Introduction
Since early 1990s biotechnological tools have been
using to improve the research works particularly to
improve the efficiency and precision of breeding works
in different divisions and stations of NARC. Biotechnology
Unit (BU) was established in 1998 (27.9.1998) at Khumaltar
starting micropropagation and tissue culture in rice,
wheat, sugarcane and buckwheat. Later it started the
research on isozyme and molecular sectors in different
crops. Biotechnology has the potential to address problems
not solved by conventional agricultural research to
speed up the research processes. Development of biotechnology
in global scenario and richness of diversity in plant
genetic resources in Nepal indicate the great potentiality
of biotechnology as tools for increasing food production
and promoting sustainable agriculture. This Unit is
concentrated on molecular marker technology and tissue
culture. Molecular markers are particularly useful for
accelerating the breeding works with desirable traits.
Diversity assessing, construction of linkage maps, gene
tagging and QTL mapping using DNA markers are the very
important preliminary works for marker assisted selection
and gene pyramiding. Tissue culture is adopting to produce
double haploid lines through the anther culture reducing
breeding cycles of cultivars and to overcome incompatibility
barriers and to produce interspecific and intergeneric
hybrids through embryo culture.
Corresponding address
Biotechnology Unit- NARC, Khumaltar
PO Box 1135 Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: 5539658, 5521615
Email: biotech@narc.gov.np
Fax: 5545485
Objectives
• Research and development in identified areas
of modern biology and biotechnology
• Demonstration and transfer of technology activities
• Human resource development
• Creation of infrastructure facilities
• Industrial biotechnology (agriculture, environment,
animal medicine/vaccine)
• Support to other autonomous research institutions
• International collaboration
• Provide facilities for research work to professionals/students
of the educational institutions
Major achievements
- Assessment of genetic diversity in barley using
5 isozymes (POX, EST, MDH, IDH and 6PGD) and 92 SSR
markers. Different populations’ parameters were
estimated.
- Culture media and plate tested for in vitro embryo
culture of mithe and tite buckwheat
- Investigated genetic diversity of tite buckwheat
using 3 isozymes (POX, ADH, MDH) and 11 RAPD primers
- Assessment of genetic diversity and monitoring
genetic variations over the years in wild buckwheat
using 10 RAPD primers
- Diversity assessment of citrus species (C. limon
and C. reticulate) using 4 isozymes (POX, MDH, SKD
and ME)
- Assessment of genetic diversity of mango using
3 isozymes (MDH, ADH and POX)
- Assessment of genetic variation and populations
genetic structure study in pigeon pea using 4 isozymes
(ADH, IDH, MDH and POX)
- Production of double haploid lines in rice generating
F1 from inter and intra species crosses
- Classification of rice genotypes into 3 varietal
types and populations genetic structure study in varietal
type and geographical populations using 8 isozymes
(ADH, ACP, EST, IDH, MDH, ME, POX and SDH)
- Genetic diversity of aromatic rice studied by 5
isozyme systems (ADH, EST, GOT, PGD and POX)
- Genetic variation within and among landraces, varieties
and PPB bulks and parental contribution to their progenies
studied in rice using 25 SSR markers
- Diversity assessed in wild and cultivated rice
using 4 isozymes (ACP, EST, MDH, POX)
- Genetic diversity assessed in taro and swertia
using 6 isozymes (6PGD, IDH, EST, MDH, ACP, POX) and
4 isozymes (POC, MDH, ACP, EST) respectively
- High responsive to anther culture and best stage
for anther culture in wheat and rice determined.
- Developed isozymes and DNA profile of different
crop species
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