• Crop Improvement
• Transgenics
• Plant Pathology
• Metagenomics
• Nanotechnology

• Ph.D. (Life sciences) , 2017-2022 , International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India
• M.Sc. (Botany) , 2015-2017 , Hansraj College, University of Delhi
• B.Sc. (H) Botany , 2012-2015 , Hansraj College, University of Delhi
• AISSCE , 2011-2012 , Shaheed Bishan Singh Memorial Senior Secondary School (Central Board of Secondary Education)
• AISSE , 2009-2010 , Shaheed Bishan Singh Memorial Senior Secondary School (Central Board of Secondary Education)

Recently back in October 2022, Dr. Sahil Mehta has been appointed to the Hansraj College, University of Delhi making him the Youngest Assistant Professor (Subject Botany) in his alma mater as well as entire DU. Before the appointment, he had served as a Lecturer in the Faculty of Life Sciences, IAMR-Ghaziabad as well as the School of Agricultural Sciences, K.R. Mangalam University, Sohna, Gurugram. His educational qualifications include a Ph.D. (Life Sciences) from the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Jawaharlal Nehru University, and an M.Sc. (Botany) from the very reputed Department of Botany, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India. In addition, he is a Lifetime member of the Indian Phytopathological Society and Delhi University Botanical Society.

His primary research interests include (i) the development of transgenics and their biotechnological applications in cutting-edge areas, (ii) the effect of herbicides on plant microbiome, (iii) fungicidal application of agrochemicals, and (iv) the application of nanotechnology in plant protection and alleviating non-biological stresses. To date, Dr Mehta (h-index 18) has published more than 120+ research, review articles, book chapters, and many awards. Recently, he is editing a Taylor and Francis book “Applications of Nanoscaled Platforms in Gene Delivery” along with many stalwarts in Nanotechnology.

Introductory Biology

Analytical Techniques in Plant Sciences

Fundamentals of Plant Biochemistry

Fundamentals of Agricultural Microbiology

Fundamentals of Plant Biotechnology

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Member, K.R. Mangalam University Research Ethics Committee (2021-Present)

Member, Hansraj College G20 Committee (2022-23)

Member,  Grievance Redressal Committee Admissions (2023-24)

Member, Hansraj College Admissions Committee (2023-24)

Member, Hansraj College Canteen Committee (2023-24)

Member, Hansraj College Admissions Committee (2022-23)

Member, Purchase Committee Botany Department, Hansraj College (2022-Present)

PhD Thesis titled "Effect of Selected herbicide(s) on phytopathogens and holobiome of modified herbicide-tolerant rice" (Under the Joint Supervision Dr. M.K. Reddy & Dr. Neel Neel Sarovar Bhavesh from ICGEB, New Delhi, India)

Masters Dissertation titled “Evaluation and elicitation of berberine (Anticancerous and Neuroprotective biomolecule) in Linum usitatisimum L.” (Under the supervision of Professor Veena Agrawal (Department of Botany, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India)

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Springer Nature book on “Applications of Nanoscaled Platforms In Gene Delivery” (Delivery date March 2023)

• Mehta, S., Kumar, A., Achary, V.M.M., Ganesan, P., Patel, A., Singh, A., Rathi, N., Das, T.K., Lal, S.K. and Reddy, M.K., 2022. Antifungal and defense elicitor activity of potassium phosphite against fungal blast disease on ptxD-OE transgenic indica rice and its acceptor parent. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 182, p.105026. (JCR IF=4.966).
• Kumar, A., Choudhary, A., Kaur, H., Guha, S., Mehta, S. and Husen, A., 2022. Potential applications of engineered nanoparticles in plant disease management: a critical update. Chemosphere, 295, p.133798. (JCR IF=8.943).
• Singh, A., Mehta, S., Yadav, S., Nagar, G., Ghosh, R., Roy, A., Chakraborty, A. and Singh, I.K., 2022. How to Cope with the Challenges of Environmental Stresses in the Era of Global Climate Change: An Update on ROS Stave off in Plants. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(4), p.1995. (Equally contributed as First author) (JCR IF=6.208).
• Reddy, B., Mehta, S., Prakash, G., Sheoran, N. and Kumar, A., 2022. Structured Framework and Genome Analysis of Magnaporthe grisea Inciting Pearl Millet Blast Disease Reveals Versatile Metabolic Pathways, Protein Families, and Virulence Factors. Journal of Fungi, 8(6), p.614. (JCR IF=5.724)
• Chattopadhyay, A., Purohit, J., Mehta, S., Parmar, H., Karippadakam, S., Rashid, A., Balamurugan, A., Bansal, S., Prakash, G., Achary, V.M.M. and Reddy, M.K., 2022. Precision Genome Editing Toolbox: Applications and Approaches for Improving Rice’s Genetic Resistance to Pathogens. Agronomy, 12(3), p.565. (Equally contributed as First author) (JCR IF=3.949).
• Sharma, P., Meyyazhagan, A., Easwaran, M., Sharma, M.M.M., Mehta, S., Pandey, V., Liu, W.C., Kamyab, H., Balasubramanian, B., Baskaran, R. and Klemeš, J.J., 2022. Hydrogen Sulfide: A new warrior in assisting seed germination during adverse environmental conditions. Plant Growth Regulation, pp.1-20. (JCR IF=3.242).
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• Panditi, V., Fartyal, D., Sheri, V., Agarwal, A., Mehta, S., Lal, S.K., Venkatapuram, A.K., Parmar, H., Karippadakam, S., Rashid, A. and Reddy, M.K., 2022. Functional characterization of differentially-expressed increased glyphosate resistance (igrA) gene in transgenic rice (Oryza sativa L.). Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC), pp.1-11. (JCR IF=2.726).
• Kumar, A., Choudhary, A., Kaur, H. and Mehta, S., 2022. A walk towards Wild grasses to unlock the clandestine of gene pools for wheat improvement: A review. Plant Stress, 3, p.100048.
• Mehta, S., Kumar, A., Achary, V.M.M., Ganesan, P., Rathi, N., Singh, A., Sahu, K.P., Lal, S.K., Das, T.K. and Reddy, M.K., 2021. Antifungal activity of glyphosate against fungal blast disease on glyphosate-tolerant OsmEPSPS transgenic rice. Plant Science, 311, p.111009. (JCR IF=5.363).
• Mehta, S., Chakraborty, A., Roy, A., Singh, I.K. and Singh, A., 2021. Fight Hard or Die Trying: Current Status of Lipid Signaling during Plant–Pathogen Interaction. Plants, 10(6), p.1098. (JCR IF=4.658).
• Sahu, K.P., Patel, A., Kumar, M., Sheoran, N., Mehta, S., Reddy, B., Eke, P., Prabhakaran, N. and Kumar, A., 2021. Integrated Metabarcoding and Culturomic-Based Microbiome Profiling of Rice Phyllosphere Reveal Diverse and Functional Bacterial Communities for Blast Disease Suppression. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, p.780458 (JCR IF=6.064).
• Reddy, B., Kumar, A., Mehta, S., Sheoran, N., Chinnusamy, V. and Prakash, G., 2021. Hybrid de novo genome-reassembly reveals new insights on pathways and pathogenicity determinants in rice blast pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae RMg_Dl. Scientific reports, 11(1), p. 22922. (JCR IF=4.996).
• Kumar, A., Choudhary, A., Kaur, H., Mehta, S. and Husen, A., 2021. Metal-based nanoparticles, sensors, and their multifaceted application in food packaging. Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 19, p. 256. (JCR IF=9.429).
• Kumar, A., Choudhary, A., Kaur, H., Mehta, S. and Husen, A., 2021. Smart nanomaterial and nanocomposite with advanced agrochemical activities. Nanoscale Research Letters, 16, p.156. (JCR IF=5.418).
• Sharma, P., Pandey, V., Sharma, M.M.M., Patra, A., Singh, B., Mehta, S. and Husen, A., 2021. A Review on Biosensors and Nanosensors Application in Agroecosystems. Nanoscale Research Letters, 16, p.136. (JCR IF= 5.418).
• Yadav, B., Jogawat, A., Lal, S.K., Lakra, N., Mehta, S., Shabek, N. and Narayan, O.P., 2021. Plant mineral transport systems and the potential for crop improvement. Planta, 253, p. 45. (JCR IF=4.540).
• Viswanath, K.K., Varakumar, P., Pamuru, R.R., Basha, S.J., Mehta, S. and Rao, A.D., 2020. Plant lipoxygenases and their role in plant physiology. Journal of Plant Biology, 63(2), pp.83-95. (JCR IF=3.150).
• Kumar, K.N, Manoranjitham, S.K., Rajendran, L., Darshan, K., Bharani, A. and Mehta, S., 2020. Morphological and molecular characterization of two devastating chilli pathogens Colletotrichum acutatum (Chilli die-back/ Anthracnose) and Fusarium brachygibbosum (Chilli wilt). Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 9(2), 916-921.
• Mehta, S., Bharti, J. and Guha, S., 2020. WRKY transcription factor super family: Role in plant disease management. Hans Shodhsudha, 1(1), 34-50.

• Mehta, S., Kumar, A., Prakash, G., Achary, V.M.M., and Reddy, M.K. 2022. Fungicidal activity of herbicidal compound, Glyphosate, against Rice blast disease on glyphosate-tolerant OsmEPSPS transgenic rice, poster presented at International Conference (Hybrid mode) on Plant Pathology: Retrospect and Prospects, 23-26 March 2022, SKN Agricultural University, Jobner-Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. (Abstract No. PP105 (On) 3B) (Best Poster Award).
• Mehta, S., Kumar, A., Prakash, G., Singh, A., Rathi, N., Achary, V.M.M., Das, T.K. and Reddy, M.K., 2021. Potassium phosphite: A novel blasticide enhances blast disease resistance in ptxD-OE transgenic rice, poster presented at the National e-Conference on Plant Health and Food Security: Challenges and Opportunities, 25-27 March, 2021, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. (Abstract No. PP(S3)/02) (Best Poster Award).
• Lal, S.K., Dhandapani, R., Mehta, S., Chinnusamy, V. and Reddy, M.K., 2021. Enhancement in nitrogen use efficiency and grain yield through modulated co-overexpression of GS1.1 and GS2 in rice, poster presented at the International Symposium on Advances in Plant Biotechnology and Genome editing & 42nd Meeting of Plant Tissue Culture Association (India), 8-10 April, 2021, ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi, India. (Abstract No. S6-PP2).
• Mehta, S., Kumar, A., Achary, V.M.M., Ganesan, P., Rathi, N., Das, T.K., Lal, S.K., Jameel, M.R., and Reddy, M.K., 2019. Fungicidal activity of the herbicidal compound, glyphosate against blast disease on glyphosate-resistant transgenic rice, poster presented at the XIX International Plant Protection Congress, 10-14 November, 2019, Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. (Abstract No. IPM2 P36).
• Kumar, A., Munjal, V., Ganesan, P., Achary, V.M.M., Rathi, N., Das, T.K., Mehta, S. and Reddy, M.K., 2019. Potassium phosphite: A versatile compound displays fungicidal, bactericidal and herbicidal activity against major pathogens and weeds of rice, poster presented at the XIV Agricultural Science Congress-Innovations for Agricultural Transformation, 20-23 February, 2019, ICAR-NASC complex, New Delhi, India. (Abstract No. 978).
• Lal, S.K., Sheri, V., Varakumar, P., Mehta, S., Jameel, M.R., Kumar, V.A., and Reddy, M.K., 2018. Overexpression of GS-GOGAT gene in rice for enhancing nitrogen use efficiency, poster presented at the 4th International Plant Physiology Congress, 2-5 December, 2018, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India. (Abstract No. PM371/IPC_2018_ABS_L2751).

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• Participated in the DBT-Apex BTIC workshop on “Advanced Structural Bioinformatics” from 18-21st November 2019 at ICGEB, New Delhi, India.
• Participated in the course “Translational aspects of plant microbiome research” from 26-30th November, 2018 at ICGEB, Trieste, Italy.
• Attended the workshop “Plant responses to light and stress: emerging issues in climate change” from 10-12th October, 2018 at ICGEB, New Delhi, India.
• Participated in the training program entitled “Schrodinger Training Workshop” from 24-28th September, 2018 at ICGEB, New Delhi, India.
• Attended the workshop “Smart metabolic engineering of plants for drug biosynthesis” from 16-17th March, 2018 at ICGEB, New Delhi, India.
• Participated in collaborative mini-course: “The fate of carbon in forests: a functional traits approach” held at Department of Botany, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India from 12-17th  October, 2016.
• Participated in “National Conference on Plant Science Research: Looking Beyond 21st century” as a volunteer held at Department of Botany, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India (2015).
• Participated at “Century for Environmental & Agricultural Revolution” held at Department of Botany, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India (2015).
• Participated in “Inspire Internship Programme-2015” as Student Mentor held at Miranda House, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India (2015).
• Attended 2 days DBT workshop on “Recent Advances in Microbiology” at Hansraj College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India (2014).
• Presented poster in National Conference on “Nano technology in Cancer Cure” held at Hans Raj College, New Delhi, India from 16-18th March, 2013. 

Patents

Patent Application Publication No. 202211035299 (Bio-technical Interventions for Precision Agricultural Aspects along with Crop monitoring Analysis) on 01.07.2022

Popular articles

vPatel, A., Mehta, S., Sahu, K.P. and Kumar, M. (2020). Current status of rice blast management: Present and past. In Agrobios Newsletter, 18(9); 92-93. (Article no. 19520).

vPatel, A., Mehta, S., Sahu, K.P. and Kumar, M. (2020). Evolutionary trends in fungal effector genes. In Agrobios Newsletter, 18(9); 95-96. (Article no. 19529).

vKumar, M., Mehta, S., Sahu, K.P., Goyal, T. and Patel, A. (2020). Plants, Defense system and Phyto-pathogens. In Agrobios Newsletter, 18(9); 98-100. (Article no. 19583).

vSahu, K.P., Mehta, S., Goyal, T., Kumar, M. and Patel, A. (2020). Insights into the Seed priming. In Agrobios Newsletter, 18(9); 108-110. (Article no. 19584).

vGoyal, T., Mehta, S., Sahu, K.P., Kumar, M. and Patel, A. (2020).  Benefits of drones. In Agrobios Newsletter, 18(9); 129-130. (Article no. 19581).

vSingh, J., Mehta, S.,  Goyal, T.,  Sahu, K.P., Kumar, M. and Patel, A. (2020). Mushroom and national security. In Agrobios Newsletter, 18(9); 134-135. (Article no. 19593).

vIddumu, V., Vijayan, V. and Mehta, S. (2020). SAR Development in Host System against Plant Pathogens thorough SA Mediated Signaling . In Agriculture & Food: e-Newsletter, 2(3); 289-291. (Article no. 23087).

vIddumu, V., Vijayan, V. and Mehta, S. (2020). Influence of Root Exudates on Plant-Microbe Interactions. In Agriculture & Food: e-Newsletter, 2(6); 136-137. (Article no. 30052).

vIddumu, V., Vijayan, V. and Mehta, S. (2020). Yeast: A Marvel Life-Form. In Agriculture & Food: e-Newsletter, 2(6); 138. (Article no. 30053).

vIddumu, V., Vijayan, V. and Mehta, S. (2020). Studying Fungi as Tools of Biological Research. In Agriculture & Food: e-Newsletter, 2(6); 139-140. (Article no. 30054).

vIddumu, V., Vijayan, V. and Mehta, S. (2020). Soil Solarization: An Eco-friendly Approach to Control Harmful Soil Inhabiting Organisms. In Agriculture & Food: e-Newsletter, 2(6); 141-142. (Article no. 30055).

vIddumu, V., Stanly, N.M., Vijayan, V. and Mehta, S. (2020). Redox Regulation as Driving Force on Plant Immunity Against Plant Pathogens. In Agriculture & Food: e-Newsletter, 2(6); 685-687. (Article no. 30258).

vMehta, S. (2019) Insights into the Herbicides Classification: A Lesson to Learn. In Agrobios Newsletter. 18(4); 16-17. (Article no. 18768).

vMehta, S. (2019) DNA Base Editors. In Agrobios Newsletter. 18(5); 129-130. (Article no. 18900).

vMehta, S., Sahu, K.P. and Kumar, M. (2019). Insights into the functions of Root border cells.  In Agrobios Newsletter. 18(5); 128-129. (Article no. 19038).

vMehta, S., Sahu, K.P., Kumar, M., Patel, A. and  Singh, J. (2019). Story of Plant, Soil and Waterlogging. In Agrobios Newsletter. 18(6); 25-26. (Article no. 19176).

vSahu, K.P., Mehta, S., Patel, A. and Kumar, M. (2019). Induced Systemic Resistance for Plant Protection. In Agrobios Newsletter, 18(6); 108-109. (Article no. 19183).

College Life Highlights

vQualified ARS-NET (I)-2018 (Plant Physiology discipline).

vQualified JOINT CSIR-UGC TEST (June, 2017 (JRF-CSIR Rank 46), Dec, 2016 (JRF-CSIR Rank 77), and June, 2016 (LS-NET Rank 46).

vGeneral Secretary of the Delhi University Botany Society (DUBS) for the session 2016-17.

vMedia President of Delhi University Students Union (D.U.S.U) for the session 2015-16.

vJoint Secretary of the Delhi University Botany Society (DUBS) for the session 2015-16.

vTreasurer and Head Coordinator of Departmental society-Botanique for the session 2013-14.

vJoint Secretary of Departmental society-Botanique for the session 2012-13.

vHead Boy and House Captain of the school for the sessions 2011-12, 2007-08, 2009-10 and 2010-11.

vCore member in Women Development Committee, Western Dance Society and Girl Defence Society of Hans Raj College, University of Delhi (2014, 2015).