Doctor Sachin Chavan

Candidature

Graduated PhD 2019

Thesis Title

Responses of wheat photosynthesis and yield to elevated CO₂ under heat and water stress

Research Project

Future high CO₂ world with increased heat and drought events threatens crop growth and production. Food security for the growing human population requires improved understanding of crop responses to extreme climate conditions.

My PhD project aims at combining FACE and glasshouse studies in order to develop mechanistic models that can incorporate crop leaf-to-canopy responses to stresses and their interactions with elevated CO₂.

The main focus is to analyze the effects of elevated CO₂ in combination with heat or water stresses on the photosynthesis and growth of field-grown (AGFACE, Horsham) and glasshouse-grown wheat lines, Scout and Yitpi. The physiological data will be used to model wheat productivity at elevated CO₂ and interacting heat and water stress.

Outcomes of this research will fill a critical gap considering that currently used crop models lack a mechanistic approach based on physiology and stress effects. Project outcomes will help inform plant breeding and agronomic management strategies.

Awards

• Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry Postgraduate Research Scholarship, University of Western Sydney (2014) for PhD project.
• INSPIRE Fellowship awarded by Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India

Publications

Patil DP, Dhotre DP, Chavan SG, Sultan A, Jain DS, Lanjekar VB, Gangawani J, Shah PS, Todkar JS, Shah S, Ranade DR, Patole MS, Shouche YS, (2012) 'Molecular analysis of gut microbiota in obesity among Indian individuals', J. Biosci. 37 647 – 657 DOI 10.1007/s12038-012-9244-0

Ghodke AB, Chavan SG, Sonwane BV, Bharose AA, (2012) 'Isolation and in vitro identification of proteinase inhibitors from soybean seeds inhibiting helicoverpa gut proteases', Journal of Plant Interaction, DOI:10.1080/17429145.2012.668952

Supervisors

A/Professor Oula Ghannoum and Dr Remko Duursma