Dr. Shekhar Mallick

Senior Principal Scientist

Research Interests

Monitoring and assessment of toxic elements pollution and its mitigation through bioremediation, ii) biofortification of rice with Fe and Zn using microbes and nitrogen and phosphate management

Extensive research over a period of last ten years have resulted in several interesting findings related to the response of rice plant against toxic element arsenic. Regulation of various arsenic transporters (Lsi1, Lsi2, phosphate, silicon) in rice roots were shown to be influenced by γ-aninobutyric acid, glycine, sucrose. It was also demonstrated that differential expression of glutaredoxin (GRX) genes, Lsi1, Lsi2, in rice roots against arsenate (As^V) and arsenite (As^III). Variation in response and detoxification mechanism within different contrasting cultivars of rice genotypes were found to be due to preference of glutathione (GSH) over ascorbate (AsA) inn tolerant cultivar. The methylation of arsenic existing in prokaryotic organisms (Anabena, sp and Chlorella sp) reduces the uptake of arsenic in rice plants along with overexpression of S-adenosyl methyl transferase gene. Apart from, the biochemical study of arsenic interaction with rice plant, extensive monitoring of fluoride (F^–) in soil, water and plants were carried out in F^– contaminated districts of Unnao and Kanpur, which showed that the ground water levels of F^– were higher than the permissible limit of (1.5 µg ml^-1) during pre monsoon season than the monsoon and post monsoon season. It also showed that the F^‑ level in Piper betel (pan leaves ) were higher than the permissible limit.

Dr. Shekhar Mallick

Senior Principal Scientist

Research Summary

Dr. Shekhar Mallick

Senior Principal Scientist

Publications

– Kumari, B., Kriti, K., Sinam, G., Singh, G., Jauhari, N.,Kumar, N., Gautam, A., Mallick, S. (2019) Comparative assessment of PAHs reduction by growing Zea mays L. augmented with microbial consortia andfertilizer: modulation in uptake and antioxidant defense response. Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds. 10.1080/10406638.2019.1694544

– Gautam, A., Kumar, N., Dubey, A.K., Ranjan, R., Sahu, N., Behera, S.K., Shah, K., Tripathi, R.D., Mallick, S. (2019) Sucrose plays key role in amelioration of arsenic induced phytotoxicity through modulating phosphate and silicon transporters, physiological and biochemical responses in C₃ (Oryza sativa L.) and C₄ (Zea mays L.), Environmental and Experimental Botany (2019), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2019.103930

– Dubey, A. K., Kumar, N., Kumar, A., Ansari, Mh. A., Ranjan, R., Gautam, A., Meenakshi, Sahu, N., Pandey, V., Behera, S. K., Mallick, S., Pande, V., Sanyal, I. (2019) Over-expression of CarMT gene modulates the physiological performanceand antioxidant defense system to provide tolerance against drought stressin Arabidopsis thaliana L. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 173:15-27. 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.02.017. 171:54–65

– Kumar, N., Gautam, A., Dubey, A. K., Ranjan, R., Pandey, A., Kumari, B.,Singh, G., Mandotra, S., Chauhan, P. S., Srikrishna, S., Dutta, V.,Mallick, S. (2019) GABA mediated reduction of arsenite toxicity in rice seedling through modulation of fatty acids, stress responsive amino acids and polyamines biosynthesis. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 30;173:15-27.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.02.017

– Singh, G., Kumari, B., Sinam, G., Kriti, Kumar, N., Mallick, S. (2018) Fluoride distribution and contamination in the water, soil and plants continuum and its remedial technologies, an Indian perspective– a review. Environmental Pollution. 239:95-108 doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.04.002

– Gupta S.,Mallick, S. (2018) Modelling the water–plant cuticular polymer matrixmembrane partitioning of diverse chemicals in multipleplant species using the support vector machine-based QSARapproach. SAR And QSAR in Environmental Research, DOI:29:171-186. 10.1080/1062936X.2017.1419985

– Ranjan, R., Kumar, N., Dubey, A. K., Gautam A.,Pandey, S. N., Mallick, S. (2018). Diminution of arsenic accumulation in rice seedlings co-cultured with Anabaena sp.: Modulation in the expression of lower silicon transporters, two nitrogen dependent genes and lowering of antioxidants activity. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 151 :109–117.

– Dubey, A. K., Kumar, N., Ranjan, R., Gautam, A., Pande, V., Sanyal, I.,Mallick, S.(2018) Application of glycine reduces arsenic accumulation and toxicity in Oryza sativa L. by reducing the expression of silicon transporter genes. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 148:410-417. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.10.047

– Kumar, N., Dubey, A.K., Upadhyay, A.K., Gautam, A., Ranjan, R. Saripella S., Sahu, N., Behera, S.K., Mallick, S. (2017) GABA accretion reduces Lsi-1 and Lsi-2 gene expressions and modulates physiological responses in Oryza sativa to provide tolerance towards arsenic. Nature Scientific Report 18:7:8786. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-09428-2.

– Poonam, Upadhyay, M.K., Gautam, A., Mallick, S., Srivastava, S. (2017). A successive application approach for effective utilization of three aquatic plants in arsenic removal, Water Air Soil Pollut 228:54. (DOI 10.1007/s11270-016-3238-8)

– Chauhan, R., Awasthi, S., Tripathi, P., Mishra, S., Dwivedi, S., Niranjan, A., Mallick, S.,Tripathi, P., Pande, V., R. D. Tripathi, (2017) Selenite modulates the level of phenolics and nutrient element to alleviate the toxicity of arsenite in rice (Oryza sativa L.).Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 138: 47–55 (10.1016/j.ecoenv.2016.11.015).

– Verma, P.K., Verma, S., Meher, A.K., Pande, V, Mallick, S., Bansiwal, A.K., Tripathi, R.D., Dhanker, O.P., Chakrabarty., D., (2016) Overexpression of rice glutaredoxins (OsGrxs) significantly reduces arsenite accumulation by maintaining glutathione pool and modulating aquaporins in yeast. Plant Physiol Biochem,106: 208-217 (10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.04.052).

– Verma, P.K., Verma, S., Pande, V, Mallick, S.,Tripathi, R.D., Dhanker, O.P., Chakrabarty., D., (2016)Overexpression of Rice Glutaredoxin OsGrx_C7 and OsGrx_C2.1 Reduces Intracellular Arsenic Accumulation and Increases Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7:740 (10.3389/fpls.2016.00740

– Dubey, A. K., Kumar, N., Sahu, N., Verma, P. K., Chakrabarty, D., Behera, S. K., Mallick, S. (2016) Response of two rice cultivars differing in their sensitivity towards arsenic, differs in their expression of glutaredoxin and glutathione-S-transferase genes and antioxidant usage, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety,124: 393–405.

– Singh, A.P., Dixit, G., Mishra, S., Dwivedi, S., Tiwari, M., Mallick, S., Pandey, V., Trivedi, P.K., Chakrabarty, D. and Tripathi, R.D., (2015). Salicylic acid modulates arsenic toxicity by reducing its root to shoot translocation in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Frontiers in Plant Science, 6: 340.

– Mallick, S.,Sinam, G., Sinha, S., Ranjan, R., Tripathi, R.D. (2015). Comparative study of metal translocation from tannery sludge amended soil to Capsicum annuum L. under the influence of chelants: Effect on growth parameters. International Journal of Plant and Environment 1 (1) 69-77 (DOI: 10.18811/ijpen.v1i1.7115)

– Singh, A.P., Dixit, G., Kumar, A., Mishra, S., Singh, P.K., Dwivedi, S., Trivedi, P.K., Chakrabarty, D., Mallick, S., Pandey, V. and Dhankher, O.P., (2015). Nitric oxide alleviated arsenic toxicity by modulation of antioxidants and thiol metabolism in rice (Oryza sativa L.).Frontiers in Plant Science, 6:1272. DOI .10.3389/fpls.2015.01272.

– Kumar, N., Dubey, A. K., Jaiswal, P. K., Sahu, N., Behera,S. K., Tripathi, R. D., Mallick, S. (2015)Selenite supplementation reduces arsenate uptake greater than phosphate but compromises the phosphate level and physiological performance in hydroponically grown Oryza sativa L.Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 35:163-172 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3171.

– Singh, A. P., Dixit, G., Mishra, S., Dwivedi, S., Tiwari, M., Mallick, S., Pandey,V., Trivedi,P.K., Chakrabarty,D., Tripathi,R.D. (2015)Salicylic acid modulates arsenic toxicity by reducing its root to shoot translocation in rice (Oryza sativa L.).Frontiers in Plant Science6: 340.(doi: 10.3389/fpls.2015.00340)

– Mallick, S., Kumar, N., Sinha, S., Dubey, A. K., Tripathi, R. D., Srivastav, V. (2014) H₂O₂ pretreated rice seedlings specifically reduces arsenate not arsenite: difference in nutrient uptake and antioxidant defense response in a contrasting pair of rice cultivars. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants20: 435–447.(DOI: 10.1007/s12298-014-0255-1)

– Kumar, A., Tripathi, R.D., Singh, R.P., Dwivedi, S., Chakrabarty, D., Mallick, S., Trivedi, P. K., Adhikari, B (2014).Evaluation of amino acid profile in contrasting arsenic accumulating rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes under arsenic stress grown in hydroponic condition.BiologiaPlantarum58 (4): 733-742, (DOI: 10.1007/s10535-014-0435-4).

– Rai, U.N., Tripathi, R.D., Singh, N.K., Upadhyay, A.K., Dwivedi, S., Shukla, M.K., Mallick, S., Singh, S.N., Nautiyal,C.S. (2013).Constructedwetlandasan ecotechnological tool for pollution treatment for conservation of Ganga river. Bioresource Technology148: 535-541.

– Kumar, N., Mallick, S., Yadava, R. N., Singh, A. P., Sinha, S. (2013). Co-application of selenite and phosphate reduces arsenite uptake in hydroponically grown rice seedlings: Toxicity and defence mechanism. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 91:171-179

– Mallick, S., Kumar, N., Singh, A. P., Sinam, G., Yadav, R. N., Sinha, S. (2012) Role of sulfate in detoxification of arsenate induced toxicity in Zea mays L. (SRHM 445): nutrient status and antioxidants. Journal of Plant Interaction8:140-154.

– Sinha, S., Mishra, R. K., Sinam, G., Mallick,S., Gupta, A. K. (2013) Comparative evaluation of metal phytoremediation potential of trees, grasses and flowering plants from tannery wastewater contaminated soil in relation with physico-chemical properties. Soil Sediment and Contamination22:958–983.

– Sinam, G., Behera, S. K., Mishra, R. K., Sinha, S., Mallick, S., Khare, P.B. (2012) Comparison of two ferns (Adiantumcapillus-venerisLinn. and Microsoriumpunctatum(Linn.) Copel) for their Cr accumulation potential and antioxidant responses. International Journal of Phytoremediation 14:629–642.

– Mallick, S., Sinam, G., Sinha, S. (2011) Study on arsenate tolerant and sensitive cultivars of Zea mays L.: differential detoxificationmechanism and effect on nutrients status. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety74:1316-1324.

– Sinam, G. Sinha, S., Mallick, S. (2011) Effect of chromium on accumulation and antioxidants in CucumisutillissimusL.: Response under enhanced bioavailability condition. Journal of Environmental Sciences 23:506–512.

– Sinha, S., Sinam G., Mishra R. K., Mallick, S. (2010) Metal accumulation, growth, antioxidants and oil yield of Brassica juncea L. exposed to different metals. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 73:1352–1361.

– Mallick, S., Sinam, G., Mishra, R. K., Sinha, S. (2010) Interactive effects of Cr and Fe treatments on plants growth, nutrition and oxidative status in Zea mays L. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 73:987–995.

– Shri, M., Kumar, S., Chakrabarty, D., Trivedi, P.K., Mallick, S., Misra, P., Shukla, D., Mishra, S., Srivastava, S., Tripathi, R.D., Tuli, R. (2009) Effect of arsenic on growth, oxidative stress, and antioxidant system in rice seedlings. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 72:1102-10.

– Sinha, S., Singh, S., Mallick, S., Sinam, G. (2009)Role of antioxidants in Cr tolerance of three crop plants: Metal accumulation in seeds.Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 72:1111-21.

– Dutta, V., Mallick, S. (2009). Estimation of methane emission from a North-Indian subtropical wetland. Journal of Sustainable Development 2 (2), 125.

– Sinha, S., Singh, S., Mallick, S. (2008) Comparative growth response of two varieties of Vignaradiata L. (var. PDM 54 and var. NM 1) grown on different tannery sludge applications: effects of treated wastewater and ground water used for irrigation. Environmental Geochemistry and Health30(5): 407-22.

– Sinha, S., Mallick, S., Misra, R.K., Singh, S., Basant, A., Gupta, A.K. (2007) Uptake and translocation of metals in Spinaciaoleracea L. grown on tannery sludge-amended and contaminated soils: Effect on lipid peroxidation, morpho-anatomical changes and antioxidants. Chemosphere 67(1):176-87.