Division of Biotechnology

Brief HistoryYear of Establishment: 2012

Constituent Centres: Centre of Plant BiotechnologyCentre of Animal Biotechnology

Staff: CPB: 2 scientistsCAB: 3 scientists

Vision and Mission of School Biotechnology

Vision

“SKUAST-K as Centre of Excellence

for building knowledge based bioeconomy in bio-

resource rich Hill and Mountain state of J&K”

• Mission

Societal Biotechnology for sustainable production of

food, feed, fibre and energy for self sufficiency and

poverty alleviation and clean environment”

Mandate of the Division of Biotechnology

Research Mandate: Basic, applied and Strategic research to

Build excellence to get ready for the technology driven Biorevolution or Gene Revolution

enabling us to accelerate the genetic improvement in animals and plants through MAS to grow and reproduce more efficiently, thus increasing productivity

Produce plants and animals having resistance to disease, and ability to accommodate extreme environments

to produce biomolecules of value in human and veterinary medicine

Teaching: To produce skilled and trained Human Resource- competent to take up the challenges of

development of hill & mountain agriculture

Extension: social development through biotechnology

Trainings and on farm field demonstration of the potential technologies to rural youth and farming community for improved profitability, and motivation for entrepreneurship

Priority areas of research : Plant Biotechnology

Area of research Collaborators

MAS for accelerated crop improvement in yield and quality traits viz quality protein maize

• Centre for Plant Biotechnology• Div PBG• DARS, Budgam• MFCRS, Sagam, Anantnag

Marker Assisted Selection / breeding disease resistance viz. Blast Resistance in Commercial Cultivar(S) of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

• Centre for Plant Biotechnology• Div of PBG• MRCFC, Khudwani• Division of Plant Pathology

Bioprospecting of genes for stress tolerance against drought and cold

• Centre for Plant Biotechnology• Div of PBG• MRCFC, Khudwani• DARS Budgam

Animal Biotechnology Embryo biotechnology: Multiplication of elite livestock through reproductive technologies for augmenting

livestock productivity Functional Genomics:

Bioprospecting 0f genes for biotic and abiotic stress tolerance.

Milk Genomics: QTL mapping for yield and quality of milk

Wool Biology: Map genes for pashmina yield & quality

Marker Assisted selection in animals: for accelerated genetic improvement in yield and quality like: milk, meat, fibre, egg

for disease resistance in animals like footrot, helminths & nematode, mastitis etc

Characterization & Conservation of indigenous livestock biodiversity Diseases diagnosis: Development molecular diagnostic techniques Molecular epidemiology of micro-organisms involved in severe outbreaks of diseases in

animals in the region Enzyme technology for improving feed efficiency of livestock and poultry Value-addition of animal origin foods using biotechnological approaches.

Priority area of Research Project Supported by

PI

Embryo biotechnology for multiplication of germplasm

Value Chain on Cloning of Pashmina Goats

ICAR Dr RA Shah

Functional Genomics for abiotic stress in animals

Bioprospecting of genes & Allele mining for Cold stress Tolerance pashmina goat and camel in ladakh

ICAR Dr NA Ganai

Augumentation of animal productivity

Genotype X Environment Interaction of Boer Goat under temperate climate of J & K

JKCST

(concluded)

Dr NA Ganai

Current Activities: Current Activities: ResearchResearch

Current Activities: Teaching etc..PROGRAM Activity Supported

by PI / Coordinator

Teaching i. MSC Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

ii. MVSc Animal Biotechnology

-

DBT

Dr M Ashraf Bhat

Dr NA Ganai

Developmental program

i. Bioinformatics Infrastructural Facility

ii. Star College Program

iii. e-learning in Vet. Sciences on MOODLE Platform

iv. E-governance at FVSc thru UMS (Fedena )

DBT

DBT

Dr NA Ganai

Dr NA Ganai

Dr NA Ganai

Dr NA Ganai

New Programs for SKUAST fundingResearch Program Objectives

/Impact Collaborators

Marker Assisted Selection for yield and quality of milk (DGAT1 gene)

• Identification of animals with favourable genotypes for selection & breeding

• Div. of Biotechnology,• MLRI, Mansbal, • Div. of LPT

Pashmina fibre genomics: Differentiation of expression in primary and secondary follicles

•Basic understanding of the genetics of pashmina fibre •Identification of genes expressing in secondary follicles

• Div. of Biotechnology,• Div of Vet Biochemistry• Div LPT• MRCS&G, Shuhama

MOETT in sheep: Multiplication of elite germplasm

• Div. of Biotechnology,• MRCS&G, Shuhama• Div of ARGO

MAS for aroma: Molecular characterization of pigmented and scented rice (Oryza sativa L.) germplasm of Kashmir

• Fingerprinting of landraces, local varieties

• Will help in Protecting Plant Breeders’ Rights and guarantee the authenticity of the crop varieties

Molecular profiling for gentic purity of promising maize (Zea mays L.) inbred & hybrids linesMolecular validation of effective stripe rust resistance gene(s) in Triticum sativum L.

New Programs: J & K Govt FundingResearch Program Objectives /Impact Collaborators Source of

FundingDNA Fingerprinting Facility for Crop Species of Jammu & Kashmir

• Varietal identification• Seed certification• Identification of hybrid seed • Assessment of genetic purity of

inbred lines and varieties• Tagging of economically useful

traits• Selection of parents in breeding

program

• Centre of plant Biotechnology

• Div of PBG

• Crop specific Centres

J&K Gov

MAS for Blast Resistance in Rice

• Marker approach for identification and breeding of resistant genotypes

• Centre of plant Biotechnology

• Div of PBG• MRCFC, Khudwani

RKVY

Multiplication and distribution of Boer Goat germplasm among farmers

• Goat Development• augmentation of Meat

production

• Div. of Biotechnology,• Div of ABG• MRCS&G, Shuhama

RKVY

Evaluation of adaptation and production of Pashmina goats in High altitude cold regions of Kashmir valley

• Extension of pashmina production in cold and high altitude regions

• Div. of Biotechnology,• MRCS&G, Shuhama• Div of LPM• Div of Medicine• Div of Parasitology

RKVY

New Programs for external funding…..

Research Program Objectives /Impact Collaborators Source of Funding

Marker Assisted Introgression of aroma into commercial high yielding varieties of RiceMarker Assisted Breeding for Quality Protein MaizeBioprospecting for abiotic stress tolerance in plantsSustainable Apple Production: Breeding for Quality and biostress tolerence

New Programs / Concepts under development for submission to DBT, GoI…..

Research Program Objectives /Impact Collaborators Source of Funding

Milk Genomics: QTL mapping for Milk yield and quality traits in cattleMAS for resistance against Pashmina Fibre Genomics: Next Gen Sequencing for identification of genes for yield and quality of Pashmina fibres

For External Funding :

1 Milk Genomics: QTL mapping for Milk traits in cattle

2. MOETT for faster multi-plication of elite germplasm of cattle

3 Pashmina Fibre Genomics: Next Gen Sequencing for identification of genes for yield and quality of Pashmina fibres

4 Bio fortification of Rice for improved nutrient quality

5. Sustainable Apple Production: Breeding for Quality and biostress tolerence

6. Marker Assisted Introgression of aroma into commercial high yielding varieties of Rice

7. Marker Assisted Breeding for Quality Protein Maize

8. Bioprospecting for abiotic stress tolerance in plants and animals

New Programs / Concepts:

Division of Biotechnology, FVSc & AH, Shuhama