1. Exploration, identification and characterization of PGPRs from western Himalayan niches for sustainable agricultural development.
2. Application of PGPRs in heavy metal bioremediation.
3. Microbiome analysis and microbial bioprospecting for solid waste management, specializing in lignocellulosic agroforestry residues across Himalayan ecosystem.
4. Saffron Tissue Culture. 

Awards and contribution

• Alma stokey Botany Prize for the best student of III B.Sc. Botany (Core)
• Best Paper Award in Ecology Section in the Conference of Indian Botanical Society in 1993
• CSIR Innovative suggestion award 2005

Technology developed and transferred

• Startup: Successfully completed mentoring of Startup Mr. Rajveer through Chief Minister Start-up Scheme in the area of bio-fertilizer. The incubatee registered a company M/s Golden rise, Palampur, and has been sanctioned a loan from State Govt. for establishing a production unit.
• Technology Transfer: Technology for Biofertilizer production transferred to M/s Biomimicry Technologies Pvt Ltd. Delhi.
• Technology Transfer: Innovative Technology for “Cost-effective protocol for production of In vitro corms of saffron” transferred to M/S PROP. SHARMA BIOTECH, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh

Innovation & Technology Management

• Strengthened Institute-industry linkage by survey of techno-assessment need tea, floriculture, food and herbal industry and by organizing interactive meets.
• Status report of- Techno-management need of Tea, herbal, food and floriculture industry of Himachal Pradesh
• Database of selected industries and their techno-management need

Databases Developed

• Database of project with along with output, outcome and leads   
• A web based system was designed for Grass Flora for the project entitled “Development of database on the photosynthetic diversity in Indian grass flora”. It shows distribution of grasses in the Indian Himalayan regions w.r.t. C3 and C4 pathways. Query could be raised depending on need like location, physical parameters (temperature, rainfall etc.)
• Database of Herbal industries, tea industries and food industry of HP along with their needs(done under a project entitled Techno-innovation management of tea, herbal and food industries sponsored by DSIR)
• Institutional Repository of CSIR-IHBT (papers published) hosted at Central Harvester maintained by CSIR-URDIP, Pune,
• Knowledge Database: to retrieve information from database of publication, technical folder, patent and projects
• Database of Institutional technologies

Web Portal

• Developed a website for Indian Fern Society. and hosted on IHBT web server
• Developed   a portal for Workshop on “Trends in the Evolutionary Systems Biology & Computational Structural Dynamics (23-24 March 2015)” for online registration of participants and workshop details
• Developed a webportal through which students interested in pursuing research in CSIR-IHBT could send their resume/biodata and scientists could check or download student’s CV (through intranet -from their login) and interact with the student
• A web portal for Analytical services: Through this interested researchers could  post request for sample analysis and track the  progress of sample processing upto sending of reports. The report could be assessed online through password  
• Scientist login: to assess project, paper, publication etc. 

Handy Online Tools 

• Reporting work done under Rajbhasha
• Uploading of NIT by ESU & Stores
• Uploading/ updating CV by scientists independently
• Uploading CV for rolling application and view by scientists  
• Uploading circulars by Admin
• Approval form for new project

Rishabh Kaundal, Rajender Kumar, Aman Kumar, Aparna Maitra Pati, and Dinesh Kumar. Isolation, chemophenetic profiling, antibacterial activity, and in silico pharmacokinetic-toxicological evaluation of secondary metabolites from Viola canescens Wall. ex Roxb." In Silico Research in Biomedicine (2026): 100368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.insi.2026.100368

Priya Kaushal and Aparna Maitra Pati. Mechanistic insights of bioremediation potential of Bacillus altitudinis and its impact on rice grown under contaminated soil. 2026. Archives of Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-026-04757-1

Sakshi Dogra, Ayush Lepcha, Sudesh Kumar Yadav, Aparna Maitra Pati. Microplastic Pollution in Agricultural Soils: Microbial Interactions, Food-Chain Risks, and Management Strategies with special reference to High-Altitude Agroecosystems. 2026. Environmental Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2026.123949

Kapil Dev, Ritesh Sharma, Sanjeev K. Sharma, Aparna Maitra Pati, Vijai K. Agnihotri. Comparative chemical profiling, antimicrobial potential, and integrative network pharmacological assessment of Pinus roxburghii Sarg. essential oils. 2025. Natural Product Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2025.2598055

Yog Raj, Nilofer Ali, Aparna Maitra Pati, Rakshak Kumar, Rakesh Kumar. St. John's wort root-associated beneficial bacteria with vermicompost augment specialized metabolites without penalizing biomass yield by improving photosynthesis and soil microbial properties. 2025. Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmap.2025.100670

Priya Kaushal, Aparna Maitra Pati. Unleashing rhizobacteria for sustainable soil remediation: PGPR roles in heavy metal tolerance, detoxification, and plant productivity. 2025. Frontiers in Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1662000

Manisha, Kishor Chandra Kandpal, Meenakshi, Vivek Dhiman, Aparna Maitra Pati, Amit Kumar. High-performance hyperspectral remote sensing and machine learning algorithms for detection of blister blight in Camellia sinensis. 2025. Agronomy Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.70060

Kapil Dev, Ritesh Sharma, Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, Aparna Maitra Pati, Vijai Kant Agnihotri. Comparative chemical profiling, antimicrobial activity of Cyclospermum leptophyllum (Pers.) Sprague ex Britton and P. Wilson essential oil and evaluation of their integrative network pharmacology. 2025. Natural Product Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2025.2484270 

Ayush Lepcha, Raghawendra Kumar, Kiran Dindhoria, Bhavya Bhargava, Aparna Maitra Pati,
Rakshak Kumar. Metagenomic insights into the functional potential of non-sanitary landfill microbiomes in the Indian Himalayan region, highlighting key plastic degrading genes. 2024. Journal of Hazardous Materials. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136642

Sachin Vashisath, Rishabh Kaundal, Aman kumar, Rishabh Bhardwaj, Singh Pragati Shesh, Abhishek Bhatt, Aparna Maitra Pati, Dinesh Kumar. Impact of Geographical Distribution on Chemical Composition and Biological Potential of Juniperus communis L. Essential Oil: A Case Study from Northwestern Himalayas. 2024. Chemistry & Biodiversity. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202402564

Priya Kaushal, Aparna Maitra Pati. Bacillus altitudinis Mediated Lead Bioremediation for Enhanced Growth of Rice Seedlings. 2024. Current Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-024-03934-z

Nilofer Ali, Aparna Maitra Pati. PGPR isolated from hot spring imparts resilience to drought stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). 2024. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.109031

Nilofer Ali, Aparna Maitra Pati. PGPR mediated enhancement of saffron corm production in non-traditional area of Himachal Pradesh, India. 2023. South African journal of botany. doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2023.08.019

Nilofer Ali, Mohit Kumar Swarnkar, Raj Veer, Priya Kaushal, Aparna Maitra Pati. Temperature-induced modulation of stress-tolerant PGP genes bioprospected from Bacillus sp. IHBT-705 associated with saffron (Crocus sativus) rhizosphere: A natural -treasure trove of microbial biostimulants. 2023. Frontiers in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1141538

Shradha Nirwan, Archana Kumari Sharma, Ravi Mani Tripathi, Aparna Maitra Pati, Neeraj Shrivastava. Resistance strategies for defense against Albugo candida causing white rust disease. 2023. Microbiological Research. doi.org/10.1016/j.micres.2023.127317

Priya Kaushal, Nilofer Ali, Shivani Saini, Pratap Kumar Pati, Aparna Maitra Pati. Physiological and molecular insight of microbial biostimulants for sustainable agriculture. 2023. Frontiers in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1041413

Yog Raj, Nilofer Ali, Aparna Maitra Pati, Rakesh Kumar. Cleaner production technologies for the amelioration of soil health, biomass, and secondary metabolites in Ocimum basilicum L. under Indian Western Himalaya. 2022. Frontiers in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.976295

Saumya Singh Sakshi Vivek Yadav Annapurna Kannepalli Aparna Maitra Pati, Swati Tripathi, Neeraj Shrivastava, Ajit Varma. Mechanism of the synergistic impact of Piriformospora indica and Azotobacter chroococcum on Zn and Fe biofortification. 2022. Current Research in Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crbiot.2022.09.005

Shivani Saini, Isha Sharma, Priya, Aparna Maitra Pati, Pratap Kumar Pati. Plant Hormonal Crosstalk: A Nexus of Root Development. In: Mukherjee, S., Baluška, F. (eds) Rhizobiology: Molecular Physiology of Plant Roots. Signaling and Communication in Plants. 2021. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84985-6_9

Amritpreet Kaur, Pratap Kumar Pati, Aparna Maitra Pati, Avinash Kaur Nagpal. Physico-chemical characterization and topological analysis of pathogenesis-related proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa using in-silico approaches. 2020. PLoS One. 10.1371/journal.pone.0239836

Amritpreet Kaur, Pratap Kumar Pati, Aparna Maitra Pati and Avinash Kaur Nagpal . In-silico analysis of cis-acting regulatory elements of pathogenesis-related proteins of Arabidopsis. 2017. PLoS One. 10.1371/journal.pone.0184523

Aparna Maitra Pati and Sukhjinder Singh. Understanding Need of Flower Growers of Himachal Pradesh. 2015. International Journal of Research in Computer Application & Management.

Aparna Maitra Pati, Sukhjinder Singh, Doulat Ram and Paramvir Singh Ahuja. Analysis   of responses of food processing industries in Himachal Pradesh. 2014. International Journal of   Scientific Research (IJSR).

Aparna Maitra Pati, Sukhjinder Singh, Doulat Ram and Paramvir Singh Ahuja. Study on the problems and need of the herbal industry in H.P. 2013. International Journal of Scientific Research (IJSR).

Aparna Maitra Pati, R.K. Sud, Sukhjinder Singh, Doulat Ram and P.S. Ahuja.Management Problems and Need of North- Western Tea Industry of India. 2010. International Jr. of Tropical Agriculture.

Aparna Maitra Pati and P.S. Ahuja. Managing knowledge in a research organization: A case study in Managing knowledge markets in a global economy: 2003. The Indian context.Eds O.P. Agarwal and Sudeep Kumar pp39-42

P.S. Ahuja and Aparna Maitra Pati. Managing R&D: Indian Scenario R7D Management Conference- The challenges of managing indigenous R&D in a Global Setting 2002. (Eds O.P. Agarwal and Sudeeep Kumar) pp12-16

P.S.Ahuja and Aparna Maitra. IHBT- Catalysing Bioresource Development in Western Himalaya. 2000. Yojana.

S.P. Gautam, K. Prasad, and A. Maitra. Impact of Gloms macrocarpum (VAM) on Protein Content of Dendrocalamus strictus  (Roxb) Nees.Under Field Conditions. 1998. Indian Journal of Applied and Pure Biology.

S.P. Gautam and Aparna Maitra. Role of VAM in the Establishment of Dendrocalamus strictus in the field. 1998. Indian Forester.

S.P. Gautam and Aparna Maitra. Impact of Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Growth of Dendrocalamus strictus. In Mycorrhizae: Biofertilizer for the Future. Proceeding of the Third National Conference on Mycorrhizae. A. Adholeya and S. Singh (eds). 1995. Tata Energy Research Institute, New Delhi. pp. 400-401

S.P. Gautam and Aparna Maitra.VA Mycorrhizae at a Glance. 1995. Journal of Indian Botanical Society.

Aparna Maitra and S.P. Gautam. Ecological Studies of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (VAMF) Associated with Dendrocalamus strictus in Central Madhya Pradesh. 1994. Journal of Phytological Research.

Current Members:

1. Dr. Shubham Kaundal is currently working as a Project Associate-II in the NMHS-funded project, "Best of Waste: Transforming Food Waste-Microbial Bioformulation for Boosting Plant Growth," where he is involved in developing microbial technologies for food waste bioconversion and sustainable agricultural bio-inputs. He completed his Ph.D. in Microbiology (2025) from Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. His doctoral research focused on the evaluation of biofilm-forming plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for enhancing the growth and yield of tomato. His research interests include plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), microbial biofilms, microbial bioformulations, compost microbiology, microbial bioconversion of organic waste, and sustainable waste valorization for agriculture.
2. Ms. Priya Kaushal (Ph.D. Scholar enrolled in GNDU, Amritsar). Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of heavy metal amelioration by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying plant-microbe interactions, and developing microbial technologies for sustainable environmental remediation.
3. Mr. Ayush Lepcha (Ph.D. Scholar enrolled in AcSIR). The key area of his research includes exploring the landfill microbiome through culture-dependent and culture-independent studies from the non-sanitary landfills of the Indian Himalayan region to develop microbial solutions for waste management and bioremediation purposes.
4. Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Sharma (Ph.D. Scholar enrolled in AcSIR). His primary research focus is comprehensive exploration and bioprospection of the microbiome across diverse regions of the Indian Himalayas. He is particularly focused on the identification and characterization of potential novel microorganisms within this ecosystem, with a specialized emphasis on their efficacy in agro-industrial waste stabilization.
5. Mr. Sourav Kanungo (Ph.D. Scholar enrolled in AcSIR). The key area of his research includes exploring the symbiotic relationship between PGPRs and endophytic mycorrhiza to enhance plant growth. His focus extends to formulating cost-effective bio-solutions tailored for endangered plant species thriving in high-altitude environments.
6. Mr. Gowhar Rashid Lone (Ph.D. Scholar enrolled in GNDU, Amritsar). His key research areas include saffron agronomy, PGPR-based biofertilizers for saffron, and in vitro saffron cultivation, with an emphasis on improving saffron productivity, corm multiplication, and quality through sustainable biotechnological approaches.
7. Ms. Sakshi Dogra (Ph.D. Scholar enrolled in GNDU, Amritsar). Her research focuses on the impact of microplastics on soil health, particularly their effects on soil properties, microbial communities, and crop productivity, with the aim of developing sustainable mitigation strategies.
8. Ms. Pallavi Sharma (Ph.D. Scholar enrolled in AcSIR). Her research is centered on development of PGPRs based consortium for improvement of aromatic compound content and stress tolerance in major aromatic crops.
9. Ms. Sakshi is a Project Associate-I working under the Bioresource Conservation and Prospection mission project. Her research focuses on the characterization of microbial biodiversity and bioprospection in Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary. Her work involves identifying the core rhizomicrobiome using metagenomic and culture-dependent approaches, followed by the molecular and functional characterization of selected microbial isolates to evaluate their PGPR potential.
10. Mr. Jagdeep Singh working as a Project Assistant in the NMHS-funded project, "Best of Waste: Transforming Food Waste -Microbial Bioformulation for Boosting Plant Growth”. He is involved in hands-on research and practical application, specifically in the areas of waste management, biomass utilization for biochar and Compost Booster production. He is actively involved in creating and implementing eco-friendly technologies to reduce waste and promote a circular economy.

Ph.D. Thesis Submitted

Ms. Priya Kaushal (2026)

Ph.D. Degree Awarded

Dr. Aman Kumar (2026): His primary research focuses on bio-augmentation of potential hydrolytic psychrotrophic anaerobes for the improvement of anaerobic digestion at low temperature particularly microbial community structure analysis of biogas slurry from household biogas plants of the Himalayan region and development of potential psychrotrophic anaerobic bacterial consortium for the improvement of anaerobic digestion leading to check the effect of treated digestate on soil fertility and plant growth.

Dr. Nilofer Ali (2024): The key area of her research includes exploring the culturable and nonculturable novel microbes specifically Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) from the Himalayan region with extreme conditions, which play pivotal roles in modulating plant stress responses leading to the enhancement of plant growth.

(Currently working as ANRF National Postdoctoral Fellow at CSIR-IMTECH, Chandigarh)

Former Members

Mr. Sukrit Saklani (Project associate)

Ms. Sonia Sharma (Project associate)

Ms. Raveena Saini (Project assistant) 

Dr. Shobhit Thappa (Probation period for scientist 2020) (Currently: scientist ICAR Mau)

Ms. Pooja Sharma (Dissertation: MPhil- 2020)

Trainees

Ms. Ariyanshi Lepcha (2026)

Ms. Barleen Kaur Randhawa (2026)

Mr. Aditya (2026)

Ms. Komal (2026)

Ms. Arohi Arora (2026)

Ms. Palwinder Kaur (2026)

Ms. Charu (2026)

Ms. Nidhi (2026)

Ms. Kritika Tiwari (2026)

Ms. Eshika Sharma (2026)

Ms. Pallavi Sharma (2026)

Ms. Preeti Thakur (2026)

Ms. Minakshi (2026)

Ms. Sakshi Kapoor (2025)

Ms. Sakshi (2025)

Ms. Silpa Priyadarshini (2025)

Ms. Anshika Singh (2025)

Mr. Ayush Mishra (2025)

Mr. Om Jariwala (2025)

Mr. Divy Trivedi (2025)

Ms. Gawadiya Bhavyata (2025)

Ms. Rishi Sharma (2024)

Ms. Shivangi (2024)

Ms. Rashika Parmar (2024)

Ms. Kanupriya (2023)

Ms. Saloni (2023)

Ms. Gudiya (2022)

Ms. Komal (2022)

Ms. Shrishti Jishtu (2019)

Mr. Yash Dawar (2019)