BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTRE

Biotechnology is the term given to the recent evolution of the science of genetics. Biotechnology includes any technique that uses living organisms to make or modify products, to improve plants or animals, or to develop microorganisms for specific uses Biotechnology offers both promise and perils for the world community. In agriculture and forestry, it promises new ways to harness and improve the biological potential of crops, livestock, fish and trees and improved ways to diagnose and control the pests and pathogens that damage them. As this new branch of science is emerging very fast and making impact on agriculture, forestry and health care, the Biotechnology Centre of IGAU was established, which has separate units for plant tissue culture, molecular biology and other related aspects and also postgraduate program in Biotechnology.

• Dr. S. K. Katiyar
  • Senior Scientist & In-charge
  • Course Co-coordinator MSc. (Ag) Biotech Program
• Dr. A. S. Kotasthane
  • Sr Assistant Professor
• Dr. S. B. Verulkar
  • Associate Professor
• Shri G. Chandel
  • Assistant Professor

a. Plant Tissue Culture

• Creation of novel genetic variation in rice cultivars through in-vitro technology
• Production of haploids and dihaploids in rice through anther culture
• Micropropagation in Banana cv Dwarf Cavandlsh, Shrimant and Basrai Dwarf.
• Micropropagation in White serus, turmeric and ginger

b. Molecular Tagging and Mapping of Genes

• Molecular mapping and tagging of gall midge resistance genes (in collaboration with IRRI, Manila and ICGEB, New Delhi)
  • Gm1 of Mahamaya
  • Gm-2 of Phalguna
  • gm-3 of RP 2068-18-3-5
  • Gm-4 of Abhaya
  • Gm-5 of ARC 5984
  • Gm-6(t) of Duokang #1
• Molecular characterization (DNA fingerprinting)
  • Rice germplasm
  • Cannabis
  • Lathyrus germplasm
  • Gall midge insect biotypes
  • Bacterial Blight pathogen populations
• Gene pyramiding
  • Development of two. three and four gene combinations of gall midge resistance genes
  • Transfer of Xa-genes and gene combinations in rice cultivars Kranti and Swarna
• Food I Enzyme biotechnology
  • Technology for the commercial production of Glucose oxidase
  • Identification and transformation of gene encoding for lipase enzyme in Bacillus

• "Biotechnological Approaches for Genetic Improvement of Rice for Drought and Gall Midge Resistance" funded by The Rockefeller Foundation, USA.
• "Biotechnology for achieving Impact and Sustainability" funded by Asian Development Bank through IRRI.
• "In situ on farm conservation of rice" funded by Swiss Development Corporation, Switzerland through IRRI
• "Marker assisted selection for gall midge resistance genes in rice" funded by The Rockefeller Foundation, USA.
• "Application of molecular methods to enhance pest resistance in rice" funded by Asian Development Bank through IRRI.
• "Micro-propagation of Banana & Chrysanthemum" funded by the core budget of the university

1. Plant Tissue Culture
   • Identification of rice cultivars with high in-vitro response for genetic transformation .
   • Technology for commercial production of tissue cultured Banana plantlets cv Dwarf Cavendish, Shrimanth and Basrai dwarf.
   • Technology for in-vitro production of white serus and rubber plant.
   • A promising dwarf somaclone of Basmati is under multilocational trial
   • In-vitro regeneration systems developed in Chrysanthemum, tomato, Lathyrus and Coix
2. Plant & Insect Molecular Biology
   • Gall Midge resistance genes Gm-1, Gm-2, gm-3; Gm.4, Gm-5 and Gm-6t in rice tagged with DNA markers
   • Gall midge insect populations of five Asian countries characterized using DNA fingerprinting
   • Gene Pyramids having Chinese and Indian gall midge resistance genes developed.
   • MAS is being practiced for development of two and three gene pyramids for gall midge resistance and for transfer of GM and Xa genes in locally adoptedrtce cultivars
   • Molecular Characterization of more than 300 rice and Lathyrus genotypes using DNA markers
   • Bacterial blight populations are being characterized using DNA markers
3. Food/ Enzyme Biotechnology
   • Technology for the commercial production of Glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger
   • Identification and transformation of gene encoding for lipase

IGAU, Raipur offers post-graduate programme in Biotechnology under two schemes

• DBT Sponsored Scheme Ten students ere admitted every year through All India Competitive examination conducted by JNU, Delhi under the DBT sponsored seats These students are entitled to receive the DBT fellowship of Rs 800/-,per monthJor 24 months.
• Self-Finance Scheme: A few seats are available in Biotechnology every year under this scheme

The postgraduate programme in Biotechnology includes both course work'and thesis related research

• International Rice Research Institute, Manila, Philippines
• International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi
• International Crop Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics, Hyderabad
• Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad
• Forensic Science Laboratory, Raipur.
• Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu
• Universi,ty of Hyderabad, Hyderabad Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore
• University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore

• State Young Scientist Award 1989 S K Katiyar
• State Young Scientist Award 1990 SV Naik
• State Young Scientist Award 1991 G Chandel
• Biotech National Associateship 1992 D K Sharma
• Biotech National Associateship 1993 S K. Katiyar
• Marie Curie Post Doc Fellowship 1994 S. K Katiyar
• Rockefeller Foundation's Post Doc 1994- S K Katiyar
• Fellowship in Biotechnology 1996 .Rockefeller Foundation's 1997- S K Katiyar
• Biotechnology Career Fellowship 2000 .Chinese Natural Scjence 1999 S K Katiyar
• International Award .IRRI, Ph D Fellowship 2000 G Chandel