Santosh Kumar Upadhyay is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany at Panjab University, India, with over 16 years of experience in Plant Science. His research focuses on green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and key defense-related proteins, as well as long non-coding RNAs involved in stress responses. He has made significant contributions to plant defense and genome editing research. Dr. Upadhyay has received prestigious awards including the INSA Associate Fellowship and the INSA Medal for Young Scientist.

• An introduction to the defense-related proteins in plantsOrigin and evolutionary history of defense-related proteins in plantsPathogenesis-related proteins and plant defense responsePlant thaumatin-like protein family: Genome-wide diversification, evolution, and adaptation in functionsPlants chitinases: Role in biotic stress responseStructural and functional diversity of plant lectinsPlant protease inhibitors: Biological roles and applications in plant stress toleranceOsmotin in stress response and signaling in plantsFunctional divergence in plant cyclotides and their role in plant defenseDefensins in plants: Diversity and role in plant defenseSignificance of RLKs and RLKs in plant defense responseRole of heat shock proteins in abiotic and biotic stress response in plantsRevisit of isolated and characterized ribosome-inactivating proteins from edible plants and their possible biotechnological rolePectin methylesterase (PME) and PME inhibitors (PMELs): Exploration of their role in stress response in plantsRole of vicilin in plant defenseNBS-LRRs: Role in defense signalingEnzymatic antioxidants in stress response and signaling in plantsRole of calcium-binding proteins in defense signaling in plants