In a project to identify, map and transfer desirable alleles at QTLs for yield and yield components and stability and also to generate QTL bear isogenic lines of rice, and agronomic evaluation of BC2F4 Near Isogenic Introgressions lines (NIILs) as many as 200 BC2F5 progenies were evaluated for the second consecutive year during summer 2006 in multi-location trials. A new triticate line involving Himalayan rye and indigenous wheat genotypes has been synthesized to be further utilized as a diverse source for obtaining certain important wheat-rye translocations. In project on functional genomics of rice aiming at discovery and functional validation of genes, novel genes conferring bacterial blight (BLB) resistance have been discovered in accessions of wild species like

• Longistarminata
• Nivara
• glaberrima and
• barthii

land race accession Ac32753 and a few mutant lines of IR64. Gall midge resistance genes Gm 1 and Gm4 are being fine mapped to within 10cM of 2 MB region of the genome. In the network project on programme on development of Salinity and dehydration stress tolerance in rice, a gene encoding fructose 1, 6 bisphosphate was cloned to full length from Portresia (PCFR) and this enzyme was found to be active in the presence of NaCl. In the project on multi-site Evaluation of Transgenic Mustard (DMH-11) based on barnase-barstar system, the National Research Centre of Rapeseed-Mustard, Bharatpur conducted these trials along with four checks, viz. CMS based hybrid (DMH-1), National Checks (Varuna and Kranti) and a zonal check, at 10 locations during the year 2006. It was observed that higher yield of DMH-11 over the best check variety was recorded in 6 out of 9 locations. In the project on development of Transgenics Cotton for Resistance to Insect Pests, around 300 independent transgenics lines in cotton (Coker 310-FR) carrying the cry 1Ac gene for attaining resistance to Helicoverpa armigera developed. In most of the transgenics the cry1Ac gene is under the control of the double enhancer CaMV 35S promoter. Improvements have also been made in the transformation protocol of cotton which allows the use of Imidazolinone as a selection agent instead of kanamycin by using a double mutant acetolactate synthase gene as marker.

Biofrertilisers

With growing environmental concerns, the sole dependence on chemical inputs based agriculture is being replaced by integrated approach involving conjunctive use of both organic and inorganic sources. In this context, biofertilizers have been well accepted as an economical, cost effective, renewable and safe organic source of plant nutrients to sustain crop productivity. Moreover, with recent focus on organic/bio-dynamic farming, the demand of biofertilizers is likely to grow at a much faster rate than before. At this juncture, we must realize that microbial inoculants are 'ecological inputs', whose effects are 'subtle and not dramatic' like chemical inputs. Hence, inoculation with good quality inoculants is a must and should be treated as an insurance against failure of nodulation. The shelf life both in the store and transit needs to be improved with due consideration to various 'abiotic' stresses. The quality-oriented production and marketing network will certainly make biofertilizers a viable enterprise for ultimate customer satisfaction. Keeping these in view, programmes on development of liquid biofertilizers and biofertilizers-based Integrated Nutrient management packages for plantation crops and medicinal plants have been generated. In addition biofertilizers strains developed through transgenosis will be evaluated in contained conditions.

Biopesticides and Crop Management

The programme is directed towards the management of pests, diseases and weeds of economically important crops as well as development of commercially viable mass production technologies. A number of potent and cost effective methods of biological pest control were successfully developed. Formulations were prepared and tested successfully against viral and fungal infections of various crops. Genetic improvement of various species of entomopathogenic nematodes for enhanced efficacy and tolerance to environment, e.g. temperature etc. was achieved and found to be effective against insect pest of pigeon pea, rice stem borer, gram pod borer, cardamom root grub, sucking pests of cotton etc. Conservation and augmentation of two predators, viz. Dipha aphidivora and Microuns igorotus was achieved, which suppressed sugarcane wooly aphid populations. Pheromones were found to be quite effective against various species of bollworm, viz. pomegranate fruit borer and sucking moths of sweet orange. Pheromones dispensers, suitable for Indian conditions were also developed. Insecticidal toxin genes of various plant species and various novel bacterial strains are being done to develop a potent biopesticides formulation. The multi centric programme on the management of Parthenium launch to control the weed and for its possible economic potential is progressing well. At the initiative of DBT, guidelines for registration of biopesticides have been simplified and streamlined. In order to promote and facilitate the commercialization of biopesticides, 10 biopesticides have been taken up for generation of toxicological data, both for primary cultures as well as for their formulations. A comprehensive website on "Bio-pesticides" has been developed which highlights the achievements made in major programmes supported by the Department on biological control of pests, disease and weeds.

National Bioresource Development Board

Programmes under the Board continued in the area of Biodiversity Characterization and Inventorization, Bio prospecting, improvement and utilization of resources and Capacity Building. The Fourth Meeting of the Board Chaired by the Hon'ble Minister S&T and ES, Shri Kapil Sibal was held on 25th July 2006. The digitized inventory of the primary and secondary data of bioresources-(plant, animal, microbial and marine) "Jeeva Sampada" and the maps and atlas prepared under the project on Biodiversity characterization of the landscape using remote sensing tools for Central India, Eastern Ghats and Mangrove regions were released by the Hon'ble Minister. A web portal Indian Bioresource Information Network (IBIN) has also been launched as a single window access to spatial and non-spatial data. This unique effort is the first of its kind which overlays all spatial information with ground level species information, the address to providing details of the genetic level studies being conducted. IBIN site was also launched by the Hon'ble Minister. Study on Mapping and Quantitative Assessment of Plant Resources continued for Eastern Himalayan Region, Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats. The country's first Butterfly Park at Bannerghatta Biological Park, Bangalore was inaugurated on 25th November 2006 by Hon'ble Minister Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Kapil Sibal. The Park houses more than 2000 butterflies at any given time representing 42 species. The uniqueness lies in the research activities continuing specially for rearing technologies, DNA Bar coding etc.

Projects have been supported for prospecting of novel genes, molecules, enzymes etc. from plants, microbes, fungi, and lichens for production of potential products of industrial importance. Novel genes/promoters, transcription factors are also being identified so as to develop transgenic for biotic/abiotic stress and understand different metabolic engineering pathway(s) operative in a system. A bio fertilizer formulation based on novel salt tolerant nitrogen fixing and phosphate solubilizing strains of bacteria was developed and transferred to the industry.

A major new initiative during the year has been the launch of a Network programme on "Zingibers" and "Honey bee resources". Under the Zingiber network, programmes have been supported on biochemical and molecular characterization in relation to commercially useful traits, prospecting for selected secondary metabolites and domestication of some underutilized species of ornamental value. Under the Tea Research Network, a major new initiative has been taken on generation and analysis of Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) and also integrated genetic linkage map and marker assisted selection. A network programme has been launched for the Indian Coffee Genome Research under which CDNA libraries and ESTs are being developed. Under the Sugarcane Genomics a major achievement has been the development of PCR based diagnostic kits for red rot and smut diseases which is presently undergoing validation. Under the Bamboo Demonstration programme nearly 380-ha has been planted with tissue culture material. In addition R&D programmes have also been supported for developing and standardizing tissue culture protocols for other priority bamboo species.

Under the Capacity Building Programmes, during this year 21 Vacation training programmes were organized in different parts of the country benefiting about 600 children on sustainable utilization of bio resources. A Bio resources Nature's trail has been established at Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) sub-centre at Nilambur in an area of 5ha.

Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Four gene banks have been further strengthened with respect to collection, conservation and characterization of more number of germplasm accessions. A rapid and highly reproducible protocol for in vitro propagation of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora has been developed. High yielding lines of Nothapodytes nimmoniana with more than 1% camplothecin were identified from Western Ghats. Evaluation of the performance of elite tissue culture plantlets vis-à-vis stem cuttings of vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) in farmers' field over an area of 20 ha in Tripura state has been initiated. Cell-cultures of Commiphora wightii were grown in 2 litre stirred tank and 6-litre airlift bioreactor for guggulsterone production. A network project on development of standardized herbal product for bovine mastitis has been initiated. Purified pectic polysaccharides from Aegle marmelos have shown significant in vivo anti-leishmanial activity. Root extract of clitorea ternatea and taraxerol showed significant inhibition of acetyl cholinesterase activity and cognitive enhancing property. RAPD and mini satellite profiles of the sandalwood (Santalum album) populations of the southern regions of India have been generated. Work on cloning and characterization of regulatory elements of genes involved in picrosides biosynthesis in Picrorhiza kurrooa has been initiated. The full length 4, 11-diene synthase gene involved in sesquiterpene biosynthesis regulation in Artemisia annua has been cloned. Four genes of isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic pathway in Papaver somniferum have also been cloned.

Plant Biotechnology

Support continued during the year for research and development projects on forestry, horticulture and plantation crops. The thrust of the activities was on plant tissue culture for mass multiplication of desired planting material, use of molecular markets for characterization of genetic diversity and superior accessions with reference to identified desirable traits, molecular biology tools for production of improved varieties through transgenic and molecular breeding approaches. The population genetic structure and diversity in Himalayan pines is also being analysed. Molecular tools were also used for genome evaluation and characterization. Projects in the area of horticulture crops focused mainly on production of disease free quality planting material, improvement of crops, with specific reference to extended shelf life and genetic characterization studies. A brainstorming session was organized on improvement of forest based resources including both timber and non-timber through biotechnological interventions and programmes are being developed for pinus and Eucalyptus. Potato, onion, brinjal and okra have been identified and programmes have been supported. Public Private Partnership model is also being explored. Demonstration projects were supported to programmes under which protocols have been developed. Under the National Mission on bamboo, demonstration programmes have been supported in different states with a target to complete 1000 ha by next year. Project to study the signal transaction cascade events for both biotic and a biotic stress, hormones, light, etc. were supported. An International Solanaceae Genome initiative was launched. Both structural and functional genomics studies are being supported. Public Private model has been worked out and projects in the area of Bio fuels are being supported to the industry.