Dr Jaykumar Mukeshbhai Patel

I am a plant molecular physiologist specializing in abiotic stress tolerance, plant-environment interactions, and halophyte biology. Currently, I am working at Aberystwyth University as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow, where my research focuses on exploring natural genetic variation in flavonoid biosynthesis within pearl millet germplasm to enhance functional food attributes and improve tolerance to terminal drought stress. My research integrates gene function analysis, plant transformation, and omics-based approaches to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying stress resilience. By linking fundamental discoveries to applied outcomes, my work supports the development of climate-resilient crops for sustainable agriculture. Throughout my career, I have contributed to leading research programs in India and Israel and continue to maintain active collaborations in the UK and beyond.

Are you excited by the potential of ancient grains like pearl millet, or intrigued by its modern relevance in health and nutrition? I’m always open to collaborative ideas, feel free to reach out if you're interested in working together on functional food traits, genetic diversity, or stress resilience in pearl millet.

Beyond that, I have a strong interest in plant abiotic stress biology, particularly the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive carbonyl species (RCS) homeostasis under extreme environmental conditions. Whether you’re working on similar mechanisms or just curious to exchange ideas, I’d be glad to connect and discuss potential collaborations or research directions.

My research aims to unravel the molecular and physiological mechanisms that govern plant responses to abiotic stresses, particularly salinity, drought, and oxidative stress. During my PhD, I focused on the cloning and functional characterization of aquaporin-like genes from the extreme halophyte Salicornia brachiata, highlighting their potential in engineering stress-resilient crops. I employ an integrative approach combining transcriptomics (RNA-seq, microarrays), metabolomics, advanced microscopy, and functional genomics including gene cloning, promoter analysis, and genome editing to dissect the regulatory networks underpinning stress adaptation. My recent research has revealed novel insights into the molecular regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive carbonyl species (RCS) homeostasis in edible halophytes (Salicornia and Sarcocornia) under UV-C-induced oxidative stress. Additionally, I have contributed to the functional analysis of key sulfur metabolism enzymes that play a role in drought stress resilience in Arabidopsis thaliana and tomato. Currently, at Aberystwyth University, I am investigating natural genetic variation in flavonoid biosynthesis in pearl millet germplasm to improve both functional food properties and terminal drought stress tolerance.