Amita Pal
 Senior Professor, Division of Plant Biology
PhD: University of Calcutta (Botany - 1977)

Research interest

  • To understand the molecular mechanism of yellow mosaic virus (YMV) resistance in Vigna mungo.
  • A molecular insight of the differential regeneration response of two cotyledon types of V. radiata.
  • Molecular characterization and phylogenetic relationship assessment of the tropical bamboo species/ germplasms.                                                      [details]

Research Scholars

    1.   Dr. Sujay Paul, RA
    2.   Mr. Soumitra Maiti, SRF
    3.   Ms. Suparna Ghosh, SRF
    4.   Mr. Subrata Kundu, SRF
    5.  Mr. Anirban Kundu, SRF
    6.  Mr.Jayadri Shekhar Ghosh, SRF (in collaboration with Dr. Nrisingha Dey, ILS, Bhubaneswar)
    7.  Ms. Myo Ma Ma Than TWAS Fellow (Co- guide jointly with Prof. S. Jha, CU).

 Recent publications:

  1. Maiti S, Kundu A, Basak J, Kundagrami S and Pal A (2010) Molecular Marker-Assisted Genotyping of Mungbean Yellow Mosaic India Virus Resistant Germplasms of Mungbean and Urdbean Molecular Biotechnology DOI: 10.1007/s12033-010-9314-1      

  2. Bhattacharya S, Ghosh J S, Sahoo D K, Dey N and Pal A (2010) Screening of superior fiber-quality-traits among wild accessions of Bambusa balcooa: Efficient and non-invasive evaluation of fiber developmental stages. Annals of Forest Science 67 (6): 611.9, DOI: 10.1051/forest/2010024 

  3. Mishra K, Chakraborty D,  Pal A and  Dey N (2010) In vitro interaction of quassin and neo-quassin with artemisinin against malaria-parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Experimental Parasitology 124: 421-427. doi:10.1016/j.exppara.2009.12.007

  4. Pal A,   Ghosh J S, Das M and Bhattacharya S (2009). Identification of Superior Fiber-Trait-Yielding Genetic Resources of Bambusa balcooa: Analysis of Physico-Chemical Properties of Fibers. In : Proceedings of 8th  World bamboo Congress, World bamboo Organizer, Thailand. pgs. 947-961. ISSN 2150-1165.

  5. Than MMM, Pal A and Jha S (2009). In vitro flowering and propagation of Bulbophyllum auricomum Lindl., the royal flower of Myanmar. ISHS Acta Horticulturae 829, 6th International Symposium on In Vitro Culture and Horticultural Breeding (Eds. R.J. Geijskes, P. Lakshmanan, A. Taji ), Brisbane, Australia. pp. 105- 111.

  6. *Pal A, Bhattacharya S and Ghosh J S (2010) Re-evaluation of woody bamboo systematic with molecular techniques and markers. In: Conservation and Management of Bamboo Resources', (Eds. Nath S, Singh S, Sinha A, Das R and Krishnamurthy R), Institute of Forest Productivity, ICFRE publications, Ranchi, pgs. 3-13.

  7.  Bhattacharya S, Das M, Ghosh J S and Pal A (2009) Morphological and molecular characterization of Thamnocalamus spathiflorus subsp. spathiflorus at population level. Plant Systematics and Evolution  282:13-20. DOI: 10.1007/s00606-008-0092-1.

  8.  Kundagrami, S.  Basak, J, Maiti, S,  Kundu A, Das B, Ghose T. K.  and   Pal A  (2009) Agronomic, genetic and molecular characterization of MYMIV tolerant mutant lines of Vigna mungo . International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics 3: 1-10.

  9.   Bhattacharjee S, Gupta G, Bhattacharya P, Mukherjee A, Bhattacharyya Majumdar S, Pal A, Majumdar S (2009) Quassin alters the immunological patterns of murine macrophages through generation of nitric oxide to exert antileishmanial activity. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 63:317-324.  

  10. Chaudhuri R K, Pal A and Jha T B (2009) Regeneration and characterization of Swertia chirata-Buch. Ham. ex Wall. plants from immature seed cultures. Scientia Horticulturae 120: 107–114.  

  11. Bhattacharya S,  Ghosh J S, Mitra A and Pal A (2008) Genetic diversity assessment and search for disease tolerant genotypes across the natural gene pool of Bambusa balcooa and B. tulda using molecular tool and technique. In: Proceedings of the National Conference on Bamboos: Management, Conservation, Value Addition and Promotion. Eds. Mandal A.K., Beery N and Rawat G.S. Tropical Forest Research Institute (ICFRE), Jabalpur, MP, India.

  12. Chaudhuri RK, Pal A and Jha TB (2008) Conservation of Swertia chirata Buch. Ham. ex Wall. through direct shoot multiplication from leaf explants. Plant Biotech Reports 2(3): 213-218. DOI 10.1007/s11816-008-0064-5.

  13. Das M, Bhattacharya S, Singh P, Filgueiras TS and Pal A (2008) Chapter 5. Bamboo taxonomy and diversity in the era of molecular markers. Advances in Botanical Research 47:226-268.  

  14. Chattopadhyaya R and Pal A (2008) Three-dimensional Models of NB-ARC Domains of Disease Resistance Proteins in Tomato, Arabidopsis, and Flax. Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics, 25 (4): 357-372.  

  15. Pal A (2008) Chapter 13. Arabinogalactan Protein and Arabinogalactan: Biomolecules with Biotechnological and Therapeutic Potentials. In: Bioactive Molecules and Medicinal Plants, Eds. K. G. Ramawat and J. M. Merillon, Springer, Germany, pp. 255-270.

  16. Chaudhuri R K, Pal A, Jha T B (2007) Production of genetically uniform plants from nodal explants of Swertia chirata Buch.-Ham.ex Wall.-An endangered medicinal herb. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol- Plant 43:467-472.  DOI 10.1007/s11627-007-9095-9.  

  17. Mitra A and Pal A (2007) In vitro regeneration of Stevia rebaudiana (Bert) from the nodal explant. J. Plant Biochemistry & Biotechnology 16(1), 59-62.  

  18. Das M, Bhattacharya S, Basak J and Pal A (2007) Phylogenetic relationships among the bamboo species as revealed by morphological characters and polymorphism analyses. Biologia Plantarum 51 (4): 667-672.

  19. Pal A Chakrabarti A and Basak J (2007) New motifs within the NB-ARC domain of R proteins: Probable mechanisms of integration of geminiviral signatures within the host species of Fabaceae family and implications in conferring disease resistance. J. Theoretical Biology. 246:564-573. doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2007.01.013.  

  20. Basak J, Kundu S, Pal A (2007) Phylogenetic analysis of divergent structural organization of nucleotide binding domain encoded by resistance genes and gene homologs in the family Fabaceae. Indian Journal of Biotechnology 6 (1):9-17. 

  21. Pal A (2007) Chapter 5. Production of Insecticides. In: Biotechnology: Secondary Metabolites (Ed. K.G. Ramawat and J. M. Merillon) Science Publishers, Infield, U.S.A.  pp. 131- 149. Second Edition.   

  22. Pal A and Das S. (2006) Arabinogalactan-proteins: Role in plant tissue differentiation and commercial importance. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India; 76 B- IV  312-320.

  23. Bhattacharya S, Das M, Bar R and Pal A (2006) Morphological and molecular characterization of Bambusa tulda Roxb. with a note on flowering. Annals of Botany,       98(3):529-535.  

  24. Das S, Sengupta DN and Pal A (2006) Differential protein pattern of two cotyledon explants of Vigna radiata during induced in vitro differentiation: Probable implication in the conundrum of differential regeneration response. J. Plant Biochem. & Biotech. 15: 123-129.  

  25. Pal A (2005) Chapter 20. Flow cytometry: A comparatively new tool in Plant Biotechnology. In: Biotechnology and Its Application, Ashwini Kumar, Shikha Roy and Sudhir K. Sopory (Eds.) I.K. International Pvt. Ltd, New-Delhi, pp.193-204.

  26. Das M and Pal A (2005) Clonal propagation and production of genetically uniform regenerants from axillary meristems of adult bamboo. J. Plant Biochem. & Biotech. 13: 185-188.

  27. Pal A (2005) Molecular Markers. In: Changing Scenario in Biosciences: Basic and Applied (Eds. S. Jha and S. Rai) UGC Academic Staff College, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, pg. 39-45.

  28. Das M, Bhattacharya S and Pal A (2005) Generation and Characterization of SCARs by Cloning and Sequencing of RAPD Products: A Strategy for Species-specific Marker Development in Bamboo. Annals of Botany 95: 835-841.

  29. Das M and Pal A (2005) In vitro regeneration of Bambusa balcooa Roxb.: Factors affecting changes of morphogenetic competence in the axillary buds. Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture 81:109-112.  

  30. Basak J, Kundagramy S, Ghose T K and Pal A (2005) Development of yellow mosaic virus (YMV) resistance linked DNA-marker in Vigna mungo from population segregating for YMV reaction. Molecular Breeding 14: 375-383.  

  

Registration of gene/marker sequences in the GenBank:  

  1. Basak J and Pal A (2003) Vigna radiata yellow mosaic virus resistant gene candidate 1 and predicted protein. GenBank Accession Nos. AY301990 and AAP57566.

  2. Basak J, Kundagrami S, Ghose TK and Pal A (2005) Partial resistance gene and predicted protein (VMYR1) of Vigna mungo conferring resistance against yellow mosaic virus. GenBank Accession Nos. AY297425 and AAQ63168. 

  3. Pal A, Basak J and Ghose TK (2005) Vigna mungo yellow mosaic virus resistant gene candidate 2 and predicted protein. GenBank Accession Nos. AY301991 and AAQ75745.

  4. Basak J and Pal A (2005) Vigna mungo amino acid permease gene, partial CDS and predicted protein. GenBank Accession Nos. AY634621 and AAT46463.

  5. Das M, Bhattacharya S and Pal A (2005) Bambusa balcooa specific SCAR marker (balco836). GenBank Accession no. AY 653073.

  6. Das M, Bhattacharya S and Pal A (2005) Bambusa tulda specific SCAR marker (tuldo609) GenBank Accession no.   AY684298.

  7. Pal A, Das M and Bhattacharya S (2006). Development of genotype specific SCAR marker in Bambusa balcooa (Balco1128). GenBank Accession no.   DQ900580.

  8. Pal A, Ghosh J S and Bhattacharya S (2006). Bambusa bambos  internal transcribed spacer 1, 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and internal transcribed spacer 2, complete. GenBank Accession no. DQ915808

  9. Pal A, Ghosh, J S and Bhattacharya S (2007). Pseudobambusa kurzii internal transcribed spacer 1, complete sequence; 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and internal transcribed spacer 2, partial sequence.  Accession no. EF433425

  10. Pal A, Ghosh J S and Bhattacharya S (2007). Bambusa multiplex var. reviereorum internal transcribed spacer 1, partial sequence; and 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and internal transcribed spacer 2, complete sequence. Accession no. EF450229.Pal A, Mitra A, Bhattacharya S, Ghosh J S (2007) Resistance gene homologue from Bambusa balcooa populations tolarent to leaf rust disease. Accession No. EF455491.  Pal A, Mitra A, Bhattacharya S and Ghosh J S (2007). Development of a DNA marker associated with leaf rust disease tolerance in Bambusa balcooa. Accession no. EF455492.

  11. Pal A, Ghosh J S and Bhattacharya S (2007). Bambusa auriculata internal transcribed spacer 1, complete; and 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and internal transcribed spacer 2, complete sequence. Accession no. EF540854.

  12. Pal A, Ghosh J S and Bhattacharya S (2007). Bambusa tulda internal transcribed spacer 1, complete; and 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and internal transcribed spacer 2, complete sequence. Accession no. EF540855.

  13. Pal A, Maiti S (2007). Partial cDNA encoding a disease resistance protein (YR3) in Vigna mungo cv. WB-108. Accession no. EF446378.

  14. Ghosh J S, Bhattacharya S and Pal A (2007). Dendrocalamus strictus internal transcribed spacer 1, 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and internal transcribed spacer 2, complete sequence. Accession no. EU191757.  

  15. Bhattacharya S, Ghosh J S and Pal A (2007). Dendrocalamus giganteus internal transcribed spacer 1, 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and internal transcribed spacer 2, complete sequence. Accession no. EU 244595.  

  16. Bhattacharya S, Ghosh J S and Pal A (2007). Bambusa balcooa internal transcribed spacer 1, 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and internal transcribed spacer 2, complete sequence. Accession no. EU 244594.  

  17. Bhattacharya S, Ghosh J S and Pal A (2007). Bambusa polymorpha internal transcribed spacer 1, 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and internal transcribed spacer 2, complete sequence. Accession no. EU 244593.  

  18. Maiti S and Pal A (2007). SCAR marker (YR4) linked with MYMIV resistance of Vigna mungo. Accession no. EU 258700.  

  19. Maiti S and Pal A (2007). Vigna mungo MYMIV resistance marker (CYR1). Accession no. EU 258701.  

  20. Bhattacharya S, Ghosh J S and Pal A (2007) Putative protein kinase (Bb.LK) from Bambusa balcooa (accession no. SB/DRA/03/025). Accession no. EU258678

  21. Ghosh J S, Bhattacharya S and Pal A (2007). Bambusa affinis internal transcribed spacer 1, 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and internal transcribed spacer 2, complete sequence. Accession no. EU368960.  

  22. Ghosh J S, Bhattacharya S and Pal A (2008). Bambusa oliveriana internal transcribed spacer 1, 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and internal transcribed spacer 2, complete sequence. Accession no. EU 368961.  

  23. Bhattacharya S, Ghosh J S and Pal A (2008) Bambusa balcooa  (SB/DRA/03/025) leucine-rich protein kinase (Bb.LK) mRNA, partial cds. EU258678.

  24. Ghosh J S, Bhattacharya S and Pal A (2008) Gigantochloa atroviolacea 18S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 1; 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 2 and 26S ribosomal RNA gene sequence. (EU543214).     

  25. Ghosh J S, Bhattacharya S and Pal A (2008) Bambusa striata 18S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 1; 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 2 and 26S ribosomal RNA gene sequence.  (EU523115).

  26. Ghosh J S, Bhattacharya S and Pal A (2008) Bambusa burmanica 18S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 1; 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 2 and 26S ribosomal RNA gene sequence. FJ410312.

  27. Ghosh J S, Bhattacharya S and Pal A (2008) Melocanna baccifera 18S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 1; 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 2 and 26S ribosomal RNA gene sequence. FJ410313.

  28. Ghosh J S, Bhattacharya S and Pal A (2008) Bambusa vulgaris 18S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 1; 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 2 and 26S ribosomal RNA gene sequence. FJ410314.

  29. Ghosh J S, Bhattacharya S and Pal A (2008) Bambusa nutans 18S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 1; 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 2 and 26S ribosomal RNA gene sequence. FJ410315.

  30. Ghosh J S, Bhattacharya S and Pal A (2008) Bambusa  teres 18S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 1; 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 2 and 26S ribosomal RNA gene sequence. FJ410316.

  31. Maiti S and Pal A (2009) Vigna radiata cultivar B1 acid invertase gene, partial cds. GQ227550.

  32. Ghosh J S, Bhattacharya S and Pal A (2008) Bambusa multiplex var variagata 18S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 1; 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 2 and 26S ribosomal RNA gene sequence. FJ410317.

  33. Ghosh J S, Bhattacharya S and Pal A (2008) Bambusa wamin 18S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 1; 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 2 and 26S ribosomal RNA gene sequence. FJ410318.

  34. Ghosh J S, Bhattacharya S and Pal A (2008) Bambusa bambos var giganteus 18S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 1; 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene; internal transcribed spacer 2 and 26S ribosomal RNA gene sequence.  FJ410319.

  35. Pal A, Das M and Bhattacharya S (2009) Bambusa balcooa voucher SB/BHA/03/023 genotype-specific SCAR marker. DQ900580.

  36. Maiti S, Pal A (2009) Vigna radiata cultivar B1 acid invertase gene, partial cds. Q227550

  37. Kundu S, Maiti S and Pal A (2010) for Vigna mungo catalase mRNAs, partial cds.   HM162363.

  38. Kundu S, Maiti S and Pal A (2010) for Vigna mungo glutamine synthetase mRNAs, partial cds.  HM162364.

  39. Kundu S, Maiti S and Pal A (2010) for Vigna mungo ascorbate peroxidase mRNAs, partial cds. HM162365.

  40. Kundu S and Pal A. (2010) Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) West Bengal isolate coat protein (AV1) gene,     partial cds. HQ221570

 

B.  ESTs registration in NCBI                                                                                          

Kundu A, Paul S and Pal A (2010) YMVM1- YMVM50  SSH library of MYMIV infected Vigna mungo (VM1)

Accession nos. HO223967-HO22016. [dbEST Id:70644235-70644284].

C. Registration of protein structures in the database:

  1. Basak J, Bahadur RP, Pal A and Mukhopadhyay C (2004)Theoretical model of the three-dimensional structure of a disease resistance gene homolog encoding resistance protein from Vigna mungo. PDB ID code: 1W71. 

  2. Chattopadhyaya R and Pal A (2005) Model of nucleotide binding protein from Linum usitatissimum L6. PDB ID code 2B85.

  3. Chattopadhyaya R and Pal A (2005) Model of nucleotide binding protein from Lycopersicon esculentum. PDB ID code 2B84.

  4. Chattopadhyaya R and Pal A (2006) Model of nucleotide binding protein from Lycopersicon esculentum I2C-1. PDB ID code 2FT4.

  5. Chattopadhyaya R and Pal A (2006) Model of nucleotide binding protein from Arabidopsis thaliana RPS-2. PDB ID code 2FT5.

  6. Chattopadhyaya R and Pal A (2006) Model of nucleotide binding protein from Caenorhabditis elegans also called Ced 4. PDB ID code 2G2M.

 

 Present research activities:

 Ongoing Funded Research Projects

 A.1. Title of the Project under DBT Programme:  Identification of effector genes/proteins implicated in resistance for yellow mosaic disease through genomic and proteomic approach

A.2. Name of Co-investigator: Prof. K. P. Das

A.3. Starting date and duration:  May 2007, 60 months

A.4. Funding agency and the total amount of fund sanctioned: DBT, 55.18 Lakhs.

B.1. Title of the Project :  Bioprospecting of novel gene/s and promoter/s useful for better bamboo-fiber based  merchandise production

B. 2. Name of  the Principal investigator: Dr. Nrisingha Dey

B.3. Starting date and duration: December 2008, 36 months

B.4. Funding agency and the total amount of fund sanctioned: DST, 29.77 Lakhs.

Contact

amita@bic.boseinst.ernet.in