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I.
Establishment and Development
Botanical research work
in the then Madras State was initiated as early as 1898
with the appointment of a separate Economic Botanist for
Sugarcane. By 1907, Agricultural College and Research
Institute was started at Coimbatore for imparting
Agricultural Education besides conducting research and
extension. For paying more attention to the research of
various crops, separate departments under crop
specialists were started for Paddy (1912), Cotton
(1922), Millets (1923), Oilseeds (1930), Pulses (1943)
and Forages (1976) which were then brought under the
Department of Agricultural Botany in 1971 after its
establishment. Recognizing
the importance of crop breeding, the Department of
Agricultural Botany was upgraded into a Directorate and
designated as "School of Genetics" from
1.3.1980. Later during 1997, the Directorate was
redesignated as "Centre for Plant Breeding and
Genetics".
Being a major Centre in TNAU comprising of
various departments like paddy, millets, pulses,
oilseeds, cotton and forages besides separate wings to
concentrate on Genetics, Cytogenetics, U.G., P.G.
Education and Breeder seeds, its activity has been
extended in improving almost all the crops for the
betterment of mankind by conducting result – oriented,
cost effective research, providing facilitated learning
situation to the students to equip themselves with the
latest technical know-hows and keeping them abreast with
the traditional and modern aspects of crop improvement
and by extending the technical knowledge in an effective
way to the farmers for adoption.
II.
Objectives
1. For conducting effective result oriented research
in the crops like rice, millets, pulses, oilseeds,
cotton and forages for improving the productivity and
for uplifting the status of cultivators.
2. Educating the UG, PG and Ph.D. students on the
recent trends in Plant Breeding and Genetics and giving
them hands on training on the uses of traditional and
modern tools of plant breeding and genetics.
3. Extending the efficient technologies for easy
adoption by the farmers through conduct of OFTs / FLDs /
CSDs and through other farmers friendly approaches.
4. Effectively monitoring the seed supply to meet
the minimum SRR fixed for the various crops through the
quality seed production in nucleus and breeder seeds
category and monitoring the subsequent chain of seed
production.
III.
Organizational function and financial profile
IV.
Education
This
Directorate is offering courses on Botany of field
crops, Genetics & Cytogenetics, Principles of Plant
Breeding and Breeding field crops to U.G. Students which
gives a good insight about the basic as well as applied
aspects of genetics and plant breeding. Once trained up
through theory as well practical schedules of courses
along with commercial agriculture courses on hybrid seed
production, the U.G. students are better placed in
private companies after their course completion. The
revised syllabus has been implemented in P.G. programme
from 1999 – 2000 academic year onwards which gives a
clear insight about the biotechnological principles and
practices, conservation and documentation of genetic
resources, models for analysing G x E interaction,
stability and adaptability, karyotype reconstruction,
safety regulations and monitoring while using
radioisotopes, aspects of improving quality of the
produces and gives an on hand experience to the students
on software uses for genetic analysis. So far more than
460 M.Sc. (Ag.) students and 140 Ph.D. scholars have
graduated out from this Centre. Many of the students
(exceeding 60) were awarded with various medals for
their excellence in academics as well as in research.
This
Centre has been strengthened by the development of a
separate Marker Aided Selection Laboratory, Tissue
Culture Laboratory besides the already available
Cytogenetics and Genetics Laboratories. All these
laboratories are equipped with the necessary instruments
including thermal cyclers, sequencing gel units,
millipore water purification system, liquid nitrogen
generator etc. to facilitate the students to have
on-hand experience in the new biotechnological tools
useful for crop improvement. A separate computer room is
available for the students and staff to analyse their
data statistically. A furnished seminar hall is
available with all necessary Audio-visual equipments
including the LCD projector. All these new developments
are mainly because of the Centre of advanced Studies in
Genetics and Plant Breeding sanctioned by ICAR from 1994
– 95.
Courses offered
U.G. Courses
|
B.Sc.
(Agri.)
|
Credit
hrs.
|
|
PBG
101Fundamentals of Crop Botany
|
1
+ 1
|
|
AGB
201Genetics and Cytogenetics
|
2
+ 1
|
|
AGB
301Principles and Methods of Plant Breeding
|
1
+ 1
|
|
AGB
401Breeding Field Crops
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2
+ 1
|
|
AGB
421Commercial Agriculture
|
0
+ 2
|
|
B.
Tech. (Biotechnology)
|
|
|
PBG
171Genetics and Cytogenetics
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2
+ 1
|
|
PBG
271Basic Plant breeding techniques for Crop
Improvement
|
2
+ 1
|
|
PBG
371Innovative Breeding Techniques
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1
+ 1
|
|
B.
Tech. (Horticulture)
|
|
|
PBG
161Methods of Plant Breeding
|
2
+1
|
|
|
13
+10
|
M.Sc.
(Ag.) Courses
|
PBG
601 Concepts of Plant Breeding and Conservation of
Genetic Resources
|
2
+1
|
|
PBG
602 Cytology and Cytogenetics
|
2
+ 1
|
|
PBG
603 Basic and Molecular Genetics
|
2
+ 1
|
|
PBG
604 Developmental Genetics
|
1
+ 0
|
|
PBG
605 Quantitative and Biometrical Genetics
|
1
+ 2
|
|
PBG
606 Mutation Breeding
|
1
+ 1
|
|
PBG
607 Ploidy Breeding
|
1
+ 1
|
|
PBG
608 Biotechnological Tools in Plant Breeding
|
2
+ 1
|
|
PBG
609 Breeding Cereal Crops and Sugarcane
|
1
+ 1
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PBG
610 Breeding Grain Legumes and Oilseeds
|
1
+ 1
|
|
PBG
611 Breeding Fibre and Forage Crops
|
1
+ 1
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|
PBG
621 Research Methodology
|
0
+ 1
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Total
credits
|
27
|
Ph.D.
Courses
|
PBG 801 Conservation
and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources
|
1
+ 1
|
|
PBG 802 Population
Genetics
|
1
+ 1
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PBG 803 Advances in
Quantitative and Biometrical Genetics
|
1
+ 1
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PBG 804 Advances in
Crop Improvement Techniques
|
2
+ 1
|
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PBG 805 Breeding for
Stress Situations
|
1
+ 1
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PBG 806 Breeding for
Quality Improvement
|
1
+ 1
|
|
Total credits
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13
|
|
Specialization
Recombination
Breeding
|
|
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PBG 821 Plant Breeding
Systems and Population Improvement
|
2
+ 1
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PBG 822 Heterosis
Breeding
|
2
+ 1
|
|
Cellular and
Chromosomal Manipulations
|
|
|
PBG 831 Cellular
manipulations for crop breeding
|
2
+ 1
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PBG 832 Chromosomal
manipulations for crop breeding
|
2
+ 1
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|
Stress Breeding
|
|
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PBG 841 Breeding for
resistance to biotic stresses
|
2
+ 1
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PBG 842 Breeding for
resistance to abiotic stresses
|
2
+ 1
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V. Trainings
organized under CAS
|
Year
|
Title
of the training
|
Period
|
Participants
|
Guest
lectures
|
|
From
|
To
|
|
1994-1995
|
Hybrid
technology for Rice, Millets, Pulses, Oilseeds,
Cotton and Forage Crops
|
07.02.1996
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28.02.1996
|
19
|
3
|
|
1995-1996
|
Breeding
for quality produce in crops
|
06.11.1996
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20.11.1996
|
24
|
4
|
|
1996-1997
|
Approaches
for the improvement of quantitative traits in
crops
|
22.01.1997
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20.02.1997
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29
|
3
|
|
1997-1998
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Cellular
and chromosomal manipulations for crop breeding
|
04.03.1998
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25.03.1998
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20
|
4
|
|
1998-1999
|
Components
of yield system and their analysis in crop
breeding
|
05.08.1998
|
25.08.1998
|
15
|
3
|
|
|
Marker
Aided Selection for Crop Improvement
|
22.02.1999
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10.03.1999
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14
|
4
|
|
1999-2000
|
Breeding
for host plant resistance to insects and pathogens
in crop plants
|
04.10.1999
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29.10.1999
|
19
|
1
|
|
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Plant
Genetic Resource Collection, Conservation,
Maintenance and Database Management
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06.03.2000
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16.03.2000
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15
|
5
|
|
2000-2001
|
Breeding
for abiotic stresses in crop plants
|
11.12.2000
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31.12.2000
|
18
|
2
|
|
|
QTL
Mapping for Crop Improvement
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05.03.2001
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16.03.2001
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18
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2
|
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2001-2002
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Harnessing
hybrid vigour in crop plants
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13.09.2001
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03.10.2001
|
17
|
5
|
|
|
Plant
Breeding approaches for quality improvement in
crops
|
28.01.2002
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17.02.2002
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18
|
3
|
|
2002-2003
|
Breeding
for biotic stresses in crop plants
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3.2.2003
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23.2.2003
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11
|
2
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VI.
Staff pattern
This centre is headed by plant breeder as its Director
who has been supported by the Professor and Heads of
various departments viz., Rice, Millets, Pulses,
Oilseeds, Cotton and Forages (headed by plant breeders)
along with Seed Science and Technology. It has separate
wings to concentrate on UG education, PG education and
coordination, Breeder Seed Production and ART monitoring
using each headed by Professor (Plant Breeding). All the
plant breeding activities of this Centre are undertaken
by 27 plant breeders.
The scientists working in the Directorate are
Dr.
T. S. Raveendran, Director (CPBG)
Dr.
K. Mohanasundaram, Professor (Genetics)
Dr.
K. Koodalingam, Professor (BSP)
Dr.
P. Veerabadhiran, Professor (Seeds)
Dr.
M. Kumar, Assistant Professor (Cytogenetics)
Besides that, Dr. A. Kalamani, Professor (PBG)
and Dr. C. Vanniarajan, Assistant Professor (PBG) are
looking after UG Education.
VII.
Infrastructure Development
With a sanction of about Rs. 9.5 lakhs under
ICAR-CAS and Rs. 50 lakhs under TNADP funds, this Centre
has equipped its MAS lab, cytogenetics lab, microtome
lab with all the needed equipments like thermal cyclers,
deep freezers, refrigerated centrifuges, electrophoretic
units, water purification system, autoclaves, ice makers
etc. Two glass houses which are available at this Centre
were renovated using the funds under CAS and put in use
for screening studies against hoppers in rice and for
maintenance of wild species in cotton, sesame, sorghum
etc.
|
Source
of funding
|
Items
|
Amount
(Rs. in lakhs)
|
|
ICAR
– CAS
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Perkin
Elmer Thermal cycler
|
3.5
|
|
|
Olympus
fluorescent BX60 microscope
|
4.0
|
|
|
Electrophoretic
units
|
1.5
|
|
|
Computer
|
0.5
|
|
TNADP
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Liquid
Nitrogen Generator
|
17.0
|
|
|
Centrifuge
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4.0
|
|
|
Refrigerators
|
2.5
|
|
|
Electrophoretic
units
|
4.0
|
|
|
Millipore
water purification system
|
3.0
|
|
|
Micropipettes
|
1.0
|
|
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Gel
documentation system
|
1.0
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VIII.
Computer facilities
This Centre has a well established computer lab
with separate computers and printers for staff and
students use. For automation of office documents, two
new computers were provided to the office. Moreover, a
laptop computer with LCD projector is provided in the
Centre’s seminar hall for effective presentation.
IX.
Library facilities
This Centre’s UG and PG units are having a good
collection of old and modern books. From the inception
of CAS under ICAR from 1994-1995, books are being
purchased and from 1999-2000 onwards. ICAR is
sanctioning Rs. 20000 – 25000 for purchase of books
which are being issued on loan to students and staff for
abreasting their scientific knowledge.
X.
Future thrust
- Constant
updating of course curriculam
- Initiating
MOU with research Centres for research work by
students
- Special
counselling for students to write competitive
examinations
- Encouraging
students for participation in Seminar / Symposium /
Conferences / Trainings etc. to keep abreast their
technical knowledge.
- Utilizing
the services of retired personnel in the enchanting
area of Plant Breeding and Genetics
- Motivating
self learning among the students
- Advising
the students to undertake research in PGR, Hybrid
rice with quality, value added sorghum and millets,
CGMS development in certain dicots like redgram,
sesame, cotton etc., analysing the barriers in its
development, intensifying basic research in
genetics, cytogenetics, plant ideotype tailoring,
nutrient use efficiency system, improvement of
harvest index etc.
- Hosting
notes of all UG, PG and Ph.D. courses in TNAU
website.
Contact
Us
Director
Center for Plant
Breeding and Genetics
TNAU,
Coimbatore – 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
Phone :
: 091-0422-5511200
E-mail
: cpbg@tnau.ac.in
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