Division of Crop Improvement

Arid ecosystem is blessed with wide genetic variability with respect to adverse climate existing in this region. This provides an opportunity for gene mining for drought, salinity and high temperature resistance genes. The region is experiencing a shift in climate and abiotic factors in wake of changing climatic scenario.

The division will address the issue of plant genetic resources conservation, trait specific characterization for improvement of arid horticultural crops. Modern biotechnological approaches will also be employed for faster multiplication and molecular characterization of perennial fruit crops. Issues related to IPM and IDM along with identification of pollinators and host parasite interaction will be addressed.

Objectives :

• To develop cultivars resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses.
• To develop protocols for faster multiplication of arid horticultural crops using biotechnological approaches.
• To transfer desired genes in commercial cultivar using marker assisted breeding.
• To understand basis mechanism of stigma receptivity, host parasite interaction and adaptation mechanism in arid horticulture.
• To undertake human resource development programme for improvement of arid horticulture crops.