The Union Ministry of Science and Technology’s Anusandhan National Research Foundation awarded a two‑year Startup Research Grant of Rs 24 lakh to Dr Vijay Gahlaut, Associate Professor at Chandigarh University’s University Centre for Research & Development (UCRD) and University Institute of Biotechnology (UIBT).
The funded project, titled “Elucidating the Role of DNA Methylation under Elevated CO₂ and Temperature During Grain Filling in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L)”, aims to understand epigenetic changes under combined elevated CO₂ and temperature stress during the grain‑filling stage and to develop climate‑smart wheat varieties.
Dr Gahlaut, assisted by scholar Praveen Kumar, intends to identify epimarkers that can accelerate breeding, improve grain quality and yield, and provide management recommendations such as optimized irrigation and fertilisation under climate stress.
The research supports broader goals of enhancing agricultural resilience, safeguarding food security, and promoting sustainable, climate‑smart agriculture in India.
