Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 1: A 10- day national training programme on ‘Plant Tissue Culture Techniques in Quality Planting Material Production and Crop Improvement’ for scientists and research scholars, was inaugurated today by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof P K Sharma, at School of Biotechnology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J).
The VC, in his inaugural address, said that biotechnology although a comparatively new science, has made tremendous progress in last few decades. He made the house aware that plant tissue culture is handy tool with biotechnologist, which can be applied for multiplication and improvement of agricultural, horticultural, forest, medicinal and aromatic plants. “The potential of this technique can be exploited for generating disease free planting material of economically important plants of the State,” he added and highlighted the problem of corm rot of saffron and rhizome rot of ginger and asked the scientists to generate disease free material of these crops to rejuvenate the potential pockets. He asked the scientists to devise cost effective production technologies to make the technology friendly to the farmers.
Dr J P Sharma, Director Research, appreciated the effort of the organizers for conducting such a relevant training for crop improvement and planting material production. Dr D P Abrol, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, emphasized the importance of plant tissue culture.
On this occasion, two publications, compiled by School of Biotechnology, were released by the Vice Chancellor.
Dr S S Gosal, Eminent Plant Tissue Culture Scientist and former Director Research, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, presented thought provoking lecture on the plant tissue culture technology, its applications and success stories. He also delivered an expert lecture on ‘Genetically modified crops: potential and prospects’.
Earlier, Dr R K Salgotra, Coordinator, School of Biotechnology, briefed about activities of School of Biotechnology and gave an outline of different aspects of National Training Programme. Dr Manmohan Sharma and Dr Susheel Sharma presented welcome address and vote of thanks, respectively. Dr. Sumita Kumari conducted proceedings of the inaugural session.
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