Publications
Lichen allelopathy: a new hope for limiting chemical herbicide and pesticide use
Research Paper
| June 11, 2021
Agriculture development remains the most significant and integral part of the economic growth of any country with pests, such as plant pathogens, weeds, insects, nematodes and animal, imposing a major threat to the overall productivity. Approximately 25% of the total crop production worldwide is damaged due to these weeds, animal and microbial pest attacks and thus application of agrochemicals to enhance crop productivity has become an integral part of agriculture practices.
Lichen allelopathy: a new hope for limiting chemical herbicide and pesticide use
Research Paper
| June 11, 2021
Agriculture development remains the most significant and integral part of the economic growth of any country with pests, such as plant pathogens, weeds, insects, nematodes and animal, imposing a major threat to the overall productivity. Approximately 25% of the total crop production worldwide is damaged due to these weeds, animal and microbial pest attacks and thus application of agrochemicals to enhance crop productivity has become an integral part of agriculture practices.
Just Transition, sectoral planning based on demand profiles – TERI's suggestions for draft National Electricity Policy 2021
Article
| June 9, 2021
TERI's presentation and detailed comments on India's draft electricity policy. It also iterated that locking of investment in new coal capacity should be last resort.
Metabolite Profiling of the Indian Food Spice Lichen, Pseudevernia furfuracea Combined with Optimised Extraction Methodology to obtain Bioactive Phenolic Compounds
Research Paper
| June 7, 2021
Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf (Parmeliaceae) is a well-known epiphytic lichen commonly used in Indian spice mixtures and food preparations such as curries. This study is an attempt to find the best extraction methodology with respect to extractive yield, total polyphenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content and antioxidant activities of lichen P. furfuracea.
Role of fungi in neurodegenerative diseases
Research Paper
| June 7, 2021
Thousands of patients with dreadful diseases are treated every year with medicines obtained by fungi. In fact, the medicinal value of fungal metabolites has been known for centuries, however, there has been an unprecedented change in the pattern and the prevalence of mycotic infections in humans due to the opportunistic and pathogenic fungi during the last 15-20 years.
Fungi as a potential source of pigments: Harnessing filamentous fungi
Research Paper
| June 7, 2021
The growing concern over the harmful effects of synthetic colorants on both the consumer and the environment has raised a strong interest in natural coloring alternatives. As a result the worldwide demand for colorants of natural origin is rapidly increasing in the food, cosmetic and textile sectors. Natural colorants have the capacity to be used for a variety of industrial applications, for instance, as dyes for textile and non-textile substrates such as leather, paper, within paints and coatings, in cosmetics, and in food additives.
Endolichenic fungi: a hidden source of bioactive metabolites
Research Paper
| June 7, 2021
Lichens are synergetic organisms composed of a mycobiont in relationship with one or more photosynthetic partners (photobiont). These organisms grow on various substrates and sometimes under extreme ecological environments. A different group of non-obligate micro-fungi also resides inside the internal tissues of the lichen thalli without causing any harm to them. These microfungi are called as endolichenic fungi (ELF).
Endophytic Fungi - An Untapped Source of Potential Antioxidants
Research Paper
| June 4, 2021
Antioxidants are the substances that interact inside and outside of a biological system against the damaging effects of highly reactive free radicals produced during metabolism. Among various natural alternative sources of bioactive metabolites, endophytic fungi ave emerged as a significant reservoir of potent antioxidant compounds. These scantly explored micro-organisms are prolific producers of novel compounds and have the capability to produce metabolites that are exclusively isolated from Plantae.
Development of thematic working groups, low-carbon transition and climate finance: A glimpse into the first high-level meeting
Article
| June 3, 2021
The first high-level meeting of India-EU Track II dialogue saw discussions around possible areas of collaboration towards a low-carbon transition and a way to mobilise climate finance for enabling this transition across energy, industry and transport sectors.
We never imagined that coal will disappear one day!
Article
| May 24, 2021
The article explores the various dimensions that inform a just transition and the complexities involved in moving away from coal through a case study of Betul which has seen a spate of coal mine closures, due to mineral exhaustion