly changing environmental conditions, plants are exposed to a lot of biotic as well as abiotic stresses that have an adverse effect on their growth and production. Biotic stressors that include pests and pathogens cause several diseases in plants, deteriorate their health, and lower their produce. In order to have a grip on these stresse...

Molecular and Physiological Insights into Plant Stress Tolerance and Applications in Agriculture Part 2 is an edited volume that presents research on plant stress responses at both molecular and physiological levels. This volume builds on the previous volume to provide additional knowledge in studies on the subject. Key Features - Explains aspects...

Molecular and Physiological Insights into Plant Stress Tolerance and Applications in Agriculture Part 2 is an edited volume that presents research on plant stress responses at both molecular and physiological levels. This volume builds on the previous volume to provide additional knowledge in studies on the subject. Key Features - Explains aspects...

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are distributed worldwide and cause significant losses in agricultural fields. For the sustainable productivity of crops, the management of PPNs is necessary. Various practices, including chemical nematicides, have effectively reduced PPN outbreaks. Various industries manufacture chemical nematicides available in th...

Meloidogyne incognita is a potentially harmful member of the root knot nematodes family that is capable of impairing plant growth and lowering crop production. They harm their host plants by restricting nutrition, changing cell physiology, dampening the defense system, causing mechanical damage, structural changes and finally leading to plant death...

The ecosystem of the earth is fascinating and intricate. The interactions that occur in the soil affect its characteristics as a substrate for development and activity of soil microorganisms and plants. The majority of terrestrial plants have a symbiotic, mutually beneficial interaction with the soil fungi known as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF...

A survey was undertaken to isolate entomopathogenic nematodes from Amritsar district of Punjab, India. Out of 20 soil samples collected, two were found positive for the presence of nematodes. 18S and ITS rDNA gene sequencing revealed their identity as Metarhabditis amsactae. To assess its biocontrol potential, Galleria mellonella larvae were treate...

Pesticides are chemicals that are required to be implemented in agricultural setups in order to maintain crop production and eliminate the insect pests which are adversely impacting crop yields. These chemical toxicants are generally classified as insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, bactericides, etc. The uncontrolled and unchecked applications o...

To meet the demand of the increasing human population, pesticidal applications become an unavoidable part of agricultural practices. Pesticides contribute to the agricultural sector by increasing food production and controlling crop-damaging pests. In contrast, these pesticides contaminate the soil, air, and water ecosystem and cause toxic effects...

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been identified as the third endogenous gas transmitter after CO (carbon monoxide) and NO (nitric oxide). It is a small, reactive signaling component that is synthesized in chloroplasts with the assistance of the enzyme sulfite reductase, a major enzyme of the assimilatory sulfate reduction pathway. Additionally, the synt...

Bacterial resistance toward available therapeutic options becomes a nightmare for the healthcare system causing significant mortality as well as prolonged hospitalization thus needing urgent attention of research groups working on...

Overuse of water has led to degradation and scarcity of water resources. This has paved path for adaption of sustainable measures to save water by reusing and recycling it. Wastewater treatment using these potent microbes has now become a growing trend due to its economic and environment benefits. Bacterial and microalga mediated wastewater (WW) tr...

Farming, food processing, animal husbandry and other agro-based activities contribute to global environmental degradation by producing millions of tons of organic and inorganic solid waste. In terms of sustainable agriculture, agricultural waste management and conversion into useful products are essential. In addition, plants are facing various kin...

In modern agricultural environment, plants are facing a number of challenges including various kind of environmental stress and pathogen attacks. These plant pathogens include fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, nematodes and arthropods. Pathogens in the soil have a detrimental impact on the production, yield and quality of numerous crops across the world....

Agricultural land per unit area is needed to provide the best food quantity in order to fulfill the world's increasing food demand. It is well acknowledged that one of the most significant variables influencing agricultural output and quality is plant nutrition. Chemical fertilizers provide most of the minerals to the plants in available form and i...

Soil and water are two important basic ecosystems for the survival of different organisms. The excessive microplastic pollutants in soil have been directly discharged into the terrestrial ecosystems. Microplastic pollutants (MPs) constitute a ubiquitous global menace due to their durability, flexibility, and tough nature. MPs posed threat to the su...

In plants, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is mainly considered as a gaseous transmitter or signaling molecule that has long been recognized as an essential component of numerous plant cellular and physiological processes. Several subcellular compartments in plants use both enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms to generate H2S. Under normal and stress full...

Root-Knot nematodes (RKNs) are one of the major plant pathogens that can substantially reduce plant growth and development. Management of RKNs is one of the major concerns as chemical pesticides pose a potential risk to humans and other life forms and also have toxic effects to environment. There is a need to find out some alternative eco-friendly...

Worldwide, biotic stress severely degrades agricultural output and increases the risk of starvation. Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) are one of the important endoparasites that adversely affect the growth and development in plants, thus affecting their productivity. Contrarily, humans employ a number of unfriendly techniques, such as ch...

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants are facing different kinds of biotic stress, and root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) are among the dreadful pathogens which not only affect the growth of plants but also have a negative impact on the total yield. Nematode population management is a major issue since the chemicals used as nematicides have...

Under natural conditions, various abiotic and biotic constrains act on the plants. Root-knot nematodes, particularly Meloidogyne incognita serve as one of the chief biotic constrains in the agriculture sector, ultimately leading to immense economic losses globally. Nowadays, plant signaling molecules such as gasotransmitters and phytohormones have...

Plants are routinely subjected to a variety of abiotic stressors that limit their growth and output. Adaptation to such adversity requires the activation of stress-specific signaling pathways. The adaptive response relies heavily on cellular redox homeostasis which is determined by a complex interaction of pathways that generate and remove reactive...

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are the common pests of medicinal and aromatic plants. For more than fifty years, chemical nematicides have been the dominant method of nematode management. However, to satisfy ecofriendly demands, it became necessary to test the field application potential of bio-organic products like oilseed cakes, in comparison t...

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR-Cas9), a genome editing tool, has gained a tremendous position due to its therapeutic efficacy, ability to counteract abiotic/biotic stresses in plants, environmental remediation and sustainable agriculture with the aim of food security. This is mainly due to their potential of p...

In modern era, various inorganic fertilizers and pesticides are used as plant growth supplements in a variety of crop in order to gain maximum output and also reported as hazardous to mankind as well as environment. In addition, some of the plants died in initial phase of the growth after germination due to poor nutrient content of the soil or expo...

Plant-parasitic nematodes are devastating phytopathogens that cause substantial economic losses in the agricultural sector. There are numerous management measures available to reduce the threat posed by plant-parasitic nematodes. One of the most effective management strategies is the use of synthetic chemical nematicides. However, many of these che...

An essential macronutrient for plants, calcium (Ca2+) is needed for a variety of functions both under normal and stressful situations. It displays characteristics of a structural component and acts as a secondary messenger during several physiological processes. It behaves as a signaling molecule while under stress. It manifests a variety of sympto...

The abrupt release of heavy metals (HM) within environment by anthropogenic sources affect the living populations. Plants face many intricacies to survive under such conditions, therefore remediation of HM-contaminated soils is need of the hour. However, chemical processes are very costly and non-sustainable, henceforth HM-microbe associations play...

Nitric oxide (NO) is a diatomic gaseous molecule, which plays different roles in different strata of organisms. Discovered as a neurotransmitter in animals, NO has now gained a significant place in plant signaling cascade. NO regulates plant growth and several developmental processes including germination, root formation, stomatal movement, maturat...

The agricultural sector is a foremost contributing factor in supplying food at the global scale. There are plethora of biotic as well as abiotic stressors that act as major constraints for the agricultural sector in terms of global food demand, quality, and security. Stresses affect rhizosphere and their communities, root growth, plant health, and...

The current study assessed the nematicidal and plant growth promoting potential of metabolites produced by Streptomyces hydrogenans strain DH-16 on morphological and physiological activities in 60 days old Solanum lycopersicum plants grown under Meloidogyne incognita stress. M. incognita infestation altered the levels of various photosynthetic pigm...

The extent of crop damage due to plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) depends on different factors, and accounts approximately to 15% of agricultural annual losses. Due to the limits of biocidal molecules and phase-out of chemical-based nematicides from the market, owing to huge environmental hazards, chemical-free alternatives have been promoted. Curre...

Cytokinins are diversified signaling molecules present in all plant tissues, higher concentrations being found in continuous growth areas such as meristematic regions, roots, young leaves, developing fruits and seeds. These phytohormones mediate a wide array of physiological processes and environmental cues throughout the life of a plant by acting...

Nanotechnology in agriculture is emerging at an escalating rate, owing to its excellent properties in plant growth and development. In the present era where climate change is most commonly observed, the global patterns of agriculture are observing unprecedented challenges. For achieving food quality and yields, nano-engineering is a novel tool that...

Cadmium (Cd) is predominantly observed within the soil to cause deterioration of plant and microbial activities within rhizosphere. Cd-toxicity leads to major agricultural constraints due to its accumulation within plants and therefore entry within food chain. Plants face numerous repercussions like stunted growth, chlorosis, necrosis, inhibition o...

Increasing inorganic fertilizer and pesticide use has been linked to increased health risks for humans and cattle, as well as substantial water and soil contamination. In recent years, vermicomposting has shown to be a viable alternative to chemical pesticides. Vermicompost and vermicompost products such as extract and leachate assist plants in a n...

The plant system has been endowed with highly extensive defence system in order to protect them under severe environmental conditions. In response to adversities, plants have well developed and complexed metabolic network that comprises stress-responsive genes and metabolites for stress acclimation. Sugars are the part of many metabolic processes s...

In addition to chemical pesticides and fertilizers, the use of vermicompost can help in the management of root-knot nematodes (RKN) while also augmenting plant growth. The present study is carried out to determine the role of neem-based vermicompost on plant growth during stress produced by Meloidogyne incognita. Vermicompost (Vcom) and soil were m...

Roots of Withania somnifera, an important medicinal herb, are prone to the infection of Meloidogyne incognita (a root parasitic nematode). The infection lowers the quality and quantity of plant material and poses a challenge in crop cultivation and obtaining desirable yield. In the present study, in vitro inhibitory activity of vermicompost leachat...

PurposeWithania somnifera is a widely used herb due to its multi-health benefits. There is a growing interest to improve the growth and chemical profile of this plant because a large gap exists in the supply and demand of the quality raw material. The present study focused on using organic amendments to enhance the health and quality of this herb.M...

Selenium (Se) is the critical element that is required by various organisms for biological functions. There are numerous beneficial aspects of Se in plants such as reduced cell viability, regulation of membrane structures, chloroplast and plastid membrane stability, activation of membranous enzyme and transport of different solutes and metabolites...

Cadmium (Cd) is considered to be one of the most toxic pollutants persistent in soil for thousands of years and is ranked on seventh position among all environmental pollutants. The higher concentration of Cd in plants inhibits their growth and metabolism and further enters the food chain. Cd toxicity initiates redox actions in plants by inducing o...

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a group of steroidal phytohormone that plays an essential role in regulating various chemical and physiological processes involved in plant growth and development. Furthermore, physiological and molecular studies of BRs have revealed their potential of enhancing yield and productivity of crops by regulating variety of gen...

Vermicomposting is a process that includes an enzymatic degradation of organic waste when it passes through worms’ gut and transforms it into valuable products such as worm meal, vermicompost tea, worm casting etc. Vermicompost acts as an organic fertilizer and biocontrol agent conquering many plant diseases caused by various pests including soil b...

Various human activities like over-utilization of natural resources, mining, deforestation, excessive use of fertilizers and effluents discharged from industries have led to great deterioration of the ecosystems. This degradation has resulted in the reduced productivity of the ecosystems. Various methods have been applied for the restoration of the...

Intracellular potassium (K⁺) homeostasis is an essential requirement for the optimum processing of plant metabolism and overall functioning of plants. It is regulated by K⁺ ion uptake, efflux, and intracellular and long-distance translocation, which is arbitrated by a great amount of K⁺-selective and nonselective channels and transporters placed at...

Potassium being the essential macronutrient is prerequisite in all the vital physiological and biochemical processes in plants. Metabolic machinery of plants mainly depends on the regulation of K⁺ ion concentration which invariably affects the yield and quality of food crops. Intracellular K⁺ concentration, uptake, efflux and transportation are typ...

Nitric oxide (NO) is a versatile signaling molecule that plays an important role in plant physiology including root organogenesis, hypocotyl growth, stomatal movement, photosynthesis, oxidative defense, osmolyte accumulation, gene expression as well as their response to environmental stresses. Among the abiotic stresses, heavy metal toxicity which...

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are steroidal phytohormones that play a multitasking role during the growth and development period as well as stress responses. Plant mutants in BR production or defective signaling result in various physiological as well as phenotypical abnormalities. Presently, various studies have highlighted stress tolerance induction by...

Communication among different species across kingdoms occurs through a chain of regulatory molecules that are transferred around cellular boundaries. These molecules are also crucial for defense, virulence and pathogenesis. In the past, the transport of proteins in long distance communication was observed, but in the present era, the discovery of e...

Various kinds of biotic and abiotic environmental stresses impose threat on growth and yield of crops. Amongst biotic stresses, Root knot nematode (RKN), especially Meloidogyne incognita act as one of the main constraints with wide range of hosts, that ultimately results in huge global losses in terms of yield and productivity. Nowadays, different...

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is predominantly considered as a gaseous transmitter or signaling molecule in plants. It has been known as a crucial player during various plant cellular and physiological processes and has been gaining unprecedented attention from researchers since decades. They regulate growth and plethora of plant developmental processes s...

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is predominantly considered as a gaseous transmitter or signaling molecule in plants. It has been known as a crucial player during various plant cellular and physiological processes and has been gaining unprecedented attention from researchers since decades. They regulate growth and plethora of plant developmental processes s...

Nanotechnology is an avant-garde field of scientific research that revolutionizes technological advancements in the present world. It is a cutting-edge scientific approach that has undoubtedly a plethora of functions in controlling environmental pollutants for the welfare of the ecosystem. However, their unprecedented utilization and hysterical rel...

Rhizosphere comprises inimitable environs, acting as a battleground for PGPR to form an origin of enriched source of unique functionalities for plants. PGPR are closely bound to roots in order to nurture them and protect them from pathogens specifically Root-knot Nematodes (RKNs) through direct and indirect manner. RKNs are mainly endoparasitic to...

Global developmental strategies and population expansion are continuously showing their odd impacts on the living world, thereby causing stresses of multiple natures. To combat these stresses, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is well-examined signaling molecule that acts as a priming agent and helps in regulating the response of plants to various stressful c...