Research
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Title : | Evaluation of ecologically significant grasses of arid environment of Rajasthan under independent and interactive heatwave and ozone exposure: Identifying conservation strategy under climate change scenario |
Area of research : | Agricultural Sciences |
Focus area : | Plant Ecology, Climate Change Biology |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Nivedita Chaudhary, Central University Of Rajasthan, Ajmer, Rajasthan |
Timeline Start Year : | 2023 |
Timeline End Year : | 2026 |
Contact info : | nivedita[at]curaj[dot]ac[dot]in |
Details
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Executive Summary : | Primary producer grasses play a crucial role in the arid environment and grass ecosystems, with many having bioactive and bio-refinery potential. Arid Rajasthan has significant grasslands in India, with geographical and climatic significance in mitigating desertification. However, the combination of heatwaves and O₃ is the least studied factor affecting grasses. Climate change, urbanization, and industrialization are increasing heatwaves and high O₃ episodes, leading to decreased grass cover in Rajasthan. O₃ and heatwaves affect the ecophysiological and biophysical functions of grasses, but their quantification and combined biochemical mechanisms are not well known. Identifying significant grasses in heatwave-O₃-affected areas of Rajasthan will provide a vast scope to screen dominant, sensitive, and tolerant grasses under O₃ and heatwave exposure. This study aims to understand the ecophysiological and biophysical changes in selected grass species under O₃ and heatwave exposure. Combining grass species conservation and the use of dominant-tolerant grass biomass for economic gains through bioprospecting, such as bio-refinery products and co-products, is interesting. The project proposal aims to identify O₃ and heatwave tolerant dominant, sensitive, and tolerant grasses in Rajasthan's native arid habitat for biorefinery potential and understand their ecophysiological and biophysical responses under varying climatic combinations. |
Co-PI: | Dr. Shailesh Kumar Patidar, Central University Of Rajasthan, Ajmer, Rajasthan-305817 |
Total Budget (INR): | 30,79,323 |
Organizations involved
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Implementing Agency : | Central University Of Rajasthan, Ajmer, Rajasthan |
Funding Agency : | Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)/Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) |
Source : | Anusandhan National Research Foundation/Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), DST 2023-24 |