Plant & Insect Biology Lab

Research

Plant Defense

The defensin genes and their peptides were identified from Capsicum annuum, their structures were studied and analyzed. The effect of the defensin was observed on the larval and pupal stages of insects to identify potency of defensin as anti-insect agent. The insect assay was followed by enzyme analysis of treated insects for detail understanding of effect.

Novel insights into plant defensin ingestion induced metabolic responses in the polyphagous insect pest Helicoverpa armigera

Javed A. Mulla & Vaijayanti A. Tamhane Scientific Reports volume 13,
Article number: 3151 (2023)

Molecular characterization of diverse defensins (γ-thionins) from Capsicum annuum flowers and their effects on the insect pest Helicoverpa armigera

Javed A Mulla, Anuja N Kibe, Dhanashree D Deore, Abhilash R Jadhav, Vaijayanti A Tamhane 2021, Plant Gene, 26, 100284.

In vitro and in silico studies on membrane interactions of diverse Capsicum annuum flower γ‐thionin peptides

Siddhanta Nikte, Apurva Gahankari, Javed Mulla, Durba Sengupta, Manali Joshi, Vaijayanti Tamhane 2020, Proteins: Structure, Function, and Bioinformatics, 88, 227-236.

Medicinal Plant Biotechnology

A number of cytochrome P450 genes (OinCyps) were identified from the transcriptome of medicinally important tree Oroxylum indicum which will help in development of specialized metabolite biosynthesis platforms.

Hairy roots of ‘dashmula’plant Uraria picta as a promising alternative to its medicinally valued true roots-functional and metabolomic analysis

Supriya K Acharya, Gokul V Hedda, Anuj J Kankariya, Vaijayanti A Tamhane 2021, Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC), 145, 533-544.

De novo root transcriptome of a medicinally important rare tree Oroxylum indicum for characterization of the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway

Siddhanta Nikte, Apurva Gahankari, Javed Mulla, Durba Sengupta, Manali Joshi, Vaijayanti Tamhane 2020, Proteins: Structure, Function, and Bioinformatics, 88, 227-236.

Plant-Insect Interaction

We explore the biomolecules mediating the arms race between plants and herbivorous pests, with an objective to identify the molecular components for plant defense and insect adaptations

Molecular Farming

Molecular farming involves the use of genetically engineered plants to obtain high-value therapeutic proteins or compounds. We make use of model plant systems and plant cell culture to recombinantly express proteins and also metabolites of interest.

Plant Nano Biotechnology

Assessment of recombinant glutathione-S-transferase (HaGST-8) silica nano-conjugates for effective removal of pesticides

Gandhali Bapat, Javed Mulla, Chaitali Labade, Onkar Ghuge, Vaijayanti Tamhane, Smita Zinjarde 2022, Environmental Research, 204, 112052

Evaluation of silica nanoparticle mediated delivery of protease inhibitor in tomato plants and its effect on insect pest Helicoverpa armigera

Gandhali Bapat, Smita Zinjarde, Vaijayanti Tamhane 2020,
Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 193, 111079.

Insect Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

Insect enzymes involved in pesticide detoxification and adaptation to toxins have been identified and we are using them for developing technologies for reducing pesticide loads from drinking water and food crops. Our laboratory is engaged in bioprospecting of plant and insect enzymes for developing sustainable alternatives for environment and health. Enzyme glutathione-s-transferase from H. armigera (HaGST-8) fed with pesticide mixture was discovered and was found to be having organophosphates and pyrithroid pesticide removal abilities.

Plant Ecology and Diversity

We are studying the woody plants diversity of Northern Western Ghats. We have covered multiple sites and collected tremendous amounts of data regarding woody plants. The aim is to study the forest and the species distribution in the overall forest. The conserved and destroyed forest and the difference of speciation in it.

Plant Defense

The defensin genes and their peptides were identified from Capsicum annuum, their structures were studied and analyzed. The effect of the defensin was observed on the larval and pupal stages of insects to identify potency of defensin as anti-insect agent. The insect assay was followed by enzyme analysis of treated insects for detail understanding of effect.

Novel insights into plant defensin ingestion induced metabolic responses in the polyphagous insect pest Helicoverpa armigera 

Javed A. Mulla & Vaijayanti A. Tamhane

Scientific Reports

volume 13, Article number: 3151 (2023)

Siddhanta Nikte, Apurva Gahankari, Javed Mulla, Durba Sengupta, Manali Joshi, Vaijayanti Tamhane
2020, Proteins: Structure, Function, and Bioinformatics, 88, 227-236.
doi.org/10.1002/prot.25791

Medicinal Plant Biotechnology

A number of cytochrome P450 genes (OinCyps) were identified from the transcriptome of medicinally important tree Oroxylum indicum which will help in development of specialized metabolite biosynthesis platforms.

Supriya K Acharya, Gokul V Hedda, Anuj J Kankariya, Vaijayanti A Tamhane
2021, Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC), 145, 533-544.
doi.org/10.1007/s11240-021-02024-3

Aaditi B Deshmukh, Sagar S Datir, Yogesh Bhonde, Natasha Kelkar, Pawan Samdani, Vaijayanti A Tamhane
2018, Phytochemistry, 156, 201-213.
doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2018.09.013

  • Plant Insect Interaction
  • Molecular Farming
  • Plant Nano Biotechnology

Gandhali Bapat, Javed Mulla, Chaitali Labade, Onkar Ghuge, Vaijayanti Tamhane, Smita Zinjarde
2022, Environmental Research, 204, 112052
doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.112052

Neha A Shintre, Vaijayanti A Tamhane, Ulfat I Baig, Anagha S Pund, Rajashree B Patwardhan, Neelima M Deshpande
2020, Current Microbiology, 77, 3555-3564.
doi.org/10.1007/s00284-020-02174-1

Insect Mol Biochemistry

Our laboratory is engaged in bioprospecting of plant and insect enzymes for developing sustainable alternatives for environment and health. Enzyme glutathione-s-transferase from H. armigera (HaGST-8) fed with pesticide mixture was discovered and was found to be having organophosphates and pyrithroid pesticide removal abilities.

  • Ecology and Diversity

One of our projects is studying the diversity of Northern Western Ghats. We have covered multiple sites and collected tremendous amounts of data regarding woody plants. The aim is to study the forest and the species distribution in the overall forest. The conserved and destroyed forest and the difference of speciation in it.