The major focus of my group is on plant natural product biotechnology with emphasis on plant volatiles and specialized metabolism. Our broad aim is the investigation of the properties of plants as they relate to food and other post-harvest uses, including for example, flavour/fragrance and bioactive compounds. In addition to phytochemical analysis, we continue to do plant cell and organ cultures for studying of enzyme activities and gene expressions responsible for the synthesis of natural products of our interest.
The current research areas of this group are -
Mechanistic understanding of floral and foliar extrafloral nectar secretion in relation to the biosynthesis of floral scent volatiles
Understanding epicuticular wax deposition and scent emission in tuberose flowers
Evaluating spectral light quality on the synthesis of ascorbic acid and terpenoid volatiles in Coriandrum sativum and Plectrathus amboinicus
Generating anthocyanin and other value-added metabolome in Melissa officinalis leaves upon post-harvest treatment
Targeted metabolomics of floral secretory products and extrafloral nectaries
Understanding essential oils secretory system in vegetative organs of Lauraceae and Myrtaceae members

Our specialized facilities include two HPLCs, two UV-VIS spectrophotometers, GC-MS, GC-FID, refrigerated centrifuge, , thermocyclers, electrophoresis systems, minus 20 and minus 80 freezers, gel documentation system, lyophilizer, vacuum concentrators, rotary vacuum evaporator, fluorescence and stereo-zoom microscopes, rotary microtome, plant growth chamber, plant cell & tissue culture facility, experimental garden and a dedicated temperature and humidity controlled greenhouse with photoperiodic illumination facility.

Current research projects are supported SERB, DST (SEED), DST (International Div), and DBT. A number of projects involve collaboration with other partners such as, Mizoram University under DBT NER-BPMC progarmme, CSIR-IHBT Palampur and YSPUHF Solan under DST ASACODER programme, Komarov Botanical Institute at Saint Petersburg (Russian Academy of Science) under DST-RFBR funding, Uniersity of Wroclaw (Poland) under INSA-PAS exchange programme and Technical University of Braunschweig (Germany) under DAAD IIT-TU9 KOPSIE programme.

All Publications

Morphological, physiological and ultrastructural changes in flowers explain the spatio-temporal emission of scent volatiles in Polianthes tuberosa L. by Maiti S., Mitra A. Plant & Cell Physiology 58 2095-2111 (2017)
Unlocking the potential of spectral LED lights in enhancing glandular trichome density and accumulation of bioactive specialized metabolites in spearmint by Chatterjee D., Mitra A. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology 271 - (2025)
Understanding the Fine Coordination Among Scent Emission, Anthocyanin Accumulation, and Nectar Secretion in the Color Changing Flowers of Combretum indicum by Ghissing U., Paul S., Goswami A., Ghosh R., Mitra A. Physiologia Plantarum 177 - (2025)
Histochemical and molecular analyses reveal an insight into the scent volatiles synthesis and emission in ephemeral flowers of Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack by Datta S., Paul S., Ballabh L., Mitra A. Planta 260 - (2024)
Histochemical, metabolic and ultrastructural changes in leaf patelliform nectaries explain extrafloral nectar synthesis and secretion in Clerodendrum chinense by Paul S., Mitra A. Annals of Botany 133 621-642 (2024)
Temporal accumulation of pigments during colour transformation from white to red in Combretum indicum (L.) DeFilipps (syn. Quisqualis indica L.) flowers by Ghissing U., Goswami A., Mitra A. Natural Product Research 37 529-533 (2023)
Floral maturation and changing air temperatures influence scent volatiles biosynthesis and emission in Jasminum auriculatum Vahl by Barman M., Mitra A. Environmental and Experimental Botany 181 104296- (2021)
Revealing floral metabolite network in tuberose that underpins scent volatiles synthesis, storage and emission by Kutty N.N., Ghissing U., Mitra A. Plant Molecular Biology 106 533-554 (2021)
Temporal relationship between emitted and endogenous floral scent volatiles in summer- and winter-blooming Jasminum species by Barman M., Mitra A. Physiologia Plantarum 166 946-959 (2019)

Completed Projects

Principal Investigator

Evaluation of natural fibre-based agro-textile products in protected eco-friendly structures for production of high-value horticultural crops Ministry of Textile, GoI
Investigating the impact of spectral lights on metabolic physiology and product quality enhancement in fishmint (Houttuynia cordata) - a traditional aromatic plant of specialty culinary uses in Manipur Department of Science and Technology (DST)
Understanding temporal shift in petal colour changes and its consequence on floral scent volatiles synthesis and emission in Gardenia carinata Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)
Understanding temporal shift in petal colour changes and its consequence on floral scent volatiles synthesis and emission in Gardenia carinata Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
Understanding the modulatory role of microbial volatiles in central and specialized metabolism leading to possible enhancement of signature metabolites in aromatic plants Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)

Alumni members