Biography
Srikanth Bollam is an Associate Scientist in genomics, pre-breeding and bioinformatics cluster within ICRISAT, India. Prior to his current role, Dr. Srikanth worked as Principal Investigator (SERB-NPDF) for DST Govt. of India funded project entitled “Identification and Characterization of Candidate Genes Associated with Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) in Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)” at ICRISAT (2017 - 2018). Earlier, he worked in a multi-pronged project “Cambridge-India Network for Translational Research in Nitrogen” (CINTRIN) as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at ICRISAT (2017). Before joining ICRISAT, he worked in numerous multi-disciplinary projects in rice crop improvement programs at ICAR - Indian Institute of Rice Research, India (2010-2017) as part of his doctoral and other research assignments. He worked for two crop science industries as a researcher, there he contributed for Jatropha improvement for total oil content (Biodiesel) and various bio-inoculant formulations (2007-2010).
Qualifications
- 2017: PhD. Plant Molecular Biology, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad and ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research.
- 2014: Post Graduate Diploma on Technology Management in Agriculture (PGDTMA), University of Hyderabad.
- 2007: Post-graduation in Biotechnology, Sathyabama University.
- 2005: Graduation in Biotechnology, Zoology and Chemistry, Kakatiya University.
Funding and awards
- “Postdoctoral Research Associate of the year 2020”, TIGR2ESS, University of Cambridge, UK (Dec 2020)
- “SERB-International Travel Support”, Dept. of Science & Technology, Govt. of India (March 2018)
- “SERB-National Postdoctoral Fellowship”, Dept. of Science & Technology, Govt. of India (March 2017)
Research
Srikanth is a molecular physiologist, he works on the FP2a component of TIGR2ESS. His research seeks to: (a) Explore the natural genetic variation for Water Use Efficiency (WUE), Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) and associated traits in sorghum and pearl millet; (b) Elucidate the physiological and molecular basis for WUE and NUE; (c) Mapping genes related to WUE and NUE using advanced genomic tools; (d) Identify the superior performers under water and nitrogen deficit conditions and deploy them in to crop improvement programs to develop high WUE and NUE sorghum and pearl millet; and (e) Collaborate with other FP partners from NIPGR, ESSEX and Cambridge to share the germplasm and also to study the in-depth physiological and molecular assays. His doctoral research focused on generating significant innovative outcomes to bridge the gene to phenotype gap, and to elucidate the genetic basis of quantitative and qualitative traits related to Nitrogen Use Efficiency in rice (Oryza sativa L.). He also worked for fine mapping of fertility restorer (Rf3 and Rf4) genes for WA-CMS of rice.
Publications
Published ~20 research articles in reputed high impact international journals such as Frontiers, Nature scientific reports, Gene, Field crops research, Plants, Euphytica, Molecular breeding, etc. Participated in more than 10 international conferences and presented abstracts, posters and oral presentations.
Google scholar link: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=JGFcr20AAAAJ&hl=en
TIGR2ESS relevant publications
- Srikanth Bollam, Kirandeep Kaur Romana, Laavanya Rayaprolu, Anilkumar Vemula, Roma Rani Das, Abhishek Rathore, Prasad Gandham, Girish Chander, Santosh P Deshpande, Rajeev Gupta. Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Sorghum: exploring native variability for traits under variable N-regimes. Front. Plant Sci. 2021, 12:643192. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.643192
- Vijayalakshmi Pujarula, Madhu Pusuluri, Srikanth Bollam, Roma Rani Das, Rambabu Ratnala, Gopikrishna Adapala, Vishnukiran Turaga, Abhishek Rathore, Rakesh K. Srivastava and Rajeev Gupta. Genetic Diversity for Nitrogen Use Efficiency Traits in Global Diversity Panel and Parents of Mapping Populations in Pearl Millet. Front. Plant Sci. 2021, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.625915
- Srivastava RK, Srikanth Bollam, Vijayalakshmi Pujarula, Madhu Pusuluri, RB Singh, Gopi Potupureddi, Rajeev Gupta. Exploitation of Heterosis in Pearl Millet: A Review. Plants 2020, 9, 807. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9070807
- Srivastava RK, RB Singh, Vijayalakshmi Pujarula, Srikanth Bollam, Madhu Pusuluri, Tara Satyavathi Chellapilla, RS Yadav, Rajeev Gupta. Genome-Wide Association Studies and Genomic Selection in Pearl Millet: Advances and Prospects. Front. Genet. 2020, 10, 1389. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2019.01389
