Nishanth Tharayil Plant Physiologist/Weed Ecologist OFFICE: 304 Long Hall ADDRESS: Dept. of Entomology, Soils, & Plant Sciences, 113 Long Hall, Clemson, SC 29634-0315 TELEPHONE: 864-656-4453 FAX: FAX: 864-656-0274 E-MAIL: ntharay@clemson.edu For more information go to   Tharayil Lab website   [http://people.clemson.edu/~ntharay/index.htm]

Qualifications

• Postdoctoral Fellow, United States Department of Agriculture, Parlier, CA
• PhD, Plant & Soil Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2008
• MSc, Agronomy, G.B.P.U.A. & T. Pantnagar, India

Research Interests

The broad research interest of the lab is in plant ecophysiology with primary aim of understanding the significance of various plant secondary-metabolites in shaping plant communities.  

The lab has two research foci- one basic and one applied. The focus of our basic research is on belowground plant-plant interactions mediated by root exudates. Along with the physiology of plant root exudation, an important focus of the lab is to understand various biological and chemical processes that stabilize these extremely labile exudates in soil. Together with the conventional negative plant-plant interactions (allelopathy), using invasive plant species, we investigate the cause and consequence of root exudation on overall plant fitness (with respect to resource foraging under stressed environments). A related topic we address is the ecological significance of physiological integration among connected ramets in clonal plant species.
 
Our applied research, driven by our basic research, is focused on optimizing allelochemical production in cover-crops for organic weed management, and to predict and manage habitat specific plant invasions based on physiochemical traits of exotic plant species.

Selected Publications

• Tharayil. N.; Bhowmik, P.C.; Alpert, P; Walker, E.; Xing, B.; Amarasiriwardena. 2008. Dual purpose secondary compounds: Phytotoxins of Centaurea diffusa also facilitates nutrient uptake. New Phytologist, 181: 424-434.
• Tharayil, N.; Bhowmik, P. C.; Xing, B. 2008. Phyto-availability of allelochemicals as affected by companion compounds in soil-microbial systems. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 56:  3706 - 3713
• Roiloa, S.R.; Alpert, P.; Tharayil, N.; Hanock, G.; Bhowmik, P.C. 2007. Greater Capacity for division of labor in clones of Fragaria chiloensis from patchier habitats. Journal of Ecology, 95: 397-405
• Tharayil, N; Bhowmik, P.C. Xing, B. 2006. Preferential sorption of phenolic phytotoxins to soil: implications for the availability of allelochemicals. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 54: 3033-3040.
• Barney, J.N.; Tharayil, N.;  DiTommaso, A.; Bhowmik, P. 2006. The Biology of Invasive Alien Plants in Canada. XX. Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. & Zucc. [= Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Dcne.]. Canadian Journal of Plant Sciences,. 86: 887-905.
• Bhowmik, P.C.; Tharayil, N. 2006. Characteristics and significance of invasive plant species. In. Biodiversity, Conservation, and Systematics. Prithipalsingh. Scientific Publishers. Jodhpur. India. pp. 183-207.

Research assistantship available

• Graduate research assistantship

• Undergraduate research opportunity

Entomology, Soils, & Plant Sciences Department
Agronomy -- Entomology -- Plant Pathology -- Soil Science
114 Long Hall, Clemson University
Clemson, SC 29634-0315
office (864)656-3111 fax (864)656-0274

M.S. and Ph.D. in Plant & Environmental Science -- B.S. in Soils and Sustainable Crop Systems
Faculty/Staff -- Research Programs -- Extension/Public Service

Tiger Weather

College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences -- Public Service and Agriculture (PSA)

Maintained by Rachel Rowe (rrowe@clemson.edu). Last Updated: May 14, 2009
All rights reserved. Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634
Area Code: 864, Clemson University Information: 656-3311