Research

Major research achievements

• Micropropagation protocols have been perfected in 30 crop species which include spices, plantation crops, fruit crops, medicinal plants, vegetables, ornamentals etc.
• Somaclonal variation has been exploited for crop improvement in ginger which led to the release of three ginger varieties “Athira, Karithika and Aswathy”
• Fertilization in vitro perfected in ginger and Kacholam could produce seeds under in vitro conditions.
• Protocols for genetic transformation were developed in black pepper, bell pepper, ginger and pumpkin.
• Enhanced production of secondary metabolites through induction of hairy roots was observed in medicinal plants like Artemisia, Withania, Holostemma and Rauvolfia.
• Protocols for in vitro conservation of germplasm in holostema, black pepper, vanilla and tylophora have been perfected.
• DNA fingerprints of released varieties of black pepper, ginger, chillies, brinjal, cashew, cocoa and jack were developed.
• Developed a non-pungent paprika type chilli line with resistance to bacterial wilt and suited for Kashmiri chilli powder production
• Developed a pole type vegetable cowpea line with resistance to anthracnose and cowpea mosaic virus.
• DNA barcodes were developed for species identification in Momordica, Benincasa, Praecitrullus and also in spidermites infesting crop plants.
• Trait specific molecular markers were identified for resistance to ToLCV and bacterial wilt in tomato, bacterial wilt in chilli, pungency and colour in chilli , VSD and black pod rot in cocoa, bacterial leaf blight in rice, anthracnose in cowpea, yellow vein mosaic in okra and water stress in rice and black pepper.
• Isolation and characterization of genes like Cry1AC and Cry4B , β 1-3 glucanase, hmgr, Chalcone synthase, Dihydro flavanol reductase, UDP glucose transferase, Capsaicinoid synthetase, Capsanthin capsorubin synthese, myo- inositol phosphate synthase, coat protein gene from cardamom mosaic virus and banana bract mosaic virus were done
• Transcriptome research could deposit 48 ESTs related to drought tolerance in black pepper and 44 ESTs related to high gingerol content in ginger to NCBI.
• Transcriptome analysis in black pepper for Phytophthora foot rot tolerance could identify two differentially expressed genes, Premnaspirodiene oxygenase and Phosphoserine phosphatase. Better expression and high copy number of β1-3 glucanase gene were detected for Phytophthora foot rot resistance in Piper colubrinum
• Proteome analysis for drought tolerance in rice showed upregulation of certain proteins in traditional rice cultivar, Chuvanna Modan.
• Comparison of proteome of yard long bean adopting organic and integrated management practices showed no difference in quality in both the management practices.
• PR protein analysis by 2D-gel electrophoresis and MALDI-ToF in selected black pepper calli clone on challenge inoculation with Phytophthora capsici revealed direct role of TRAF-like family proteins in regulating programmed cell death and activation of F-box proteins to stimulate jasmonate regulated defense-related pathways in tolerant black pepper calliclone KLCC 89
• Protocol for in vitro production of carotenoid from Byadagi chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) was standardized and elicitation with salicylic acid could scale up the in vitro carotenoid production. Upregulation of Capsanthine capsorubin synthase gene expression was observed in highest carotenoid yielding elicited Byadagi chilli calli.
• Molecular docking and metabolome research carried out in coconut, spices and medicinal plants could identify numerous safe phytocompounds for major human diseases which are potential targets for drug development.
• Nanobiosensors were developed in a collaborative project with Centre for Material Electronics, Thrissur for the easy and quick detection of banana bunchy top virus and banana bract mosaic virus.
• In the DBT - BIRAC-CRS project on ginger metabolomics, Kerala Agricultural University, in association with Arjuna Natural Extracts Ltd., Aluva had developed a stable gingerol product with 8 per cent total gingerol from the high gingerol yielding variety “Karthika” released from Kerala Agricultural University. Provisional Indian patent was obtained for the product developed and for the process.
• The in vitro microrhizome technology was perfected in three KAU ginger varieties viz. Athira, Karithika and Aswathy. Management practices for high tech poly house cultivation of in vitro microrhizomes for disease free ginger seed production and clean ginger production were standardized and technologies are ready for commercial exploitation
• With in silico molecular docking, the centre has identified many safe phyto compounds from different spices and medicinal plants.

Areas of work for PG programme & Research

1. Characterization using biochemical and molecular markers
2. Gene isolation, cloning and characterization
3. Genetic transformation in plants
4. Molecular detection of plant pathogens
5. Molecular diversity of microorganism
6. Microbial biotechnology
7. Development of trait related markers in agriculturally important crops
8. Genome mapping
9. Gene expression studies
10. Biotechnological interventions for enhancing secondary metabolite production
11. Enzyme characterization & kinetics
12. In vitro propagation of woody perennials
13. In vitro conservation of endangered medicinal plants
14. In vitro pollination, embryo culture & embryo rescue
15. Somatic embryogenesis
16. Biofertilizer and Biocontrol agents
17. In vitro  propagation of plantation crops, spices & medicinal plants
18. In vitro production of secondary metabolites
19. In vitro fertilization and embryo rescue
20. Genetic transformation of  crop plants for biotic stress tolerance
21. Cloning and characterization of novel genes conferring resistance to biotic and   abiotistress conditions       
22. Molecular diagnostics for detection and characterization of plant pathogens
23. Biodiversity of agriculturally important microorganisms in the Western Ghats
24. Molecular breeding and marker assisted selection
25. Fermentation technology

Collaboration with other Institutions

In the State

• Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut
• Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram
• Spices Board, Cochin
• Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi
• National Bureau of Plant Genetics Resources, Thrissur
• Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam
• Rubber Research Institute of India, Kottayam
• Cochin University of Science & Technology, Ernakulam

Outside the State

• National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, IARI, New Delhi
• Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay
• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore
• Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai
• International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi
• University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
• University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad
• National Bureau of  Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Mau
• Bombay University, Thane
• Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore
• Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
• Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture, Salem, Tamil Nadu

Externally aided projects in operation at CPBMB

Funding agencies : Department of Biotechnology, Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment.

Ongoing Externally Aided Projects

SI. No.	Name of Project & PI	Principal Investigator	Funding Agency	Financial outlay (Rs. lakhs)	Period
1.	DBT support to M. Sc. (Ag.) Plant Biotechnology Programme (HRD)	Dr. M.R. Shylaja	DBT	301.276	2005 onwards
2.	National Horticulture Mission on Spices High tech production system for quality disease free seed rhizomes of ginger of three KAU released ginger varieties	Dr. M.R. Shylaja	MIDH	60.863	2012 onwards
3.	Commercial Micropropagation of high demand high value crops as per National Certification System for Tissue Culture Plants	Dr. M.R. Shylaja	Kerala State Planning Board	120.25	2012 onwards
4.	Quality evaluation of TC derived plants as per NCSTCP	Dr. M.R. Shylaja	Kerala State Planning Board	42.00	2012 onwards
5.	Establishing a Finishing School in Biotechnology in Kerala	Dr. Deepu Mathew	Kerala State Planning Board	140.00	2012 onwards
6.	Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Biotechnology	Dr. M.R. Shylaja	Kerala State Planning Board	29.00	2016 onwards
7.	Training unit for molecular biology and plant tissue culture	Dr. M.R. Shylaja	Kerala State Planning Board	21.00	2016 onwards
8.	Network project on seed and nursery programme planting material production programme	Dr. M.R. Shylaja	Kerala State Planning Board	9.00	2016 onwards
9.	Bioinformatic Centre (DIC)	Dr. Deepu Mathew	DBT	128.932	2012 onwards
10.	Revolving Fund for production of TC plants	Dr. M.R. Shylaja	KAU	10.00 (Annual)	2001 onwards
Total				862.321

Externally Aided Projects Completed

Sl. No.	Title	Principal Investigator	Funding agency	Financial outlay (in lakhs)	Period
1.	Tissue culture research on black pepper	Dr. P.A. Nazeem	DBT, Govt. of India	9.28	1992-1996
2.	Tissue culture research on humid tropical plantation crops and spices	Dr. P.A. Nazeem	DBT, Govt. of India	59.30	1995-2000
3.	Rapid multiplication of cashew through in vitro methods	Dr. R. Keshavachandran	ICAR	10.00	1995-1999
4.	Rapid multiplication of rare and endangered medicinal plants	Dr. R. Keshavachandran	ICAR	10.00	1995-1999
5.	Sustainable management of plant biodiversity	Dr. R. Keshavachandran	ICAR	13.00	1996-1999
6.	Field evaluation of tissue culture derived black pepper plants	Dr. P.A. Nazeem	DBT, Govt. of India	14.92	1997-2000
7.	Technology Mission on black pepper - Induction of variation through cell and tissue culture and evaluation of variants for Phytophthora foot rot tolerance/resistance.	Dr. M.R. Shylaja	Govt. of Kerala	7.00	1999- 2004
8.	‘Improvement of selected spices through biotechnology tools – Black Pepper, Cardamom, Ginger & Vanilla	Dr. P.A. Nazeem	DBT, Govt. of India	53.95	2001-2005
9.	On farm evaluation of tissue culture derived black pepper plants	Dr. P.A. Nazeem	DBT, Govt. of India	52.17	2002-2007
10.	Studies on Genetic Diversity of Teak using AFLP Markers	Dr. P.A. Nazeem	DBT, Govt. of India	12.85	2002-2005
11.	Genetic transformation for biotic stress tolerance in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)	Dr. D. Girija	DBT, Govt. of India	24.06	2002-2006
12.	Genomic library construction and cloning of gene(s) encoding PR proteins in black pepper	Dr. D. Girija	KSCSTE	5.61	2003-2006
13.	Establishment of a Distributed Information Centre on Bioinformatics	Dr. R. Keshavachandran	DBT, Govt. of India	25.00	2004-2012
14.	Induction of variability in zingberaceous crops through in vitrofertilisation	Dr. P.A. Valsala	DBT, Govt. of India	21.10	2004-2008
15.	Biotechnological interventions and opportunities towards enhancing crop production in Kerala	Dr. P.A. Nazeem	Govt. of Kerala	10.00	2004-2006
16.	Isolation and characterization of genes encoding disease resistance (TLCV and bacterial wilt) in tomato	Dr. P.A. Nazeem	DBT, Govt. of India	78.65	2005-2010
17.	Modernization of Agricultural University Farms and laboratorie	Dr. P.A. Nazeem	ICAR	30.00	2009-2010
18.	Tissue culture research in cashew	Dr. R. Keshavachandran	DBT, Govt. of India	20.00	1999-2005
19.	Generation and evaluation of vanilla (Vanilla Planifolia Andrews) hybrids through intra specific and inter specific hybridization and embryo culture	Dr. P.A. Valsala	KSCSTE	5.61	2008-2011
20.	Exploration of molecular diversity and insecticidal spectrum of Bacillus thuringiensisof Western Ghats of India, E Hill and the Himalayan ranges, establishment of Repository at AS Dharward and cloning novel insecticidal genes’	Dr. D. Girija	DBT, Govt. of India	27.28	2005-2009
21.	Application of Micro organisms in Agriculture and Allied sectors	Dr. D. Girija	ICAR	25.11	2006-2011
22.	Chemotyping and gene Expression Profiling in Black Pepper with special Reference to Quality Attributes	Dr. R. Sujatha	DBT	40.00	2009-2012
23.	Strengthening post graduate teaching and research facilities (FIST)	Dr. M.R. Shylaja	DST	33.00	2012-2017
24.	Strengthening research on Biotechnology at CPBMB	Dr. P.A. Valsala	ICAR	115.00	2013-2015
25.	Accelerated breeding for anthracnose resistance in vegetable cowpea through molecular marker assisted selection	Dr. Deepu Mathew	KSCSTE, Govt. of Kerala	19.03	2013-2016
26.	Farmers’ participatory seed production of newly released ginger varieties from Kerala Agricultural University	Dr. M.R. Shylaja	NHM	8.453	2012- 2015
27.	Metabolome analysis in Ginger and product development using Gingerol	Dr. M.R. Shylaja	DBT – BIRAC	148.10 (Rs. 88.10 KAU, Rs. 60.0 ANEL)	2014-2017
28	Marker Assisted breeding to develop a bacterial wilt resistant chilli paprika variety (Capsicum annuum L.) suited for the tropical regions of India	Dr. Deepu Mathew	DBT	65.91 lakhs (KAU Rs. 40.742 lakhs, IIHR Rs. 25.168 lakhs)	2015-2018
	Total			859.215

 

Collaborated projects 

Inside  KAU

• Molecular characterisation in cashew (CRS, Madakkathara)
• Characterisation, evaluation and conservation of Exacum species in Kerala with emphasis on ornamental, medicinal and dye value
• Collection characterization and herbicide screening for the control of wild rice – RKVY sub project of Paddy Mission (AICRP on weed control, COH)
• Developing seedless water melon–KSCSTE ( Dept. of Olericulture, COH)
• Development of good agricultural practices and GAP monograph of Bacoppa monnieri – NMPB (AMPRS, Odakkali)
• Augmentation of vegetable production through technological intervention – RKVY (Dept. of Olericulture, COH)
• Gene Pyramiding to develop rice cultivars with durable resistance to bacterial leaf blight through marker assisted selection - DBT (Dept. of Plant Breeding & Genetics)
• Entrepreneurship development and sustainable livelihoods for Scheduled Caste/Tribe women through Floriculture (Dept. of Pomology)

Other Universities

PG research projects for students from different Universities

• Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam
• Anna University, Chennai.
• Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore
• SRM University, Chennai

Plant Tissue Culture

Standardized viable protocols for large scale in vitro multiplication of:

Fruit crops	Pineapple, Banana & Jackfruit
Plantation crops	Cashew
Spices	Black pepper, Vanilla, Ginger, Turmeric, Cardamom, Clove & Cinnamon
Medicinal plants	Adathoda, Kaempferia, Holostemma, Trichopus, Artemisia, Withania, Gymnema, Stevia & Tylophora
Ornamental plants	Anthurium, Orchids
Vegetables	Chilli, Capsicum
Others	Exacum, Aquallaria, Spathyphyllum

 

Confirmed the genetic stability and clonal fidelity of  Tissue culture regenerants through molecular techniques.

• Evaluated the superior performance of Tissue Culture plants through on farm trials with farmers participation all over India in black pepper plants
• Standardized in vitro pollination techniques for seed set in ginger, turmeric & kaempferia – crops in which natural seed set is very rare/lacking
• Standardized in vitro medium – term conservation in vanilla, holostemma and tylophora.

Genetic transformation

• Standardized genetic transformation protocol for capsicum, ginger & black pepper for inducing biotic stress tolerance.
• Genetic transformation in capsicum with glucanase/chitinase/osmotin genes carried out. 18 transgenic plants confirmed by PCR & RT PCR.
• Standardized hairy root induction on Artemisia sps., holostemma and withania for enhancing secondary metabolic production.

DNA finger printing

• 50 genotypes of black pepper through RAPD & AFLP
• 70 genotypes of tomato through RAPD, AFLP & ISSR
• 250 ecotypes of teak through AFLP assay
• Cashew, banana and cowpea germplasm through RAPD assay
• 50 isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis from the Western Ghats of Kerala by RAPD assay.

Gene isolation

Cloned and sequenced genomic/cDNA fragments of various genes in different crops/microorganisms

hmgr	_	Piper sp., Solanum xathocarpum, Solanum nigrum & Solanum torvum
glucanase	_	Piper spp.
chitinase	_	Piper spp
Cry 1, Cry 4	_	Bacillus thuringiensis
R genes for ToLCV and bacterial wilt	_	Tomato

 

Molecular diagnostics

Developed PCR based technique for detection of the following:

• Tomato leaf curl virus
• Vanilla mosaic poty virus
• Ralstonia solanacearum Race 3

Nanotechnology Research

• Solution based Nanobiosensor  was developed for banana viral diseases.

Biocontrol agents & Biofertilisers

• Characterized 431 isolates of Bacillus thuringinesis from the Western Ghats of Kerala
• 75 Bacillus thuringiensis isolates found to be efficient in controlling pumpkin caterpillar (Diaphania indica)
• Characterized 12 isolates of Pseudomonas fluorescens, 14 of Trichoderma viridae, 22 of N2-fixing bacteria and 28 P-solubilizers from the Western Ghats of Kerala.