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RESEARCH
Plant molecular biology and stress signaling lab

Plant Adaptation to stress

In Ramu's lab, we explore plant stress-adaptation mechanisms to develop climate-resilient plants with high nutritional value.

Institute Profile
Ramu Lab group at the Regional Centre for Biotechnology
Dr. Ramu S. Vemanna
Ramu Lab group
Ramu Vemanna's Lab

Research at Ramu Lab

Dr. Ramu S. Vemanna is an Associate Professor at the Regional Centre for Biotechnology. His lab studies plant molecular biology, ribosome biogenesis, translational regulation, and plant health.

Dr. Ramu S. Vemanna Associate Professor PhD 2013, Bangalore University, Bangalore, India Postdoctoral Researcher, Noble Research Institute, Oklahoma, USA
Protein translation in plants

We investigate ribosome biogenesis, ribosomal proteins, translational mechanisms, and their extra-ribosomal functions in plant development and stress adaptation.

Drought and climate adaptation

We study acquired tolerant traits and the cellular mechanisms that help crops maintain productivity under changing environmental conditions.

Plant health and crop protection

Functional and chemical genomics approaches are used to improve resistance against bacterial leaf blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae.

View Research
Current research

Projects and programs

01

Ribosome diversity and RPF2

Studying rRNA diversity and the functional relevance of rRNA processing factor 2 in ribosome biogenesis, root and shoot development, and drought stress tolerance in rice.

02

Pearl millet quality

Genetic dissection of rancidity and goitrogenic C-glycosyl flavone biosynthesis genes to enhance the shelf-life and nutritional quality of pearl millet flour.

03

Resilient rice cultivation

An integrated cell wall biochemistry-based strategy for promoting the resilience and circularity of rice cultivation through an Indo-Sweden bilateral program.

04

Nanogel-mediated gene editing

Developing CRISPR/Cas9 technologies to improve crop protection against bacterial leaf blight in rice.

05

Ribosomes under drought

Understanding how drought stress influences ribosomes and protein synthesis, including the functional relevance of Ribosomal Protein L10 in rice.

06

Plant-pathogen translation

Identifying and functionally characterizing genes involved in protein translation and degradation, and developing inhibitors to understand bacterial pathogenicity in rice.

07

Genome integrity and crop improvement

Disrupting DNA mismatch repair genes with CRISPR/Cas9 to create genetic variability and characterize their relevance in crop improvement.

08

BRIC-BIRAC EIR program

Developing an agrochemical that inhibits ABA biosynthesis proteins or anion channels that regulate stomatal opening despite ABA accumulation.

Innovation

Patents and technologies

2025
Transgene-free, in planta-mediated delivery of RNPs to edit genes in plants

Shankar Mavinamar, Sneh Lata Singla Pareek, Avinash Bajaj, Ramu S. Vemanna. Indian Patent Application No. 202511006944, dated 28 January 2025.

2025
RNP complex for crop protection against bacterial diseases

Pal G, Bajaj A, Bhattacharjee S, Vemanna RS. Indian patent application 202311015285; Patent No. 560014, granted 12 February 2025. The nanopolymer-RNP complex targets bacterial disease genes in rice, potato, and Arabidopsis.

2024
Novel small molecule modulators of CRISPR-Cas9 activity and method thereof

A. Rode, K. Shinde, D. Ojha, R. Vemanna. Patent No. 539344, granted 27 May 2024.

2024
Pro-transpirants to increase crop productivity

Babitha KC, Veena HM, Ramu S. Vemanna. Patent No. 550300, granted 13 September 2024. The formulation keeps stomata open and enhances transpiration and yield in rice, wheat, cowpea, and greengram.

2021
A pro-transpirants class combination

Ramu S. Vemanna, PA, Vanitha, NV, Preethi. Indian Patent Application No. 202111038068, filed 23 August 2021. The agrochemical combination reduces ABA accumulation, enhances transpiration, and increases plant yield under drought.

2024
Synthetic and natural molecules for crop protection

Garima Pal and Ramu S. Vemanna. Application No. 202411062781, provisional patent filed for crop protection against bacteria, nematodes, and viruses.

2022
Expression construct for increasing abiotic stress tolerance

Patent file No. 2646/CHE/2014. Ramu S. Vemanna, Babitha K. C., Sheela H. S., Prasad T. G., Tuteja N., and Udayakumar M.

2022
Herbicide tolerant multigene construct

Patent file No. 4195/CHE/2014. Ramu S. Vemanna, Amaranatha Reddy V., and Udayakumar M.

Recent publications

2026
Non-chemical strategies for managing plant diseases and abiotic stresses

Adkar-Purushothama CR, Vemanna RS, Mysore KS. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2026;17:1920616.

2026
Ribosome Processing Factor-2 Interacts with RPL10A to Regulate Selective Translation during Plant Immunity and Drought Stress

Yadav S, Mathew K, Singh S, Biswas A, Deshpande S, Kumari C, Reddy SK, Wang K, Maiti TK, Mysore KS, Vemanna RS. bioRxiv. 2026 Mar 13:2026-03.

2024
Small chemical molecules regulating phytohormone signalling alter plant physiological processes

Yadav S, Preethi V, Dadi S, Seth CS, G K, Chandrashekar BK, Vemanna RS. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants. 2024;30(10):1593-1610. doi:10.1007/s12298-024-01514-w.

2024
Polysome-bound mRNAs and translational mechanisms regulate drought tolerance in rice

Dawane A, Deshpande S, Vijayaraghavreddy P, Vemanna RS. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 2024;208:108513. doi:10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108513.

2024
Nanocarrier-mediated double-stranded RNA manipulates defence response against bacterial diseases

Pal G, Ingole KD, Yavvari PS, Verma P, Kumari A, Chauhan C, Chaudhary D, Srivastava A, Bajaj A, Vemanna RS. Molecular Plant Pathology. 2024;25:e13417.

2023
Phenotyping and metabolome analysis reveal genes determining acquired drought tolerance in rice

Lekshmy VS, Preethi V, Karthik N, Arpitha GD, Chaitanya PM, Sathishraj R, Dhananjay Shindhe, Vemanna RS, and colleagues. Physiologia Plantarum. 2023;175(5):e13992.

2022
Transcriptomic responses under combined bacterial blight and drought stress in rice

Pal G, Bakade R, Deshpande S, and colleagues, including Vemanna RS. BMC Plant Biology. 2022;22:349.

2021
Disruption in the DNA mismatch repair gene MSH2 by CRISPR-Cas9 in indica rice

Karthika V, Babitha KC, Chandrashekar K, Kiranmai K, Shankar AG, Udayakumar M, and Vemanna RS. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2021.

2020
Acquired traits contribute more to drought tolerance in wheat than in rice

Preethi V, Vemanna RS, Xinyou Y, Paul CS, Udayakumar M, Sheshshayee S. Plant Phenomics. 2020:5905371.

2015
Simultaneous expression of regulatory genes improves drought adaptation in peanut

S.V. Ramu, Swetha TN, H.S. Sheela, K.C. Babitha, P. Chandrashekar Reddy, T.G. Prasad, M. Udayakumar. Plant Biotechnology Journal. 2015. doi:10.1111/pbi.12461.

Lab community

Alumni and former members

Dr. Garima Pal, PhD Scholar (2019-2024), Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Berkeley, USADr. Punam Sharma, Project SRF, presently Postdoctoral Fellow at NIPGR, New DelhiDevika, Project Associate Kesia Mathew, Project JRF (2024-2026)Supriya Singh, Project JRF (2024-2026), PhD Student at University of Gottingen, GermanyDr. Akshata Dawane, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Missouri-Kansas CityVeena Mavatkar, Project Associate (2021-2023), PhD student at the Polish Academy of SciencesShubham Agarwal, Project Fellow (2021-2023), PhD student at NIPGR, New DelhiDr. Chanchal Kumari, DBT-RA (2019-2021), Research Associate at IARI, New DelhiDr. Kishore Ingole, Project Associate (2019-2020), Postdoctoral Fellow at Oxford University, UKDr. Chethan Chauhan, Research Fellow (2019-2020), Research Associate at RCB, FaridabadShristi Sharma, Project JRF (2021)Mukund Mendirata, Project Fellow (2020-2022)Kalai Magal, Project Fellow (2020-2021)Pooja Yadav, Project Fellow (2019-2020) Short-term trainees: Astha Gil, Mayank Agarwal, Sai Chandeeramaulee, Rashmi Mishra, Kaiser Parry, Mohammad Ahmar Rashid Khan, Ocean Khajuria, Labeena Usmani, Madhu Perla, Mahi Sharma, Shreetoma Roy

Lab Members

View alumni
Dr. Ramu S. Vemanna
Associate ProfessorPlant translation, ribosome biology, and stress adaptation

Leads research on how ribosome biogenesis, translational regulation, and drought adaptation shape plant growth and crop protection.

Dr. Ramu S. Vemanna
Associate Professor
Plant translation and stress adaptation
Dr. Babitha K. C.
EIR Post-doctoral FellowAgrochemical innovation

Dr. Babitha works to develop next-generation agrochemicals that improve plant physiological processes by designing small molecules that target relevant proteins to enhance carbon capture, photosynthesis, and crop productivity. The objective is to translate lab discoveries to field applications.

Dr. Babitha K. C.
EIR Post-doctoral Fellow
Agrochemicals and crop productivity
Shobhna Yadav
PhD ScholarrRNA processing and ribosome biogenesis

Shobhna is trying to unravel rRNA processing, a step in ribosome biogenesis required for plant growth and development. Other than that, you will find her untangling any other interesting problem.

Shobhna Yadav
PhD Scholar
rRNA processing and ribosome biogenesis
Libin Thomas T.
PhD ScholarRibosome composition in drought-stressed rice

Libin is studying the changes in ribosome composition and functional insight in rice under drought conditions, and is also interested in deciphering the functional significance of the RPL10-interacting ABC protein.

Libin Thomas T.
PhD Scholar
Ribosome composition in drought-stressed rice
Manisha Yadav
PhD ScholarRibosome heterogeneity and drought tolerance

Manisha is trying to understand the molecular mechanisms of ribosome heterogeneity and the translational regulation underlying plant adaptation to abiotic stresses, with a particular emphasis on drought tolerance in rice. She is particularly interested in understanding how these regulatory mechanisms coordinate plant growth, development, and adaptation under changing environmental conditions.

Manisha Yadav
PhD Scholar
Ribosome heterogeneity and drought tolerance
Sathya Seelan
PhD ScholarDry-seeded rice and organellar translation

Sathya works on dry-seeded rice, engineering organellar translation-associated factors to improve seed germination, seedling vigor, and drought tolerance. In his leisure time, he enjoys cooking.

Sathya Seelan
PhD Scholar
Dry-seeded rice and translation
Shubham Singh
PhD ScholarFunctional genomics, genome editing, and multi-omics

Shubham's research focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying rice responses to biotic and abiotic stresses using functional genomics, genome editing, and multi-omics approaches to enhance crop resilience. Apart from research work, Shubham likes singing.

Shubham Singh
PhD Scholar
Functional genomics and crop resilience
Suchismita Satapathy
PhD ScholarrRNA in rice development and resilience

Suchi is on a quest to unravel the "how" and "why" of rRNA in rice development, growth, and survival, with a focus on plant adaptation and resilience. Beyond the lab, she continues to explore the "how" and "why" of the universe, searching for answers to endless questions that spark her curiosity.

Suchismita Satapathy
PhD Scholar
rRNA and plant resilience
Dana Basheer
PhD ScholarSeed dormancy, ABA signaling, and translational regulation

Dana is currently investigating the molecular mechanism underlying seed dormancy in rice under drought stress, focusing on the roles of ABA signaling and translational regulation. Apart from her research work, she enjoys watching movies and baking.

Dana Basheer
PhD Scholar
Seed dormancy and drought
Avani Vasudeva
PhD ScholarPolyubiquitin proteins and stress regulation

Avani is currently working to elucidate the interactions and functional roles of polyubiquitin proteins in rice, with a focus on their potential involvement in stress regulation and cellular processes. Beyond research, Avani loves to explore nature.

Avani Vasudeva
PhD Scholar
Polyubiquitin and stress regulation
Bariz Ali
PhD ScholarPotato virus-plant interactions

Bariz works on solving viral infections in potatoes, with a particular interest in understanding virus-plant interactions. He seeks to understand the molecular aspects of viral infection and potato plants' responses to viral stress. Outside the laboratory, he enjoys playing cricket and badminton.

Bariz Ali
PhD Scholar
Virus-plant interactions
Swetannita Chattopadyay
Senior Research FellowrRNA diversity and processing

Swetannita did her PhD on miR160 and its targets, and the ARF role in root system development under nitrogen deficiency in Brassica juncea. She is now working on ribosomal RNA (rRNA) diversity and the functional relevance of rRNA processing. Beyond the bench, she is a trained Odissi classical dancer. She loves painting and creating mandala artwork, with a keen interest in abstract art.

Swetannita Chattopadyay
Senior Research Fellow
rRNA diversity and processing
Umang Kumar Dhandanya
Project AssociatePearl millet quality and flour shelf-life

Umang is working on the genetic dissection of rancidity and goitrogenic C-glycosyl flavone biosynthesis genes to enhance the shelf-life and nutritional quality of pearl millet flour. He loves singing, acting, and playing chess.

Umang Kumar Dhandanya
Project Associate
Pearl millet biosynthesis
Orishma Parida
Project AssociateRice cell-wall biochemistry and resilience

Orishma is currently working on an integrated cell-wall biochemistry-based strategy for promoting the resilience and circularity of rice cultivation. She is trying to understand the molecular and regulatory mechanisms that contribute to plant resilience, particularly in rice. Outside the lab, she enjoys practising Odissi classical dance and Hindustani classical music.

Orishma Parida
Project Associate
Cell wall biochemistry
Opportunities

Join Ramu Lab

Interested in Postdoctoral fellowships, DBT-RA, NPDF, DBT-BioCARE, WOSA, etc. scheme, please write me with a one-page statement of Interest that aligns with my lab focus and send me two contact details of References.