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Professor Megh Mallavarapu
Position: Associate Director Professor Megh Mallavarapu
Division/Portfolio: Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment
School/Unit: Information Technology Engineering and the Environment Divisional Office
Group: Centre Envir Risk Ass & Remed
Campus: Mawson Lakes Campus
Office: Bld X - Rm 1.14
Telephone: +61 8 830 25044
Fax:
Email: Megharaj_dot_Mallavarapu_at_unisa_dot_edu_dot_au
URL for Business Card: http://people.unisa.edu.au/Megharaj.Mallavarapu


Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation

Teaching interests

  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Bioremediation
  • Ecotoxicity

Qualifications

Ph.D (1987)Soil/Environmental Microbiology

Research interests

  • Ecotoxicity
  • Bioremediation
  • Contaminant(both organics and inorganics)-microbe interactions
  • Soil algae
  • Bioavailability of contaminants
  • Contaminant mixtures
  • Microbial degradation of pesticides/PCBs/PAHs

Research publications

Author/co-author of over 90 scientific papers in refereed journals, 15 book chapters and several conference abstract/papers.

Megharaj, M.,D.R. Madhavi, C. Sreenivasulu. A. Umamaheswari and K. Venkateswarlu.1994. Biodegradation of methyl parathion by soil isolates of microalgae and cyanobacteria.Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 53: 292-297.

Megharaj, M., K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1986. Effect of monocrotophos and quinalphos on soil algae.Environmental Pollution A40 : 121 - 126.

Megharaj, M., K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1986. Growth response of four species of soil algae to monocrotophos and quinalphos. Environmental Pollution A 42 : 15-22.

Megharaj, M., K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1986. The toxicity of phenolic compounds to soil algal population and Chlorella vulgaris and Nostoc linckia. Plant and Soil 96: 197-203.

Megharaj, M., K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1986. Influence of cypermethrin and fenvalerate on natural soil algal population. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 112 : 141-145.

7. Megharaj, M., A. Prabhakara Rao, K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1987. Influence of Parthenium hysterophorus L. on native soil algal flora. Plant and Soil 101: 223-226.

Megharaj, M., A. Prabhakara Rao and K. Venkateswarlu. 1987. Microbial populations in soil from a subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) field. Acta Botanica Indica 15 : 145-146.

Megharaj, M., K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1987. Influence of cypermethrin and fenvalerate on a green alga and three cyanobacteria isolated from soil. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 14 : 142-147.

Megharaj, M., A. Prabhakara Rao, K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1987. Toxicity of Parthenium hysterophorus extracts to Chlorella vulgaris and Synechococcus elongatus. Plant and Soil 103 : 292-294.

Megharaj, M., K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1987. Metabolism of monocrotophos and quinalphos by algae isolated from soil. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 39: 251-256.

Megharaj, M., K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1988. Tolerance of algal population in rice soil to carbofuran application. Current Science 57: 100-102.

Megharaj, M., M. Vijaylakshmi, K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1988. Heterotrophic nitrification by fusaria isolated from cotton crop fields. Current Science 57: 387-388.

Megharaj, M., K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1988. Influence of glucose amendment on the algal toxicity of nitrophenols. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 15 : 320-323.

Megharaj, M., K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1988. Microbial degradation and algal toxicity of monocrotophos and quinalphos in flooded soil. Chemosphere 17 : 1033-1039.

Megharaj, M., K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1988. Effect of insecticides and phenolics on nitrogen fixation by Nostoc linckia. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 41: 277-281.

Megharaj, M., K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1989. Interaction effects of insecticide combinations toward Scenedesmus bijugatus and Synechococcus elongatus . Plant and Soil 144: 159-163.

Megharaj, M., K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1989. Effects of carbofuran and carbaryl on the growth of a green alga and two cyanobacteria isolated from a rice soil. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment 25: 329-336.

Megharaj, M., K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1989. Effect of glucose addition on the toxicity of two nitrophenol to Synechococcus elongatus and Nostoc linckia. Phykos 28: 146-150.

Megharaj, M., K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1989. The use of unicellular green algae for insecticide bioassay. Journal of Microbiological Methods. 10: 119-122.

Megharaj, M., A. Prabhakara Rao, K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1990. Interaction effects of carbaryl and its hydrolysis product, 1-naphthol, towards three isolates of microalgae from soil. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment 31: 293-300.

Megharaj, M., H.W. Pearson and K. Venkateswarlu. 1991. Toxicity of p-aminophenol and p-nitrophenol to Chlorella vulgaris and two species of Nostoc isolated from soil. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 40: 266-273.

Megharaj, M., H.W. Pearson and K. Venkateswarlu. 1991. Toxicity of phenol and three nitrophenols towards growth and metabolic activities of Nostoc linckia isolated from soil. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 21: 578-584.

Megharaj, M., H.W. Pearson and K. Venkateswarlu. 1992. Effects of phenolic compounds on growth and metabolic activities of Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus bijugatus isolated from soil. Plant and Soil 140: 25-34.

Megharaj, M., H.W. Pearson and K. Venkateswarlu. 1992. Removal of nitrogen and phosphorus by immobilised cells of Chlorella vulgarus and Scenedesmus bijugatus isolated from soil. Enzyme and Microbial Technology 14: 656-658.

Megharaj, M., H.W. Pearson and K. Venkateswarlu. 1993. Toxicity of carbofuran to soil isolates of Chlorella vulgaris, Nostoc linckia and N. muscorum. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 39: 644-648

Megharaj, M., H.W. Pearson and K. Venkateswarlu. 1993. Physiological and morphological alterations induced by carbaryl and 1-naphthol combinations in Nostoc linckia isolated from soil. Current Microbiology 27: 41-45.

Megharaj, M., A.S. Rao, and K. Venkateswarlu. 1993. Influence of rice straw amendment on persistence and algal toxicity of p-Nitrophenol in soil. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 25: 1185-1188.

Muralikrishna P.V.G., M. Megharaj and K. Venkateswarlu, 1985, Occurrence of soil algae as influenced by profile depth and amendments. Phykos 24 : 42-45

Megharaj, M., K. Venkateswarlu and A.S. Rao. 1986. Effect of monocrotophos and quinalphos on soil algae. Environmental Pollution A40 : 121 - 126.

Expertise for Media Contact

I am able to provide media comment in the following areas of expertise:

Discipline: Environmental Sciences

  • Bioremediation
  • Ecotoxicity/Bioavailability
  • Effects of pollutants on soil biological health

Research Degree Supervisor

Megh, currently is responsible for CERAR’s Ecological Risk Assessment program. Megh has been actively involved in the study of potential adverse effects of various contaminants of concern (organic and inorganic) on biological receptors with particular emphasis on terrestrial ecotoxicology and mix contaminants, bioavailability and bioremediation research for the past 20 years. During this period his research has mainly focussed on (a) Biodegradation of pesticides/contaminants (eg. PCBs, DDT, hydrocarbons, PAHs, fenamiphos); (b) Microalgae/Cyanobacteria-Pesticide/metal interactions; (c) Survival and fate of contaminant-degrading bacteria in soils; (d) Isolation and characterisation of novel microorganisms capable of detoxifying hazardous substances; (e) development of novel bioremediation techniques.



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