The goal of this course is to introduce biotechnology methods in plants. The objective of the course is to give students new knowledge and widening of the knowledge acquired in other course by handling of classical and modern plant biotechnology processes, including breeding of healthy plants, plants with improved characteristics and plants for biomolecule production. Understanding of biotechnological processes has also applicative value in pharmaceutical and food industry, in agriculture and in ecology.
BT-341: Plant Biotechnology (60)
(Prerequisite: B Sc Life Science)
UNIT-I (15)
Plant physiology and its significance in agriculture; physical properties and chemical constitution
of protoplasm, concept of diffusion and osmosis, plant cell water relation – imbibition,
absorption and translocation of water and nutrients, transpiration, guttation, Photosynthesismodern
concept and the factors affecting photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation
UNIT- II (15)
Introduction to plant biotechnology: history, concept of totipotency, heterogeneity,
cytodifferentiation, preparation of explant. Incubation systems: culture room, green house and
shade house, advantages and limitations of each system. Tissue culture media: general
introduction, composition, sterilization. Role of macro and micro nutrients in plant growth and
effects of their deficiency. Plant Hormones: types, role in plant development & mechanism of
action.
UNIT III (15)
Initiation, maintenance and importance of callus culture, suspension culture and single cell
culture, types and applications of single cell culture, organ culture, protoplast culture and its
applications, isolation and types of protoplasts fusion, seed dormancy and germination, somatic
embryogenesis its types and applications, encapsulation and production of synthetics seeds,
development of somatic hybrids to overcome the incompatibility barriers.
UNIT IV (15)
Anther culture and production of haploid plants and homozygous lines, embryo culture and
embryo rescue, pollen, ovary culture and their applications, germ plasm preservation.
Micropropagation: principle, vegetative regeneration by-shoot tip, meristem, axillary and
adventitious shoot initiation, organogenesis and production of pathogen free plants, hardening of
tissue cultured plants, industrial applications of micropropagation technique.
Suggested Readings
1. Razdan, M. K, An introduction to Plant Tissue Culture 2nd edn. Science Publishers, USA.
2. Bhojwani, S. S. and M. K. Razdan 1996.Plant Tissue Culture:Theory and Practice, Elsevier
Pub.
3. Chrispeels, M. J. 2002. Plant Tissue Culture:Genetical Aspects. Jones and Bortlett
Publishers, International.
4. Chopra V. L. et al 1999. Applied Plant biotechnology. Science Publishers Inc.
5. Verpoorte, R. and A.W. Alfermann (Eds) 2000.Metabolic Engineering of plant secondary
metabolism, lower Academic Publisher- Teacher: Sushama Patil