Both the varieties will contribute effectively towards food and nutritional security of the nation
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh released the genetic version of Indian rice and chickpea (DNA panArray) developed by the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR).
Dr Singh said that the two DNA chips for rice and chickpea, IndRA and IndiCA are the first pan-genome genotyping arrays in these two crops and will tap the huge potential of Indian plant biodiversity and genomic diversity towards food and nutritional security of the nation.
He said, along with the other research platforms established by DBT in this institute, such as the National Genomics and Genotyping Facility (NGGF), state-of-the-art Advanced Proteomics and Metabolomics Platforms and Plant Transformation Platforms, the translational facility and the chips will tap the huge potential of Indian agricultural biodiversity towards achieving the goals of the National Mission Programmes and SDG zero hunger goal.
The minister also inaugurated NIPGR First Translational Facility Network for Speed Breeding and High Throughput (HTP) Field Phenotyping. Referring to NIPGR’s First Translational Facility Network for Speed Breeding and High Throughput (HTP) Field Phenotyping at the campus of Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Corporation Limited (BIBCOL), Bulandshahr, UP, Dr Singh said, genomics-assisted breeding is a rapidly emerging strategy for ensuring global food and nutrition security as well as for achieving future sustainable agriculture.
He said the speed breeding technique shortens the breeding cycle by promoting quick growth and development and rapid generation advancement (even up to four to six generations per year) of crop plants. Speed breeding has been demonstrated in wheat, barley, chickpea, pea, canola and peanut in fully enclosed, controlled-environment growth chambers with the supplementary environment.
He also noted with satisfaction that very recently, the institute has developed a device for enhancing the shelf life of fruits and vegetables and established its first startup Fruvetech.
