MTech Agricultural Biotechnology syllabus for 2 Sem 2020 scheme 20BBC241

INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY:

Introduction, history and scope ofagriculture in India. Staple food, fiber, fuel and fruitcrops of India and abroad, Agro-climatic zones andcropping pattern of India. Conventional cropimprovement programs- Introduction, Selection andHybridization, Mutation, Haploidy and PolyploidyBreeding. Modern agriculture biotechnology for foodsecurity and national economy. Green-revolution.

APPLICATIONS OF PLANT TRANSFORMATION TECHNOLOGY:

Productivity and performance disease resistance, genes and gene constructs used for viralresistance by coat protein mediated production, bacterialresistance by lysozyme gene and fungal resistance bychitinase and beta glucanase genes. Agrobacteriummediated transformation. Crop improvement to resistadverse soil conditions. Salinity tolerance, droughtresistance. Herbicide resistance in commerciallyimportant plants. Insecticide resistance through BT-gene.Integrated pest management. current status of BT crops inthe world. Effect of transgenic crops on environment

INTRODUCTION TO PLANT CELL CULTURE:

Explant selection, sterilization and inoculation; Various media preparations; MS, B5, SH PC L-2; Callus and cell suspension culture; plant regeneration: organogenesis. Somatic embryogenesis; somaclonal variation, its genetic basis and application in crop improvement. Role of tissue culture in rapid clonal propagation, production of pathogen - free plants and "synthetic seeds"; haploid production: advantages and methods. Protoplast technology

ANTISENSE RNA TECHNOLOGY

(ACC synthase gene and polygalacturonase): Delay of softening and ripening of fleshy fruits by antisense RNA for ACC synthase gene in tomato, banana. Use of antisense RNA technology for extending shelf life of fruits and flowers Protection of cereals, millets and pulses following harvest using biotechnology. Biotechnology for fortification of agricultural products- Golden rice, transgenic sweet potatoes. Importance of biofertlilizers in agriculture. (Rhizobium azatobacter, Mycorrhiza, Frankia and Blue green algae) current practices and production of biofertilizers

AN OVERVIEW OF LEGAL AND SOCIOECONOMICIMPACT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY:

Biotechnology & hunger. Ethical issues associated with labelling and consumption of GM foods. Public perception of GM technology. Biosafety management. Cartagena protocol on biosafety. Ethical implication of BT products, public education, Biosafety regulations, experimental protocol approvals, guidelines for research, environmental aspects of BT applications

Course outcomes:

At the end of the course the graduates should be able to

• Demonstrate strong basics in principles of Agricultural Biotechnology
• Appreciate the ability to use biotechnology for sustainable development

Question paper pattern:

The SEE question paper will be set for 100 marks and the marks scored will be proportionately reduced to 60.

• The question paper will have ten full questions carrying equal marks.
• Each full question is for 20 marks.
• There will be two full questions (with a maximum of four sub questions) from each module.
• Each full question will have sub question covering all the topics under a module.
• The students will have to answer five full questions, selecting one full question from each module.

Textbook/ Textbooks

1 Biotechnology- Expanding year Horizons Singh BD Kalyani Publishers 2003

2 Plant Tissue Culture: Theory and Practice, a revised edition Bhojwani SS and Razdan MK Panima Publishing Corporation 1996

Reference Books

1 Plant biotechnology in Agriculture Lindsey, K and Jones Prentice Hall 1990

2 Crop Biotechnology Rajashekaran K, Jacks TJ and Finley JW American Chemical Society 1990