I have explored both the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying senescence, ripening, and stress responses in fruit and vegetable crops. My M.S. research, titled “Effect of Plant Spacing and Nitrogen Levels on Growth, Yield and Quality of Broccoli,” investigated the effects of agronomic management on yield and post-harvest quality—an early step into understanding shelf-life regulation through physiological manipulation. This work laid the foundation for my interest in nutritional quality and storage behavior of crops.
During my Ph.D., I received the prestigious Science and Technology Fellowship (2018–2022) and focused on a novel topic: “Role of Autophagy in Premature Senescence and in Cell Death Induced by Amino Acid Loading in Physcomitrium patens.” My research clarified the interplay between autophagy, nitrogen starvation, and senescence—providing a deeper molecular understanding of how stress and aging-related genes impact plant survival and development. The findings from this study, published in high-impact journals (Plants, Plant and Cell Physiology), are relevant to the study of fruit ripening and senescence, especially in the context of shelf life regulation at the cellular level. The study also demonstrates that autophagy-derived amino acids enhance starch synthesis by supplying energy, suggesting a regulatory mechanism linking protein degradation and energy metabolism. This insight into nutrient recycling pathways may inform the identification of fruit ripening regulatory factors that could be manipulated to extend mango shelf life.