Doctor Pankaj Trivedi

I joined Soil Biology and Genomics Research theme of Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE) as a Research Fellow in December 2012, coming to UWS from the University of Florida. I am a molecular microbial ecologist whose research interests can broadly be defined within the areas of microbial ecology, environmental genomics, plant-microbe interactions, evolution, and microbial physiology.

In these areas I have taken advantage of rapidly improving “omics” technology (metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics) in order to answer important ecological questions regarding microbial community composition, diversity, and ecosystem function. As a researcher my major objectives are to understand the factors that control the abundances, diversity and fitness of microbial species; how these are influenced by various biotic and abiotic factors; and what are their consequences on plant productivity, agro- ecosystems sustainability, and local and global level ecological processes.

In my research at HIE, I aim to apply state-of-art environmental genomics strategies to identify microbial drivers and key modulators of soil carbon dynamics in grain cropping systems. In my Postdoctoral research at University of Florida, I used citrus-Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus [known to cause Huanglonbing (HLB) disease] as a host-pathogen model to understand (a) the association of bacterial communities and phytopathogens with respect to the behaviour and survival of participating organisms; (b) the effect of interactions between resident microbial community and the invading pathogen on agro-ecosystem functioning; and (c) exploit beneficial plant-microbe interactions to control plant diseases.

By adopting a microbial-ecology approach at different spatial, temporal, and pathological scales, this research provided systems-level understanding of plant microbiomes and has improve our ability to predict, prevent, or reduce plant disease in natural and/or agricultural systems.

My Doctoral research (carried out at GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, India) on the characterization of microbial communities combined with sequencing of reference microbial strains has paved way for the discovery and classification of ecologically relevant microbial communities and their members. Throughout the course of my research, I have applied polyphasic approach combining novel cultivation independent and more traditional techniques to understand the complexity of microbial community structure and function at population and genetic levels.

The use of conventional culturing technique has also helped in the development of valuable bio-resource of reference strains that are amenable to genetic approaches to elucidate gene function and evolution.

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Area of research/Teaching expertise

Microbial Ecology, Plant- Microbe Interaction, Molecular Ecology, Climate Change, Functional Genomics, Microbial Physiology

Awards and Recognition

  • Awarded Young Scientist Award by Department of Science and Technology (DBT), New Delhi, India, 2007
  • Qualified National Eligibility Test (NET) to determine eligibility for lectureship and for award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) organized by University Grants Commission (UGC) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India, 2002
  • Qualified Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) organized by Indian Institute of Technology (Percentile 98.20)
  • Member American Phytopathological Society, Association of Microbiologists of India, Biotech Society of India, The American Society for Microbiology
  • Regular reviewer for various international journals including Plant and Soil, Journal of Basic Microbiology, Indian Journal of Microbiology, Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Sciences, Biologia, Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, Environmental Microbiology, Applied Environmental Microbiology
  • Moderator of “Defense Responses/Biology of Pathogens” oral technical session at “2010 American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting”, Charlotte, NC.

Grants

  • Management of citrus HLB by overcoming the Salicylate hydroxylase, which is used by the causal agent to suppress plant defense responses
    PI: Dr Nian Wang
    Funding agency: USDA specialty crop block grant 2010
    Period: 2011-2014
  • Development of carrier based formulations of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) suitable for use in mountains
    Funding agency: Department of Science and Technology, India
    Period: 2007-2010
  • Characterize the effect of application of beneficial bacteria (Microbe Program) on management of Huanglongbing (HLB)
    PI: Dr Nian Wang
    Funding agency: Citrus Research and Development Foundation, USA
    Period: 2012-2015
  • Characterize the causal agent of citrus blight through metagenomic approaches and the effect of HLB on citrus blight diseased trees
    PI: Dr Nian Wang
    Funding agency: Citrus Research and Development Foundation, USA
    Period: 2012-2015

Selected publications

Book chapters

Pandey A, Palni LMS, Trivedi P, Singh S, Chaurasia B, Kumar A, Agnihotri RK, Kumar B, Tamang MB, Bag N, (2012) 'Microbial fertilizers to support organic tea production in the mountain with special reference to Uttaranchal', International Journal of Tea Science, vol.8, pp 83-89

Pandey A, Palni LMS, Kumar B, Sharma A, Trivedi P, Singh S, Malviya MK, Rinu K, Aishvarya N, Sati P, (2010) 'Extremophiles from Himalaya: Diversity, Bioprospecting and Conservation', In: Proceedings of National Conference on Bioprospecting: Access for Sustainable Development, R Mathur, S Sharma and NK Singh eds. pp 1-8. MNNIT, Allahabad.

Trivedi P, Kumar B, Pandey A, Palni LMS, (2007) 'Growth promotion of rice by phosphate solubilizing bioinoculants in a Himalayan location', In:  Proceedings Books of First International Meeting on Microbial Phosphate Solubilization, E Velazquez and C Rodriguez-Barrueco (eds), pp. 291-299, Kluwer Publication

Pandey A, Trivedi P, Kumar B, Chaurasia B, Palni LMS, (2006) 'Soil microbial diversity from the Himalaya: Need for documentation and conservation', NBA Scientific Bulletin No.5, National Biodivesity Authority Chennai, Tamilnadu, India, p 64

Pandey A, Trivedi P, Kumar B, Chaurasia B, Singh S, Palni LMS, (2004) 'Development of microbial inoculants for enhancing plant performance in the mountains', In: Biotechnological Approaches for Sustainable Development, MS Reddy and S Kumar (eds), pp 13-20, Allied Publishers Ltd., New Delhi

Journal articles

Trivedi P, DeAngelis KM, Graham J, DeSantis TZ, Andersen GL, Albrigo G, Wang N, (2013) 'Census of bacterial diversity associated with cirrus blight diseased and healthy trees', Environmental Microbiology (accepted)

Wang N, Trivedi P, (2013) 'Citrus Huanglongbing: A Newly Relevant Disease Presents Unprecedented Challenges', Phytopathology, vol.103, no.7, pp 652-665

Akula N, Trivedi P, Han FQ, Wang N, (2012) 'Identification of small molecule inhibitors against SecA of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus by structure based design', European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, vol.54, pp 919-924

Pandey A, Chaudhry S, Sharma A, Choudhary VS, Malviya MK, Chamoli S, Rinu K, Trivedi P, Palni LMS, (2011) 'Recovery of Bacillus and Pseudomonas spp from the ‘fired plots’ under shifting cultivation in Northeast India', Current Microbiology, vol.62, no.1, pp 273-280

Trivedi P, He Z, Van Nostrand JD, Zhou J, Albrigo G, Wang N, (2011) 'Huanglongbing alters the structure and functional diversity of microbial communities associated with citrus rhizosphere', The ISME Journal, vol.6, no.2, pp 363-383 (featured in the top 10 articles for the month of January, 2012)

Trivedi P, Spann TM, Wang N, (2011) 'Isolation and characterization of beneficial bacteria associated with citrus roots in Florida', Microbial Ecology, vol.62, no.2, pp 324-336

Islam R, Trivedi P, Madhaiyan MM, Seshadri S, Lee G, Yang J, Kim Y, Kim M, Han G, Chauhan PS, Sa TM, (2010) 'Isolation, enumeration, and characterization of diazotrophic bacteria from paddy soil sample under long-term fertilizer management experiment', Biology and Fertility of Soils, vol.46, no.3, pp 261-269

Kim K, Yim W, Trivedi P, Madhaiyan MM,  Boruah HPD, Md. Islam R, Lee G, Sa TM, (2010) 'Synergistic effects of inoculating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Methylobacterium oryzae strains on growth and nutrient uptake of red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)', Plant and Soil, vol.327, no.s1-2, pp 429-440

Trivedi P, Duan YP, Wang N, (2010) 'Huanglongbing, a systemic disease, restructures the bacterial community associated with citrus roots', Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vol.76, no.11, pp 3427-3436

Islam MR, Trivedi P, Paliniappan P, Reddy MS, Sa TM, (2009) 'Evaluation of effect of fertilization on soil microbial community structure in rice based cropping system using Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) analysis', World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, vol.25, no.6, pp 1115-1117

Malviya MK, Pandey A, Trivedi P, Gupta G, Kumar B, (2009) 'Chitinolytic activity of cold tolerant antagonistic species of Streptomyces isolated from glacial sites of Indian Himalaya', Current Microbiology, vol.59, no.5, pp 502-508

Sagaram US, DeAngelis KM, Trivedi P, Andersen GL, Lu S, Wang N, (2009), 'Bacterial diversity analysis of HLB pathogen-infected citrus using PhyloChips and 16S rDNA clone library sequencing', Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vol.75, no.6, pp 1566-1574

Trivedi P, Sagaram US, Kim JS, Brlansky RH, Rogers ME, Stelinski LL, Oswalt C, Wang N, (2009) 'Quantification of viable Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus in hosts using quantitative PCR with the aid of ethidium monoazide (EMA)', European Journal of Plant Pathology, vol.124, no.4, pp 553-563

Pandey A, Das N, Kumar B, Rinu K, Trivedi P, (2008) 'Phosphate solubilization by Penicillium spp. isolated from soil samples of Indian Himalayan region', World Journal Microbiology and Biotechnology, vol.24, no.1, pp 97-102

Trivedi P, Pandey A, (2008) 'Recovery of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria from sodium alginate beads after three years following storage at 4 ºC', Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, vol.35, pp 205-209

Trivedi P, Pandey A, (2008) 'Plant growth promotion abilities and formulation of Bacillus megaterium strain B 388 isolated from a temperate Himalayan location', Indian Journal of Microbiology, vol.48, pp 342-347

Trivedi P, Pandey A, Palni LMS, (2008) 'In vitro evaluation of antagonistic properties of Pseudomonas corrugata', Microbiological Research, vol.163, no.3, pp 329-336

Trivedi P, Sa TM, (2008) 'Pseudomonas corrugata (NRRL B-30409) mutants increased phosphate solubilization, organic acid production and plant growth at lower temperatures', Current Microbiology, vol.56, no.2, pp 140-144

Woojong Y, Anandham R, Trivedi P, Madhaiyan MM, Sa TM, (2008) 'Ubiquitous presence and activity of thiosulfate oxidizing bacteria in rhizosphere of economically important crop plants of Korea', Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer, vol.41, pp 9-17

Kumar B, Trivedi P, Pandey A, (2007) 'Pseudomonas corrugata: A suitable bioinoculant for maize grown under rainfed conditions of Himalayan region', Soil Biology and Biochemistry, vol.39, no.12, pp 3093-3100

Trivedi P, Pandey A, (2007) 'Application of immobilized cells of Pseudomonas putida to solubilize insoluble phosphate in broth and soil conditions', Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Sciences, vol.170, no.5, pp 629-631

Trivedi P, Pandey A, (2007) 'Biological hardening of micropropagated Picrorhiza kurrooa Royel ex Benth- an endangered species of medical importance', World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, vol.23, no.6, pp 877-878

Trivedi P, Pandey A, (2007) 'Low temperature phosphate solubilization and plant growth promotion by psychrotrophic bacteria isolated from Indian Himalayan Region', Research Journal of Microbiology, vol.2, no.5, pp 452-461

Trivedi P, Pandey A, Sa TM, (2007) 'Chromate reducing and plant growth promoting activities of psychrotrophic Rhodococcus erythropolis MTCC 7905', Journal Basic Microbiology, vol.47, no.6, pp 513-517

Pandey A, Trivedi P, Kumar B, Palni LMS, (2006) 'Characteristics of a phosphate solubilizing and antagonistic strain of Pseudomonas putida (BO) isolated from a sub-alpine location in the Indian central Himalaya', Current Microbiology, vol.53, no.2, pp 102-107

Trivedi P, Kumar B, Pandey A, (2006) 'Conservation of soil microbial diversity associated with two hot springs in Uttaranchal Himalaya', National Academy of Science Letters, vol.29, pp 185-188

Chaurasia B, Pandey A, Palni LMS, Trivedi P, Kumar B, Colvin N, (2005) 'Structural deformities in pathogenic fungi caused by diffusible and volatile compounds produced by an antagonist (Bacillus subtilis): in vitro studies', Microbiological Research, vol.160, no.1, pp 75-81

Trivedi P, Pandey A, Palni LMS, (2005) 'Carrier based formulations of plant growth promoting bacteria suitable for use in the colder regions', World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, vol.21, pp 941-945

Trivedi P, Pandey A, Palni LMS, Bag N, Tamang MB, (2005) 'Colonization of rhizosphere of tea by growth promoting bacteria', International Journal of Tea Science, vol.4, pp 19-25

Kumar B, Trivedi P, Mishra AK, Pandey A, Palni LMS, (2004) 'Microbial diversity of soil from two hot springs in Uttranchal Himalaya', Microbiological Research, vol.151, pp 141-146

Invited Review

Wang N, Trivedi P, (2013) 'Citrus Huanglongbing - an old problem with an unprecedented challenge', Phytopathology (accepted)

Trivedi P, Pandey A, Palni LMS (2012) 'Bioinoculants for Field Application under Mountain Ecosystem: The Initiatives and the Future Prospects', In: Bacteria in Agrobiology: Plant Probiotics, DK Maheshwari (ed.), pp 15-44, Springer

Trivedi P, Wang N, (2011) 'Application of Phylogenetic Oligonuleotide Microarray (POA) in microbial analysis', In: Handbook of Molecular Microbial Ecology I: Metagenomics and Complementary Approaches, Frans J. de Bruijn (ed). pp 551-566, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, USA

Trivedi P, Kumar B, Pandey A, (2009) 'Nature and Applications of Bacillus species for improving Plant Growth: An Overview', In: Potential Microorganisms for Sustainable Agriculture : A Techno-Commercial Perspective, DK Maheshwari and RC Dubey (eds.), pp 49-66, IK International Publishing House, New Delhi, India.

Abstracts and Conference presentations

Trivedi P, Wang N, (2012) 'Modulation of plant defense responses by Salicylate hydroxylase of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and its implication of canker pathogen Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri in Huanglongbing infected plants', In “2012 American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting”, 4-8 August, Providence, Rhode Island (Poster presentation)

Akula N, Trivedi P, Wang N, (2011) 'Identification of small molecule inhibitors against SecA of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus by molecular modeling studies', In “2011 American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting”, 6-10 August, Honululu, Hawaii

Trivedi P, He Z, Van Nostrand JD, Zhou J, Albrigo G, Wang N, (2011) 'Effect of Huanglongbing on the structure and functional diversity of microbial communities associated with citrus rhizosphere', In “2011 American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting”, 6-10 August, Honululu, Hawaii (Oral presentation)

Trivedi P, Wang N, (2011) 'HLB influences the diversity, structure, and function of the bacterial community associated with citrus', In: “2nd International Research Conference on Huanglongbing”, 10-14 January, Orlando, Florida (Poster presentation)

Trivedi P, Wang N, (2010) 'Characterization of salicylate hydroxylase of “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” and its role in plant defense suppression', In: “2010 American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting”, 7-11 August, Charlotte, NC (Oral presentation)

Trivedi P, Duan YP, Wang N, (2009) 'Characterization of the cultivable endophytic bacterial communities associated with roots of Huanglongbing (HLB) pathogen infected and non-infected citrus plants', In: “2009 American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting”, 1-5 August, Portland, Oregon (Poster presentation)

Trivedi P, Sagaram US, Kim JS, Brlansky RH, Rogers ME, Stelinski LL, Oswalt C, Wang N, (2009) 'Quantification of viable Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus in hosts using quantitative PCR with the aid of ethidium monoazide (EMA)', In: “International Research Conference on Huanglongbing”, 1-5 December, Orlando, Florida (Poster presentation)

Trivedi P, Sa TM, (2008) 'Microbial diversity and development of microbial products for improved plant production', In: “4th Bioagricultural Technology Workshop-Preparing for the Future Revolution with Biotechnology”, 9-10 January, Suanbo, Republic of Korea (Oral presentation)

Trivedi P, Sa TM, (2007) 'Effect of long term fertilization on the functional diversity of paddy microbial flora', In: “Conference on Korean Society of Soil Science and Fertilizer”, 11 October, Seoul University, Seoul, Republic of Korea (Oral presentation)

Pandey A, Palni LMS, Trivedi P, Singh S, Kumar B, (2005) 'Microbial diversity in the Himalayan region and the use of microbial resources for improved seed germination, seedling growth and subsequent field establishment of forest species and plantation crops', In: “International Conference Microbial Diversity: Current Perspectives and Potential Applications”, 16-18 April, New Delhi, India

Trivedi P, Pandey A, Palni LMS, (2004) 'Carrier based plant growth promoting bacterial inoculants for colder regions', In: “Annual Conference of Association of Microbiologists of India” 23-25 November, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India (Oral presentation)

Trivedi P, Pandey A, Palni LMS, Bag N, Tamang MB, (2003) 'Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas corrugata: Promising bacterial inoculants for tea gardens', In: “3rd International Conference on Global Advances in Tea Science”, 20-22 November, Kolkata, India (Oral presentation).

Patent

Formulations of an efficient phosphate solubilizing and salt tolerant bacteria (Serratia marcescens) for application in colder regions through DBT (1263/DEL/2007 A dated 6 Dec 2007)

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