Ms. Rekha. K

Ms. Rekha. K

Junior Research Fellow
Area: Plant microbe interaction

Affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering, Kattankulathur Campus, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (formerly known as SRM University)

Education

Other Details:

Research Interests:

It is well known that some plants adapt and survive well in the stressed environments by secretion of phytochemicals through roots called root exudates. Designing methods to utilize root exudates will be a valuable biological strategy for a sustainable crop production in the current scenario where chemicals fertilizers are creating serious damage to the soil microbiota and health hazards to the world population. Use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is one such method to enhance growth and yield of crop plants with poor root exudation capacity. Our study aims to provide a feasible means of enhancing root exudation of important phytochemicals without the need of complex plant genetic engineering which is facing serious ethical issues on field trials for transgenic.

Selected Publications:

• Durgesh Thingujam, Rekha K, Megala J and Usha B. 2015. Antioxidant and anticancer properties of Catharanthus pusillus. I J Advanced Chemical Science Appli. 3(1): 2347.
• Kandaswamy Rekha, Baburaj Baskar, Santhanam Srinath and Balasundaram Usha. 2018. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria Bacillus subtilis RR4 isolated from rice rhizosphere induces malic acid biosynthesis in rice roots. C. J. Microbiol. 64(1): 20-27.

Work in Progress:

• Analysis of mechanisms underlying PGPR induced root exudation in rice plants.

Achievements and Awards:

• Received 1st prize for oral presentation in “National Conference on Recent Trends in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology”, 2017, held at SRMIST.
• Qualified GATE 2012 with 91 percentile.
• University 2nd rank holder in Post-graduation.
• University 9th rank holder in Under-graduation.
• Best Outgoing Student and Topper in Matriculation and Higher Secondary Education.