Shailesh S. Sawant

Researcher with expertise in consolidated bioprocessing, fermentation technology, and plant–microbe interactions, focusing on microbial applications for human welfare. Proficient in PCR, DNA/RNA extraction, and bioinformatics, with a strong background in microbial diversity studies under abiotic stress. Skilled in developing biocontrol strategies to enhance crop resilience and managing laboratory operations effectively. Experienced in mentoring emerging scientists in research environments, fostering growth and innovation. My research interests include the isolation and characterization of beneficial microorganisms, fermentation, and the development of sustainable microbial technologies for agriculture and human health.

• Supervised undergraduate and junior researchers in laboratory techniques
• Delivered lectures in microbiology and biotechnology
• Guided students in experimental design and data interpretation

• Maintained laboratory organization and safety compliance
• Managed inventory, procurement, and equipment maintenance
• Coordinated experimental workflows and documentation

• Plant–Microbe Interaction Researcher with a Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering and over 8 years of experience in molecular biology, agricultural biotechnology, and microbial systems. Expertise in PCR-based genotyping, DNA/RNA extraction, plant-associated microbiomes, and bioinformatics analysis. Proven experience in plant stress biology, rhizosphere microbiology, and biocontrol strategies in field and greenhouse settings. Strong background in laboratory management and mentoring undergraduate researchers. Research interests include plant adaptation, stress physiology, and functional genomics.
• Investigated microbial-mediated drought tolerance in crops
• Isolation and characterization of beneficial microbes
• Developed microbial agents against soil-borne plant pathogens
• Conducted experiments in pear orchards and controlled environments
• Marker-assisted selection for disease resistance
• Disease monitoring and crop performance evaluation

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

1. Seo, Ho-Jin, YoSup Park, Eu Ddeum Choi, Byulhana Lee, Seong Sig Hong, Shailesh S. Sawant, Seung-Hwa Yu, and Chun-Gu Lee. "Effects of drone-assisted artificial pollination on fruit set and characteristics in Asian pear." The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology 101, no. 2 (2026): 260-269.

2. Cabulong, Rhudith B., Aderonke Odunayo Adigun, Samuel Imisi Awala, Krittayapong Jantharadej, Shailesh S. Sawant, and Beom Soo Kim. "Complete genome sequence of polyhydroxyalkanoates and carotenoid-producing Paracoccus marcusii strain LL1 isolated from Lonar Lake, India." Microbiology Resource Announcements 14, no. 8 (2025): e00011-25.

3. Shailesh S. Sawant, Hye-Young Park, Eun-Young Sim, Hong-Sig Kim, Hye-Sun Choi, 2025. Microbial Fermentation in Food: Impact on Functional Properties and Nutritional Enhancement—A Review of Recent Developments. Fermentation. 11(1), p.15.

4. Shailesh S. Sawant, Sarika R. Bhapkar, Janghoon Song, Ho-Jin Seo: 2024, Potential of Trichoderma Species to Control Rosellinia necatrix, the Etiological Agent of White Root Rot, Biological Control. 199, 105664.

5. Shailesh S. Sawant, Sarika R. Bhapkar, Janghoon Song, Ho-Jin Seo: 2024.Sustainable bioplastics: harnessing pear agro-industrial waste for polyhydroxyalkanoates production: a review. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, pp.1-12.

6. Seo, Ho-Jin, Shailesh S. Sawant, Byulhana Lee, Keumsun Kim, Janghoon Song, and Eu Ddeum Choi. "Mechanisms driving fruit cracking in ‘Sinhwa’pears (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) and effect of foliar fertilizer application on fruit quality." Scientia Horticulturae 332 (2024): 113232.

7. Shailesh S. Sawant., Janghoon Song, and Ho-Jin Seo. "Study of new biocontrol bacterial agent Bacillus velezensis S41L against Rosellinia necatrix." Biological Control 185 (2023): 105305.

8. Shailesh S. Sawant, Byulhana Lee, Janghoon Song, Ho-Jin Seo. Jun 2023. Exploring Small-fruit Production in India: Present Landscape and Future Opportunities. Journal of the Korean Society of International Agriculture Vol.35 No.2 pp.101-111.

9. Ho-Jin Seo, Shailesh S. Sawant, Janghoon Song, 2022. Fruit Cracking in Pears: Its Cause and Management—A Review. Agronomy, 12(10), p.2437.

10. Shailesh S. Sawant, Byulhana Lee, Janghoon Song, Ho-Jin Seo. Sep 2022. The Indian Gooseberry (Emblica officinalis) Industry and Cultivation in India. Journal of the Korean Society of International Agriculture Vol.34 No.3 pp.199-204.

11. Shailesh S. Sawant, Eu Ddeum Choi, Janghoon Song, Ho-Jin Seo,, 2022. Characterization of Bacillus velezensis RDA1 as a Biological Control Agent against White Root Rot Disease Caused by Rosellinia necatrix. Plants, 11(19), p.2486.

12. Shailesh S. Sawant, Eu Ddeum Choi, Janghoon Song, Ho-Jin Seo, Current Status and Future Prospects of White Root Rot Management in Pear Orchards: A Review, Res. Plant Dis. 2021;27(3):91-98. Published online September 30, 2021.

13. Shailesh S. Sawant, Eu Ddeum Choi, Janghoon Song, Ho-Jin Seo, 2021. Pear production trends and characteristics of important pests in India. Journal of the Korean Society of International Agriculture Vol.33 No.3 pp.265-269.

14. Shailesh S. Sawant, Sang Yoon Kim, Mee Kyung Sang, Hang-Yeon Weon, Songwha Kim, and Jaekyeong Song. "Complete genome sequence of Bacillus mesonae H20-5, an efficient strain enhancing abiotic stress tolerance in plants." The Microbiological Society of Korea 55, no. 4 (2019): 408-410.

15. Shailesh S. Sawant, Bipinchandra K.Salunke, Beom Soo Kim, 2018. Consolidated bioprocessing for production of polyhydroxyalkanotes from red algae Gelidium amansii. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 109, 1012–1018.

16. Shailesh S. Sawant, Bipinchandra K. Salunke Tuan Kiet Tran, and Beom Soo Kim. "Potential of Saccharophagus degradans for production of polyhydroxyalkanoates using cellulose." Process Biochemistry (2017).

17. Shailesh S. Sawant, Bipinchandra K. Salunke, Taylor LE and Kim BS. Enhanced agarose and xylan degradation for production of polyhydroxyalkanoates by co-culture of marine bacterium, Saccharophagus degradans, and its contaminant, Bacillus cereus. Applied Sciences. (2017) Feb 28;7(3):225.

18. Shailesh S. Sawant, Bipinchandra K. Salunke Tuan Kiet Tran, and Beom Soo Kim, Lignocellulosic and marine biomass as a resource for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering (2016), Volume 33, Issue 5, pp 1505-1513; ISSN: 0256-1115.

19. Salunke BK, Shailesh S. Sawant, Kim BS; Enhancement of antibacterial effect by biosynthesized silver nanoparticles with antibiotics; J Nanoscience Nanotechnol. (2016).

20. Salunke, Bipinchandra K., Shailesh S. Sawant, Sang-Ill Lee, and Beom Soo Kim. "Microorganisms as efficient biosystem for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles: current scenario and future possibilities." World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology (2016). 1-16.

21. Shailesh S. Sawant, Bipinchandra K. Salunke, and Beom Soo Kim, A rapid, sensitive, simple plate assay for detection of microbial alginate lyase activity, Enzyme and Microbial Technology (2015); Volume 77, September 2015, P 8–13; ISSN: 0141-0229.

22. Shailesh S. Sawant, Bipinchandra K. Salunke, and Beom Soo Kim, Degradation of corn stover by fungal cellulase cocktail for production of polyhydroxyalkanoates by moderate halophile Paracoccus sp. LL1, Bioresource Technology (2015) October, 194, 247-255; ISSN: 0960-8524.

23. Salunke, Bipinchandra K., Shailesh S. Sawant, Tae Koo Kang, Deok Yun Seo, Youngjong Cha, Sun A. Moon, Bassam Alkotaini, Ezhaveni Sathiyamoorthi, and Beom Soo Kim; Potential of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles as Nanocatalyst for Enhanced Degradation of Cellulose by Cellulase; Journal of Nanomaterials (2015) Volume 16 Issue 1, Article No. 18.

24. Salunke, B. K., Shailesh S. Sawant, Lee, S. I., & Kim, B. S, Comparative study of MnO2 nanoparticle synthesis by marine bacterium Saccharophagus degradans and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (2015), Volume 99, Issue 13, pp 5419–5427; ISSN: 0175-7598

25. Shailesh S. Sawant, Bipinchandra K. Salunke, and Beom Soo Kim "A Laboratory Case Study of Efficient Polyhydoxyalkonates Production by Bacillus cereus, a Contaminant in Saccharophagusdegradans ATCC 43961 in Minimal Sea Salt Media."Current microbiology (2014) 69, no.6:832-838 P0343-8651 E ISSN1432-0991.

26. Arvind Kumar Gupta, Gurdeep Rastogi, DanaNayduch, Shailesh S Sawant, Ramesh R Bhonde,Yogesh S Shouche, Molecular phylogenetic profiling of gut-associated bacteria in larvae and adults of flesh flies (Sarcophaga spp; Medical and Veterinary Entomology (2014); Volume 28, Issue 4, pages 345–354, ISSN: 1365-2915;

27. Bipinchandra K. Salunke, Shailesh S. Sawant, and Beom Soo Kim; Potential of Kalopanax septemlobus Leaf Extract in Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles for Selective Inhibition of Specific Bacterial Strain in Mixed Culture; Applied biochemistry and biotechnology (2014), Volume 174, Issue 2, pp 587-601 ISSN 1559-0291.

28. Bipinchandra K. Salunke, Shailesh S. Sawant, and Beom Soo Kim; Rapid biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Kalopanaxpictus plant extract and their antimicrobial activity; Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering (2014), Volume 31, Issue 11, pp 2035– 2040ISSN: 0256-1115.

29. Hyun Yun, Shailesh S. Sawant, Beom Soo Kim, Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates by Ralstoniaeutropha from volatile fatty acids; Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering (2013) Volume 30, Issue12, pp 2223-2227; ISSN: 0256-1115.

30. Pawar, Kiran D., Sunil Banskar, Shailendra D.Rane, Shakti S.Charan, Girish J.Kulkarni, Shailesh S. Sawant, Hemant V. Ghate, Milind S. Patole, and Yogesh S. Shouche; Bacterial diversity in different regions of gastrointestinal tract of Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica),; MicrobiologyOpen (2012); Volume 1, Issue 4, pages 415–426, ISSN 2045-8827.

• Dr. Beom Soo Kim, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Republic of Korea. Ph: +82 10-3132-2372; Fax: +82 43 269 2370. Email bskim@chungbuk.ac.kr
• Dr. Ho-Jin Seo, Professor, Department of Horticulture, Suncheon National University, Republic of Korea
  Ph:+82 10-3618-5700 Email: shj2992@scnu.ac.kr
• Dr. Kiran D. Pawar, Assistant Professor/ Director, School of Nanoscience and Technology, Shivaji University, Vidyanagari, Kolhapur, 416004. MS, India Ph:+91 8605898790 Email: pawarkiran1912@gmail.com; kdp.snst@unishivaji.ac.in