Research student profile: Astha Singh
Project title
Effect of White rust cause by Albugo candida along with Bion and Phosphonate on the glucosinolate levels of Brassica crops.
Project overview
My project aims to monitor the changes in glucosinolate levels through the course of disease into the crop (Broccoli, Rocket and Indian mustard) and any interaction of white rust disease in biosynthesis of glucosinolates with bion and phosphonate.
At the moment, my research has shown that there are differences in the disease symptoms when the plants are treated with Bion and phosphonate. Also it has been shown that there are differences in the glucosinolate levels when the plant is diseased or it is under influence of Bion and phosphonate. Previously, findings have demonstrated that Glucosinolates are beneficial as they have anticancerous and antimicrobial properties.
To tackle this project my research involves Basic methods of inoculating plants with disease inoculums, basic glasshouse set up techniques and High performance liquid chromatography in order to indentify the glucosinolates and quantify them.
From this we hope to demonstrate that there is an effect of the white rust disease on the glucosinolate levels of Brassica crops and there are also differences between the glucosinolate levels of Bion and phosphonate treated crops. Findings form this work will enable more understanding of the biosynthesis of beneficial glucosinolates in brassica crops.
Background
I am an international student from India and completed my BSc. (Hons) and Masters in Plant Pathology from the Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology.
I have been granted a Christian Rowe Thornett Scholarship from the Faculty of Agriculture.
I received the merit scholarship for a year during my BSc Hons degree in India, and the Bronze medal during my research studies in India.
During my Master's I presented one oral and two poster presentations at different conferences in India, and during the first year of my PhD studies I had the fortune to travel to Adelaide to attend the APPS Conference. I also presented a poster at the Faculty's Annual Symposium.
Publications
- Singh Astha, Mohammed Akram, Srivastava SSL (2007) Studies on Bacterial leaf blight of cotton, International Journal of Sustainable Crop Production, ISSN 1991-3036
- Singh Mandavi, Singh AK, Singh Astha (2007) Mushrooms a Wonderful Neutraceutical, Green Farming Journal ISSN 0974 – 0775
- Singh Astha, Mohammed Akram (2007) Bioinoculants A sustainable approach for crop production, Green Farming Journal ISSN 0974
- Hall Mathew, Singh Astha. (2009) Updates on Glucosinolates and their Biosynthesis in Brasicca crops. (In preparation)