Education

Ph. D in Environmental Microbiology (2002), Anna University, Chennai, India.

M. Sc in Botany (1996), Madurai Kamarajar University, Madurai, India

B. Sc in Botany (1994), Madurai Kamarajar University, Madurai, India 

Research interest: 

Environmental Plant Sciences with emphasis on: Phytoremediation of metal contaminated soil and water.

Characterization of metal stress responses in plants.

Plant-microbe interactions involved in phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil

Bioremediation - using microbes to remediate contaminated soils and water.  

Publications

Y. Ma, M. Rajkumar, Y. Luo, H. Freitas (in press) Inoculation of endophytic bacteria on host and non-host plants - Effects on plant growth and Ni uptake. Journal of Hazardous Materials.

X. Qing, N. Ae, T. Suzuki, M. Rajkumar, Fukunaga, N. Fujitake (2011) Assessment of potentially reactive pools of aluminum in Andisols using a five-step sequential extraction. Soil Science & Plant Nutrition. 57, 500-507.

Y. Ma, M.N.V. Prasad, M. Rajkumar, H. Freitas (2011) Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and endophytes accelerate phytoremediation of metalliferous soils. Biotechnology Advances 29,248-258 

Y. Ma, M. Rajkumar, J.A.F. Vicente, H. Freitas (2011). Inoculation of Ni-Resistant Plant Growth Promoting Bacterium Psychrobacter sp. Strain SRS8 for the Improvement of Nickel Phytoextraction by Energy Crops. International Journal of Phytoremediation. 13,126-139

M. Rajkumar, N. Ae, M.N.V. Prasad, H. Freitas (2010) Potential of siderophore producing bacteria for improving heavy-metal phytoextraction. Trends in Biotechnology. 28, 142-149

M. Rajkumar, N. Ae., H. Freitas, (2009) Endophytic bacteria and their potential to enhance heavy metal phytoextraction. Chemosphere 77, 153-160

R. Jayakumar, M. Rajkumar, H. Freitas, N. Selvamurugan, S. V. Nair, T. Furuike, H. Tamura, (2009). Bioactive and metal uptake studies of carboxymethyl chitosan-graft-D-glucuronic acid membranes for tissue engineering and environmental applications. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 45, 135-139

M. Rajkumar, M.N.V. Prasad, H. Freitas, N. Ae (2009). Biotechnological applications of serpentine soil bacteria for phytoremediation of heavy metals. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology. 29, 120-130 

Y. Ma, M. Rajkumar and H. Freitas (2009). Improvement of plant growth and nickel uptake by nickel resistant-plant growth promoting bacteria, Journal of Hazardous Materials. 166, 1154-1161.

Y. Ma, M. Rajkumar and H. Freitas (2009). Isolation and characterization of Ni mobilizing PGPB from serpentine soils and their potential in promoting plant growth and Ni accumulation by Brassica spp. Chemosphere 75, 719-725 

R. Jayakumar, M. Rajkumar, H. Freitas, N. Selvamurugan, S. V. Nair, T. Furuike, H. Tamura (2009), Preparation, characterization, bioactive and metal uptake studies of alginate/phosphorylated chitin blend films. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 44. 107-111.

Y. Ma, M. Rajkumar and H. Freitas. (2009) Inoculation of plant growth promoting bacterium Achromobacter xylosoxidans strain Ax10 for the improvement of copper phytoextraction by Brassica juncea. Journal of Environmental Management. 90. 831-837.

M. Rajkumar, Y. Ma., H. Freitas (2008). Characterization of metal resistant plant growth promoting Bacillus weihenstephanensis isolated from serpentine soil in Portugal. Journal of Basic Microbiology. 48. 500-508.

M. Rajkumar, K.J. Lee and H. Freitas (2008). Effects of chitin and salicylic acid on biological control activity of Pseudomonas spp. against damping off of pepper. South African Journal of Botany. 74. 268-273.

M. Rajkumar and H. Freitas (2008). Influence of metal resistant-plant growth promoting bacteria on the growth of Ricinus communis in soil contaminated with heavy metals, Chemosphere. 71, 834-842.

M.N.V. Prasad, M. Rajkumar, H. Freitas. (2008) Rehabilitation of abandoned mine sites: connection to bioprospecting of metal tolerant plants and phytoassisted rhizoremediation. The Palaeobotanist, 57 (3):559-571.

M. Rajkumar and H. Freitas (2008), Effects of inoculation of plant-growth promoting bacteria on Ni uptake by Indian mustard. Bioresource Technology. 99, 3491-3498.

M. Prabaharan, M. Rajkumar and R. Jayakumar (2007), Chitosan and its derivatives: Promising materials for textile finishing. Asian Chitin Journal. 3, 1-14.

Kui Jae Lee, Min Kyung Choi, Wang Hyu Lee and M. Rajkumar (2006). Molecular Analysis of Korean Isolate of Barley Yellow Mosaic Virus. Virus genes. 32, 175-180.

M. Rajkumar, R. Nagendran, Kui Jae Lee and Wang Hyu Lee (2006). Influence of plant growth promoting bacteria and Cr6+ on the growth of Indian mustard. Chemosphere, 62, 741-748.

J. Rajesh Banu, S. Kaliappan, M. Rajkumar and Dieter Beck (2006). Treatment of spent wash in anaerobic mesophilic suspended growth reactor (AMSGR). Journal of Environmental Biology, 27 (1).

M. Rajkumar, R. Nagendran, Kui Jae Lee and Wang Hyu Lee (2005). Characterization of a novel Cr6+ reducing Pseudomonas sp. with plant growth-promoting potential. Current Microbiology, 50, 266-271. 

M. Rajkumar, Wang Hyu Lee and Kui Jae Lee (2005). Screening of bacterial antagonists for biological control of Phytophthora blight of pepper. Journal of Basic Microbiology, 45(1), 55-63.

M. Rajkumar, Kui Jae Lee, Wang Hyu Lee and J. Rajesh banu. (2005). Growth of Brassica juncea under chromium stress: Influence of siderophores and indole 3 acetic acid producing rhizosphere bacteria. Journal of Environmental Biology, 26 (4). 693-699.

R. Jayakumar, Y.S. Lee, M. Rajkumar, S. Nanjundan, (2004). Synthesis, characterization, and Antibacterial Activity of Metal-Containing Polyurethanes, Journal of Applied Polymer Science 91(1), 288-295. 

Arun. A, B. S. R. Reddy, and M. Rajkumar (2003), Polymeric Drug for Antimicrobial Activity Studies: Synthesis and Characterization, Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers, 18(3), 219 - 228.

R. Jayakumar, M. Rajkumar, R. Nagendran and S. Nanjundan. (2002) Synthesis and characterization of metal containing polyurethane having antibacterial activity. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 85(6), 1194-1206. 

R. Jayakumar, S. Nanjundan, M. Rajkumar and R. Nagendran (2001), Studies on metal containing polyurethanes based on divalent metal salts of Mono (hydroxy ethoxy ethyl) pthalate. Journal of Macromolecular Science, Part A-Pure and Applied Chemistry, 38(9), 869-888.

M. Rajkumar and R. Nagendran (2000), Studies on the effects of chromium stress on the germination and growth of Phaseolus mungo - Influence of chromium resistant Pseudomonad. J. Environ. Sci. Health Part A-Toxic/Hazard. Subst. Environ. Eng., A35 (4), 625-634.

R. Jayakumar, M. Rajkumar and S. Nanjundan (2000), Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity of Mono (Hydroxy ethoxy ethyl) Pthalate. Oriental Journal of Chemistry. 16(2), 243-248.

M. Rajkumar, R. Nagendran and S. Sasikumar, (1999) Removal of Trivalent Chromium from Wastewater using Red mud. Indian Journal of Environmental Protection. 27 (2), 97-100.

R. Jayakumar, M. Rajkumar and S. Nanjundan (1999), Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity of divalent metal salts of Mono (Hydroxy Pentyl) Pthalate, Oriental Journal of Chemistry. 15(3), 437-440.

M. Rajkumar and K. Dharmaraj (1999) Reuse of Agro-Waste for Culture of Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus Citrinopileatus (Fr.) Singer, Indian Journal of Environmental Health. 41(2), pp 130-134.