There is considerable scope for application of Plant and Forest Biotechnology in the State. The productivity of certain crops has declined in the State due to elevated temperature and salinity associated with drought and repeated floods. These problems can be addressed by the application of biotechnological techniques. Forests occupy 57,183.57 sq km, i.e. about 37% of the total geographical area, and play an important role in meeting the economic needs of the people of the State. The tribals in the State depend mostly on forests for their sustenance. Decrease in forest area, apart from affecting the tribal population, also affects the environment. Forest biotechnology can play an important role in mitigating these problems.
Tissue Culture :
The plant micro-propagation technology allows production of a large number of plants in a relatively small growing area, and in a short time, with a high degree of clonal phenotypic uniformity and absence of disease. In Orissa, although the practice of using tissue culture derived plants in the farming process is at a nascent stage, it deserves to be promoted. By innovative implementation of this technology in farming sectors, ornamental plants such as Caladium, Spathiphyllum, Philodendron, and plants like ginger, potato, asparagus, bamboo, banana, pineapple, papaya, strawberry and sugarcane etc. can be mass propagated through tissue culture. In order to make this possible, laboratories with skilled personnel will have to be established. A research station will be engaged in the standardization of protocols for tissue culture samplings and also for plants of different varieties so as to use them in the genetic transformation process. Large scale hardening facilities will be required for better survival of the tissue culture seedlings.
Development of genetic markers :
It is essential to develop genetic markers for identification of elite germplasm and cultivated varieties. Efforts will be made to develop molecular markers particularly for genotypes possessing important attributes like resistance to specific diseases, such as bacterial leaf blight, stem borer infestation and blast in rice and other crops.
Some of the local land races are highly resistant to wilting, particularly in case of solanacious crops. Hence, it is essential to identify the genes of interest and to isolate them for genetic transformation work.
A few land races and wild species of rice possess resistance to salt and drought stress. Efforts will be made to locate these genes and to transfer them into cultivated varieties through wide hybridization followed by embryo rescue technique. Marker assisted selection approaches would be developed and used to evolve such stress-tolerant crop varieties. Desirable genes will be identified by in-situ hybridisation.
Molecular characterization of nematode resistant genes in green gram, black gram and common vegetables will be taken up.
Improvement in yield and quality:
The yield levels of rice, pulses and oilseeds have more or less stabilized. There are two ways by which yield status can be improved: (i) exploitation of hybrid vigour, (ii) identification of QTLs (Quantitative Trait Loci) in different crops and their use in genetic transformation. Yield of vegetables and fruits also can be improved by developing hybrid varieties.
It is essential to bring genetic improvement in the crops commonly grown by the tribal population like millet, rice, beans, amaranth etc. for enhanced nutritional quality. Genetic improvement of major food crops for increased starch and vitamin content will be taken up, particularly for rice, potato, green gram and black gram.
Metabolic engineering of plants:
The crop productivity in the non-coastal area of the State is severely reduced primarily due to two major reasons: drought and elevated temperature. Coastal belt productivity is often also reduced because of floods and salinity. In order to sustain optimum productivity in these regions, there is a need for development of transgenic plant species that can with-stand these conditions. Several scientific organizations are capable of carrying in-depth research activities in this line. A long-term plan is proposed to be set up for developing plant species resistant to drought, elevation of temperature, salinity and floods, employing biotechnological methods.
Restoration and improvement of forests:
There is an urgent need to develop biotechnological tools for forest restoration that can help improve forest and forest products in the following areas:
i) Genetic improvement of timber yielding crops like teak, sal, sisoo etc. and selection of desirable types and their molecular characterization.
ii) Propagation of forest trees through macro- and micro- propagation methods particularly for the timber yielding species.
iii) Yield improvement of non-timber species viz., oil-yielding trees like Azadiracta indica (neem) and Madhuca latifolia (mahua) through gene transfer.
iv) Mass propagation by tissue culture and molecular characterization and genetic improvement of different bamboo species. Bamboo is an important raw material for construction of houses in the rural areas and is called the poor man's timber. Two main species of bamboo i.e., Dendrocalamus strictus and Bambosa arundinacea are dominant in Orissa's forests. These species need immediate attention due to their overexploitation. Hence, identification and selection of plus clumps, their conservation and mass propagation needs to be taken up on priority basis.
Biotechnological work in plant species shall be taken up on the following lines:
i) Exploitation, collection, establishment and evaluation of tree germplasm of species like Tectona grandis(teak), Santnum album (sandalwood), Petrocarpus santilinus(red sanders), Dalbergia sisoo(sisoo), M. latifolia(mahua), bamboo etc. with due emphasis on germplasm conservation.
ii) Selection of candidate plus tree in each case and conducting of provenance and progeny trial.
iii) Macro- and micro-propagation studies and standardization of propagation techniques and mass propagation of plus and elite trees for operational planting.
iv) Field trial of plants raised by tissue culture.
v) Establishment of clonal seed orchard for mass production of improved seed.
vi) Data base storage and retrieval of tree germplasm.
vii) Exploration and collection of seeds of various provenance and plus trees of priority species from the areas of natural distribution. Selection based on fast growing nature, straight bole, resistance to diseases and pests, and good adaptability.
viii) Studies on the floral biology and breeding systems.
ix) Evolving vegetative propagation techniques including macro propagation methods and mass propagation by tissue culture.
x) Establishment of germplasm/gene banks for at least mid-term storage
Tissue Culture :
The plant micro-propagation technology allows production of a large number of plants in a relatively small growing area, and in a short time, with a high degree of clonal phenotypic uniformity and absence of disease. In Orissa, although the practice of using tissue culture derived plants in the farming process is at a nascent stage, it deserves to be promoted. By innovative implementation of this technology in farming sectors, ornamental plants such as Caladium, Spathiphyllum, Philodendron, and plants like ginger, potato, asparagus, bamboo, banana, pineapple, papaya, strawberry and sugarcane etc. can be mass propagated through tissue culture. In order to make this possible, laboratories with skilled personnel will have to be established. A research station will be engaged in the standardization of protocols for tissue culture samplings and also for plants of different varieties so as to use them in the genetic transformation process. Large scale hardening facilities will be required for better survival of the tissue culture seedlings.
Development of genetic markers :
It is essential to develop genetic markers for identification of elite germplasm and cultivated varieties. Efforts will be made to develop molecular markers particularly for genotypes possessing important attributes like resistance to specific diseases, such as bacterial leaf blight, stem borer infestation and blast in rice and other crops.
Some of the local land races are highly resistant to wilting, particularly in case of solanacious crops. Hence, it is essential to identify the genes of interest and to isolate them for genetic transformation work.
A few land races and wild species of rice possess resistance to salt and drought stress. Efforts will be made to locate these genes and to transfer them into cultivated varieties through wide hybridization followed by embryo rescue technique. Marker assisted selection approaches would be developed and used to evolve such stress-tolerant crop varieties. Desirable genes will be identified by in-situ hybridisation.
Molecular characterization of nematode resistant genes in green gram, black gram and common vegetables will be taken up.
Improvement in yield and quality:
The yield levels of rice, pulses and oilseeds have more or less stabilized. There are two ways by which yield status can be improved: (i) exploitation of hybrid vigour, (ii) identification of QTLs (Quantitative Trait Loci) in different crops and their use in genetic transformation. Yield of vegetables and fruits also can be improved by developing hybrid varieties.
It is essential to bring genetic improvement in the crops commonly grown by the tribal population like millet, rice, beans, amaranth etc. for enhanced nutritional quality. Genetic improvement of major food crops for increased starch and vitamin content will be taken up, particularly for rice, potato, green gram and black gram.
Metabolic engineering of plants:
The crop productivity in the non-coastal area of the State is severely reduced primarily due to two major reasons: drought and elevated temperature. Coastal belt productivity is often also reduced because of floods and salinity. In order to sustain optimum productivity in these regions, there is a need for development of transgenic plant species that can with-stand these conditions. Several scientific organizations are capable of carrying in-depth research activities in this line. A long-term plan is proposed to be set up for developing plant species resistant to drought, elevation of temperature, salinity and floods, employing biotechnological methods.
Restoration and improvement of forests:
There is an urgent need to develop biotechnological tools for forest restoration that can help improve forest and forest products in the following areas:
i) Genetic improvement of timber yielding crops like teak, sal, sisoo etc. and selection of desirable types and their molecular characterization.
ii) Propagation of forest trees through macro- and micro- propagation methods particularly for the timber yielding species.
iii) Yield improvement of non-timber species viz., oil-yielding trees like Azadiracta indica (neem) and Madhuca latifolia (mahua) through gene transfer.
iv) Mass propagation by tissue culture and molecular characterization and genetic improvement of different bamboo species. Bamboo is an important raw material for construction of houses in the rural areas and is called the poor man's timber. Two main species of bamboo i.e., Dendrocalamus strictus and Bambosa arundinacea are dominant in Orissa's forests. These species need immediate attention due to their overexploitation. Hence, identification and selection of plus clumps, their conservation and mass propagation needs to be taken up on priority basis.
Biotechnological work in plant species shall be taken up on the following lines:
i) Exploitation, collection, establishment and evaluation of tree germplasm of species like Tectona grandis(teak), Santnum album (sandalwood), Petrocarpus santilinus(red sanders), Dalbergia sisoo(sisoo), M. latifolia(mahua), bamboo etc. with due emphasis on germplasm conservation.
ii) Selection of candidate plus tree in each case and conducting of provenance and progeny trial.
iii) Macro- and micro-propagation studies and standardization of propagation techniques and mass propagation of plus and elite trees for operational planting.
iv) Field trial of plants raised by tissue culture.
v) Establishment of clonal seed orchard for mass production of improved seed.
vi) Data base storage and retrieval of tree germplasm.
vii) Exploration and collection of seeds of various provenance and plus trees of priority species from the areas of natural distribution. Selection based on fast growing nature, straight bole, resistance to diseases and pests, and good adaptability.
viii) Studies on the floral biology and breeding systems.
ix) Evolving vegetative propagation techniques including macro propagation methods and mass propagation by tissue culture.
x) Establishment of germplasm/gene banks for at least mid-term storage
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