Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics

 

Plant Breeding and Genetics

Genesis : The department performs strategic and applied research on horticultural and agricultural crops with the aim to provide knowledge, tools and products for a bio-based economy, improved environment and human health. M.Sc programme in the department started in 1968 and PhD programme during 1979 and 113 and 37 students respectively completed the courses so far.

Vision/ Objective : In the present scenario of rapid climate change,we envision the development of promising climate resilient varieties in field crops, vegetable crops etc. The strong academic programme is designed to nurture the development of plant breeding professional capable of solving future challenges in the crop improvement scenario.

Mandate : Improved varieties with superior yield, quality and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses form the critical requirement for viable cultivation of any crop. The department of Plant Breeding and Genetics was established with a mission to deliver superior varieties to the farming community and to impart quality education in plant breeding methods, tools and strategies to the students.

Facilities : The infrastructure facilities available include one classroom, a laboratory, Molecular Biology Laboratory, Tissue culture Laboratory, Crossing shed and net house, Field laboratory, UG laboratory etc. The department also has equipments like Digital spectrophotometer, Autoclave (Vertical ), Vertical and horizontal gel electrophoresis units, Vertical minigel, ovens, PCR machine, Deep freezer, Refrigerator, LCD projectors, Trinocular microscope, Microcentrifuge, vortex shaker, Laminar air flow cabinet etc to facilitate teaching and research activities.

Faculty strength:

Teaching faculty:

1. Dr. Jiji Joseph, Professor and Head

2. Dr. Biju S., Assistant Professor

3. Dr. Asish I. Edakkalathur, Assistant Professor

4. Ms. Sruthy Menon V., Assistant Professor

 

Non-teaching faculty:

1. Rasseena V. A., Lab assistant

Achievements /Major Accomplishments

1.      Three rice varieties were released and two more are in pre-release stage.

2.      One cowpea variety was identified and is currently in pre-release stage

3.      Identified early maturing aromatic rice line

4.      Identified SSR markers for heat tolerance in rice.

5.      Statistical keys developed for predicting the performance of Cocoa accessions

6.      Three accessions with Phytophthora pod rot disease resistance were identified in Cocoa

7.      Superior Cocoa hybrid 13.7 identified

8.      Identified Betel vine type Muvattupuzha local with high essential oil content and pungency

9.      Core collection for rice with 34 accessions was identified

10.  Four promising cowpea hybrids were selected and 18 superior lines were selected from segregating generation

11.  Three superior black gram genotypes were selected

12.  The three R genes introgressed rice lines were developed and backcrossed to Uma resulting in 28 BC2F1S.

13.  In brinjal, progeny of Surya x S. viarum is found to be superior in fruit weight as well as absence of prickles on leaves and fruit pedicels.

14.  Seven putative molecular markers  linked to iron toxicity tolerance  were identified in rice

15.  Characterised Kuttiattoor mango cultivar of kannur district  for GI registration

16.  Gene pyramiding using three R genes was done in rice variety Uma

17.  Characterization of aromatic rice landraces by SSR profiling

18.  Two promising hybrids and one accession were identified in Cucumber

19.  Four superior wild/ semi domesticated genotypes were identified in bitter gourd

20.  Four F1 hybrids developed in brinjal

21.  28 crosses involving3 female and 10 male parents attempted in tomato and obtaines hybrids from 9 crosses as a result

22.  4 chilly lines resistant to chilly mite and 2 lines resistant to thrips were identified.

23.  5 Cocoa hybrids (P II 12.11, VSD1 33.4, VSDI 29.9, VSD1 11.11, PIV 59.8) exhibiting biotic stress resistance towards Phytophthora and TMB were identified

24.  Thirty nine bittergourd accessions were collected  and raised and various morphological and biochemical characters were studied

25.  Collected 180 genotype accessions of legumes and pulses for further studies

26.  Superior accessions of black pepper showing stress tolerance and quality were identified

27.  Ten tomato genotypes resistant to Tomato Leaf Curl Virus(ToLCV) were identified. These were crossed with superior vrieties and 4 hybrids were developed with resistance to ToLCV

28.  Two cowpea lines with higher yield and protein content were identified and are currently under AICRP trials

29.  Ten brinjal accessions highly resistant to bacterial wilt were identified

30.  Six brinjal accessions with immunity to fruit borer infestation were identified Academics:

Extension services:

Training, seminars and other services

 

Ongoing Projects:

Sl. No.	Project	Principal Investigator	Funding Agency
1	Survey, collection, characterization, database creation and conservation of underutilized legumes in Kerala	Dr. Asish I. Edakkalathur	Kerala State Biodiversity Board
2	Network project on breeding for biotic stress resistance in vegetable crops	Dr. Jiji Joseph	Kerala Agriculture University
3	Network project on genome editing a genomic intervention for crop improvement in major crops of Kerala	Dr. Biju S.	Kerala Agriculture University

 

 

 

Completed Projects

Sl. No.	Project	Principal Investigator	Funding Agency
1	Production and supply of quality planting materials of selected medicinal plants	Dr. Jiji Joseph	Kerala State Medicinal Plant Board
2	Strengthening research in Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics	Dr. Jiji Joseph	Kerala Agriculture University
3	Marker assisted breeding for developing heat tolerant high yielding rice varieties suited for Kerala	Dr. Sindhumole P.	Kerala Agriculture University