IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON MEDICINAL AND HERBAL PLANT MICRORNA (HB 2026)

Climate change poses unprecedented challenges to plant growth, biodiversity, and productivity, necessitating innovative strategies for sustainability. Impact of Climate Change on Medicinal and Herbal Plant microRNA delves into the intricate relationship between climate‑induced stress and the molecular mechanisms underpinning plant adaptation, with a special focus on microRNAs (miRNAs). This book provides an in‑depth exploration of miRNAs as pivotal regulators in plant biology, offering insights into their biogenesis, functional roles, and applications in stress management and crop improvement.

Highlighting the interdisciplinary approach to understanding plant resilience, this book examines critical topics, including the impact of abiotic stressors like heavy metals and elevated CO2 levels, regulatory roles of miRNAs in photosynthesis and productivity, and the integration of bioinformatics and epigenetics in miRNA research. Through comprehensive chapters, readers gain knowledge about miRNA‑mediated bioengineering, genome stability, and the emerging potential of omics technologies to combat the effects of climate change on agriculture.

Key Features:

• A thorough analysis of miRNA biogenesis, regulation, and degradation, along with their myriad functional roles in plant biology
• Exploration of abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms in medicinal, cereal, legume, tuber, fruit, biofuel, and beverage crops
• Insights into bioinformatics tools and databases for miRNA analysis and their implications for stress tolerance studies
• Discussions on miRNA‑mediated bioengineering for climate‑resilient crops and recent advances in omics approaches

Designed for researchers, students, and professionals in plant sciences, bioinformatics, and climate studies, this book bridges fundamental and applied research, making it an essential resource for addressing climate variability through molecular innovations.

Dr. Kanchanlata Tungare is a Faculty member at the School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D. Y. Patil Deemed to be University, Navi Mumbai. She is a multifaceted and accomplished researcher with 16+ years of extensive experience in the field of biotechnology. Dr. Tungare has expertise in multidisciplinary research, encompassing cancer research, molecular biology, nanotechnology and population genetics. She is the proud recipient of the prestigious Dr. Ramrao Adik Gold Medal for academic excellence and has been awarded several intramural research grants by D. Y. Patil University. Additionally, Dr. Tungare has received a project grant from RSSDI for her research on diabetes. Her research portfolio includes 60 publications in peer-reviewed journals of national and international repute. Dr. Tungare has presented her research at 30 national and international conferences and holds 2 patents in her name. She is currently guiding 3 PhD students in their research. In addition to her research, Dr. Tungare has been a successful workshop coordinator and has guided 45 undergraduate and postgraduate students in completing their dissertation projects. A sought-after speaker, she has been featured in numerous webinars and serves as a peer reviewer for several prestigious scientific journals. Dr. Tungare can be contacted at dr.kanchanlata19@gmail.com.

Dr. Parul Johri, is currently working as a faculty in the Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Technology for Divyangjan Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Her education comes from an engineering background, B. Tech in Biotechnology, M. Tech. Bioinformatics, PhD Biotechnology from Amity University Uttar Pradesh. She is a recipient of Gold Medal from Padmashree Dr. D. Y. Patil University Navi Mumbai Maharashtra. She has more than 15 years of teaching experience in various universities. She has published more than 30 research and review papers in various journals of National and International repute. Dr. Johri has edited 3 books and written more than 30 book chapters with reputed publication houses like Springer, Elsevier, Taylor and Francis, Willey and many more. She has six Indian patents published out of which three patents are granted to her credit. She has received various funds like DBT CTEP, NCW and many more for conducting sensitization programs, seminars and workshops. Her current research area includes algorithm development for protein secondary structure prediction, metagenomic analysis, transcriptome analysis, microarray data analysis, genomic and proteomics studies.

Dr. Sachidanand Singh, presently working as a Associate Professor and Head Biotechnology, School of Energy and Technology, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gujarat, India with academic and administrative responsibilities. His education belongs from an engineering background i.e., B.Tech Biotechnology, M.Tech. Bioinformatics, PhD Bioinformatics and postdoctoral experience comes from Ohio State University, College of Pharmacy, USA. He has more than 13 years of experience in teaching, administration and research. Work experience includes Karunya University, Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University, Vignan University. His research area includes Plant Biotechnology, metagenomics, Systems Biology, Network Biology, Micro RNA-based studies, Expression Data Analytics, Next-generation Sequencing and Statistical Genetics. His present focus also includes understanding the Canonical and non-canonical pathways of miRNA Biogenesis, Dynamics and mechanisms of miRNA- mediated Gene Regulation. He teaches different subjects, especially Genomics and Proteomics, Microarray and Image Analysis, Drug Design and Molecular Modelling for graduate and postgraduate students. He has published more than 60 research and review articles in peer reviewed journals, 9 Patents published among which 5 are granted. Out of the research and review publications 40 percent of publications (Book Chapters, Edited Books, Review article and research articles) are on plant-based studies in association to Soil microbiome, herbal drug formulation, drug design and microbe-microbe interactions and their expression-based studies. He has completed one SERB, Govt. of India funded project, two University research grant projects. He has received several awards in his area of research and for his teaching strategies. He has organized different conferences and workshops and received Govt. funds for the same. He has shared his area of expertise with different colleges and universities as invited speakers in different conferences and workshops. He has guided 36 B.Tech. and 10 M.Tech. projects. He has awarded 3 PhD students and presently 6 PhD students are working under him in the field of Herbal products, drug Design and integrating with network biology. He has already edited three Books under Springer and Taylor and Francis publishing group. He has a collaboration with Mendel University Czech Republic, Europe, Lund University, Sweden and Monash University Australia.

Dr. Surojeet Das is a Biotechnology Researcher specializing in Regenerative Medicine, with a PhD from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Australia at the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI), Monash University, and an M.Tech. in Biotechnology from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati. His research focuses on immune modulation and biomaterials for tissue regeneration and wound healing, utilizing advanced in vivo models and molecular techniques He has authored nine peer-reviewed publications, holds two Australian patents in therapeutic biomaterials and drug delivery, and has won several national and international scholarships. With four years of academic experience at Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University, he has taught courses in Nanobiotechnology, Tissue Engineering, and Biomedical Instrumentation, while supervising numerous research projects. His innovative work on silk-based hydrogels earned him the Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Award, and he was a top 16 finalist in the DuPont Power of Shunya innovation program. Dr. Das actively collaborates on interdisciplinary research projects, integrating cutting-edge science with clinical applications to advance therapeutic strategies.