|
|
 |
| >
Home > Faculties >Faculty of Agriculture > Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding |
| GENESIS |
|
|
The Department of Agricultural Botany is one of the major departments in the Faculty of Agriculture, established during 1980. In addition to teaching, the department is concentrating much on research by augmenting fund from various agencies. It shows concerted efforts in the development of new crop varieties in the name of Founder Pro-chancellor, Dr. Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar of Chettinad as ‘Annamalai”. Dr. C.N. Sambandam, Eminent Vegetable Breeder was the first Head of the Department followed by Dr. K.S.S.Eswaran and
Dr. Capt. J. Ganesan. Presently the department is headed by
Dr. M. Prakash, eminent Crop Physiologist. The department offers both post graduate and doctoral programme, apart from UG courses in the following disciplines.
- M.Sc. (Ag.) in Genetics and Plant Breeding (1989 onwards)
- M.Sc. (Ag.) in Seed Science and Technology (2006 onwards)
- M.Sc. (Ag.) in Agricultural Biotechnology (2008 onwards)
- Ph.D in Agricultural Botany
|
| RESEARCH |
The Department is concentrating on evolving new crop varieties suitable for Veeranam Ayacut region in mandate crops viz., rice blackgram, greengram, bhendi and sesame.
i. Ph.D : Inheritance of different qualitative and quantitative characters on crops like rice, sesame, bhendi, black gram, green gram, brinjal, tomato, etc. were studied. Studies on heterosis were also undertaken in rice, sugarcane and sunflower. Application of Molecular markers for selection of saline tolerant genotypes in rice was investigated. Studies on seed halogenation in groundnut, sesame and sunflower were also carried out.
ii. M.Sc.(Ag.) : Studies on genetic divergence, line x tester analysis, diallel analysis, generation mean analysis and induced mutation were undertaken on different field crops such as rice, black gram , green gram, bhendi, sesame, cotton, onion etc.
iii. Project on hand & new projects sanctioned:
S.No. |
Project Tile |
Funding Agency |
Principal Investigator/
Co-principal Investigators |
Out lay
Rs. (In Lakhs) |
Period |
1. |
Studies on effect of 28 homobrassinolides on assimilate partitioning and yield attributes of Sesame |
UGC,
New Delhi |
Dr. M. Prakash
Dr. J. Gokulakrishnan
Dr. T. Sabesan |
6.59 |
2005-2007
|
2. |
Breeding of hybrid Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and standardization of cost effective manual seed production technique |
UGC,
New Delhi |
Dr. P. Senthil Kumar
Dr. K. Saravanan |
5.20 |
2006-2009
|
3. |
Improving the Seed Quality and storability of vegetable Seeds by halogen mixtures & other chemicals |
TNSCST,
Chennai |
Dr. S. Padmavathi
(Miss. S. Muguntha Devi) |
0.05 |
2006-2007
|
4. |
Breeding for saline tolerant rice (Oryza sativa L.) for coastal eco-system and identification through RAPD markers |
UGC,
New Delhi |
Dr. Y. Anbuselvam |
4.93 |
2003-2006
|
5.
|
Breeding saline tolerant okra (Rice fallow) suitable for coastal ecosystem |
UGC,
New Delhi |
Dr. N. Senthil Kumar
Dr. P. Thangavel |
6.49 |
2008-2011
|
6. |
Breeding yellow vein mosaic virus resistance combined with high yield in okra |
DST,
New Delhi |
Dr. N. Senthil Kumar |
5.28 |
2008-2011
|
7. |
Interspecific hybridization in redgram |
UGC,
New Delhi |
Dr. P. Jayaprakash
Dr. T. Sabesan |
7.83 |
2008-2011
|
iv.Degree Awarded
M.Sc(Ag): 169
Ph.D. : 33 |
| WORKSHOP |
1.National Consultation Workshop on Agrobiodiversity Hotspots and Access and Benefit Sharing during 19th & 20th July, 2007. Jointly organized NBA, Chennai, PPV & FRA, New Delhi and Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University. |
| SEMINARS |
Sl. No. |
Name of the Activity |
Sponsoring Agency |
No of Beneficiaries |
Programme Organizers |
1. |
International Training Programme on Induced Mutagenesis for Sesame Improvement, 2001. |
FAO/ IAEA |
1 |
Dr. J. Ganesan |
2. |
National seminar on Sesame crop Improvement and its future Prospects, 2001. |
UGC
New Delhi |
200 |
Dr. J. Ganesan
Dr. M. Prakash |
3. |
National seminar on Hybrid Breeding in Crop Plants, 2003. |
UGC
New Delhi |
100 |
Dr. S. Thirugnanakumar |
4. |
National seminar on Advances in Legume Research, 2008. |
UGC
New Delhi |
150 |
Dr. M. Prakash
Dr. S. Murugan |
|
| OTHER ACTIVITIES |
- Developed a popular variety Annamalai Brinjal which is widely grown for its higher yield and aphid resistance.
- Identified superior cultures in rice, black gram, green gram, bhendi and brinjal which are being tested for their stability.
- Standardized hybrid seed production technique in sesame utilizing hand emasculation technique.
|
COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMME |
| 1. National organizations:
The department is having collaboration with DRR (Directorate of Rice research) Hyderabad, AICRP on Sesame and National Network Programme on Arid Legumes and conducting trials.
a. DRR Trials
2006
- Alkaline and Inland Saline Tolerant Variety Trial (AL & IS TVT)
- National Saline- Alkaline Screening Nursery (NSASN)
- Saline (Coastal saline, inland saline) and Alkaline (Sodic) Tolerant Variety Trial (SATVT)
- Initial Variety Trial – Early (IVT-E)
- Advanced Variety Trial – Early-2 (AVT 2 – E)
2007
- National Saline- Alkaline Screening Nursery (NSASN)
- Saline (Coastal saline, inland saline) and Alkaline (Sodic) Tolerant Variety Trial (AL & ISTVT)
2008
- National Saline- Alkaline Screening Nursery (NSASN)
- Saline (Coastal saline, inland saline) and Alkaline (Sodic) Tolerant Variety Trial (AL & ISTVT)
b. AICRP on Sesame
2003 to 2008
- Initial Variety Trial
- Advanced Variety Trial
c. National Network Programme on Arid Legumes
2008
Cowpea - AVT-I
IVT |
2. Non-Government Organizations :
The department is having collaboration with Centre for Indigenous Knowledge System (CIKS), Chennai and conducting trials with traditional varieties of Rice.
3. International organizations:
At international level, trials on saline tolerance and heat tolerance in Rice are conducted in collaboration with IRRI.
(a) IRSSTN "Salinity"- Module 2 (Inland salinity; Coastal salinity, dry season).
(b) IRHTN "Heat stress" |
| DEPARTMENT LIBRARY |
The department is having well equipped library with books, journals and educational CD’s. Internet access is also provided to update recent trends in crop improvement.
Number of books - 158
Reports - 10
M.Sc.(Ag.) Theses - 169
Ph.D Theses - 33
Journals available for reference
- Advances in Plant Sciences
- Agricultural Science Digest
- Crop Improvement
- Crop Research
- Indian Journal of Agricultural Research
- Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding
- Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources
- Indian Journal of Plant Physiology
- International Journal of Plant Sciences
- IRRI Newsletter
- Legume Research
- Oryza
- Research on Crops
- Seed Research
- Sesame and Safflower Newsletter
|
| STAFF AWARDED – DISTINCTIONS |
- Dr. M.Prakash – Crop Research Award. 2004
- Dr. S.Murugan – Fellow, Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding, 2000.
- Dr. S.Thirugnana Kumar – Fellow, Indian Society of Oilseeds Research, 2002-2003.
|
| EQUIPMENT-LABORATORIES |
Equipments Available :
The department is having well equipped UG and PG Laboratories with the following equipments.
- Spectrophotometer
- Portable Leaf Area Meter
- Gel Documentation System
- Electrophoresis
- Research Microscopes
- Centrifuge
- Water bath
- Oven
- B.O.D incubator
-
Ultracentrifuge
|
|
