Advanced Centre Advanced Centre for for

Hill Bioresources & BiotechnologyHill Bioresources & Biotechnology

CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi VishvavidyalayaPalampur 176 062, INDIA

September, 2003

CENTRE’S HISTORYCENTRE’S HISTORY

To face the challenges in frontier areas of science and technology, Advanced Centre for Hill Bioresources & Biotechnology (ACHBB) owes its origin to the erstwhile Biotechnology Centre, established in the University during 1991.

MANDATEMANDATE1. Human resource development through Post-Graduate programme in Agricultural

Biotechnology2. Need-based and strategic research in the selected areas 3. Training/Extension services for Hill farmers and entrepreneurs

PROGRAMME AREAS

MISSIONMISSIONTo improve farm economy of the Hill farmers through sustainable use of Hill Bioresources and Biotechnology

• Molecular markers in crop improvement

• M. Sc. In Agricultural Biotechnology

• Training in Bioinformatics to students/scientists

Hill Farmers’ Need-Based

Research(PA-1)

Strategic Research

(PA-2)

Human Resource

Development(PA-3)

Training/Extension Services

(PA-4)

This programme is run in

cooperation with five Regional Research and

Extension Centres of the University

• Mass propagation of plant materials of important plant species

• Development of improved germplasm/strains of plants, animals and microbes

The programme undertakes strategic

research in the frontier areas of biotechnology Jointly with national and

international collaborations

Programme is run jointly with 4 constituent

Colleges i.e. Agriculture, Veterinary & Animal

Sciences, Home Science and Basic Sciences

The programme imparts training to farmers and

entrepreneurs in participation with

Directorate of Extension Education and 8 KVKs

• Molecular diagnostics of important plant and animal diseases

• Probiotics in livestock feed

• Biofertilizer and biopescides

• Development of micropropagation protocols

• Gene cloning and functional genomics

• Development of transgenics

• Bioinformatics

• Bioprospecting, biodiversity conservation and management

• Training to farmers and entrepreneurs on micropogation technology

• Hands-on training of scientists and students

• Consultancy services

ADVANCED CENTRE FOR HILL BIORESOURCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

Activities Activities Activities Activities

Highlights of past 5 yearsHighlights of past 5 years

Standardization of micropropagation protocol in ginger, turmeric, saffron and carnation.

Development of disease resistance and quality germplasm of rice, Brassicas and pulses.

Production of doubled haploids in rice, wheat and Brassicas.

DNA fingerprinting of rice blast and pea Fusarium wilt pathogen.

Collection, characterization, documentation and the database preparation of plant bioresources of dry temperate areas of Himachal Pradesh.

Nine students completed M.Sc. (Agricultural Biotechnology) and 22 are on roll.

Training of students in Bioinformatics.

Publications in the National and International Journals.

Students qualified UGC-CSIR/ICAR NET examination.

Hands on training of scientists and students.

Consultancy services to entrepreneurs.

In vitro Multiple shoot formation of saffron

Rice plantlets regenerating from anther culture derived callus

FACULTYFACULTYCentre has competent faculty trained in the advanced laboratories in US, Canada, UK, etc. and many teachers have been awarded national and international fellowships and other awards. Under an MOU, the teaching programme is also supported by the scientific staff from the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur .

CORE FACULTY

ADVANCED CENTRE FOR HILL BIORESOURCES & BIOTECHNOLOGYS.K. Sharma Programme DirectorP. Plaha ProfessorT.R. Sharma Associate Professor R.K. Kapila Associate ProfessorR.S. Chauhan Assistant ScientistK.D. Sharma Assistant ProfessorR. Rathour Assistant Scientist

ADJUNCT FACULTYINSTITUTE OF HIMALAYAN BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY (CSIR)P.S. Ahuja DirectorA.A. Zaidi Scientist E-IISanjay Kumar Scientist E-IMadhu Sharma Scientist E-IAmita Bhattacharya Scientist CV.K. Hallan Scientist C

BUILDING PARTNERSHIPBUILDING PARTNERSHIP

To upgrade and enhance research and teaching efforts, the Center maintains intra-institutional linkages with the various departments of the College of Agriculture and five Regional Research and Extension Centres of the University. The Centre is developing strong linkages in the area of animal, microbial and food biotechnology with the concerned colleges and their departments. The Centre seeks to expand its strategic partnerships with National and International Institutes in the priority/thrust areas identified.

DNA fingerprints of Fagopyrum sp.

COURSES OFFEREDCOURSES OFFEREDUndergraduate Courses Plant Biotechnology and Plant Tissue Culture. Post-graduate CoursesMolecular Genetics and Cell Biology, Techniques in Cell Biology, Fundamentals of Molecular Biology, Molecular Markers and Genome Characterization, Principles of Genetic Engineering, Techniques on Genetic Engineering, Techniques in Plant Tissue Culture, Biotechnology for Crop Improvement, Biodiversity, IPR, Biosafety, Bioethics, Plant Metabolic Engineering and Bioinformatics.

Student working in the PG laboratory

POST-GRADUATE PROGRAMME IN AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGYThe Centre is running Master’s programme in Agricultural Biotechnology in collaboration with the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR), Palampur since March 2000 with funding from the Departments of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. The University has the distinction to be one of the six SAUs in the country to have this programme. The DBT has also offered the Centre to start Ph.D. (Agricultural Biotechnology) programme from academic session 2003-2004 and two fellowships have been sanctioned.

Degree : M.Sc. (Agri. Biotechnology)

Specialization : 1. In-vitro techniques for crop improvement

2. Molecular markers

3. Biotic and abiotic stress induced gene expression

4. Immunodiagnosis

5. Transgenics

Duration : Two years

Number of seats : 5

Selection procedure : On the basis of All India Entrance Test inducted by JNU, New Delhi

INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER RESEARCH FACILITIESINFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER RESEARCH FACILITIES

1. Laboratory facilities The Centre has well equipped laboratories for undertaking teaching and research Tissue Culture & Molecular Cytogenetics Laboratory Molecular Biology Laboratory Bioresources Laboratory Post-graduate and Under-graduate Laboratories 2. Lecture theaters: Three3. Seminar Hall: The Seminar room is equipped with modern audio-visual facilities such as,

slide projectors, LCD projectors, etc.4. Infrastructural facilities: Green-house, Net-house, Glass-house, Poly-house5. Library: The Centre has a library adequately equipped with latest books and manuals on

biotechnology and related areas for ready reference to the scientists and students6. Common facilities: Computers with internet connectivity, photocopier, fax, printers, etc. are

available for staff and students.7. Bioinformatics Centre: Bioinformatics Centre is being established to build up information

resources. 8. IPR and Patent Information Cell

For further information, please contact:

Programme Director ACHBB, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur 176 062, IndiaPhone: +91-1894-230314 Fax +91-1894-230511/230465E-mail: biotech@hillagric.org

SERVICES PROVIDED ON DEMANDSERVICES PROVIDED ON DEMANDTraining to the farmers and entrepreneurs in the commercialization of micropropagation technology. Hands-on training of students and scientists in various techniques of biotechnology. Consultancy to public and private entrepreneurs/ institutions. Out source research and development. Data base of high altitude bioresources.

Summer/Winter vacation training

: The students undergo one month compulsorytraining in Research Institutions/Universities/Industries

Post-graduate degrees awarded

: 13

Students on roll : 16

Students’ Placement Cell : The Centre has a students’ Placement Cell