India is fortunate to have rich bio-diversity. A thorough characterization and utilization of this diversity is essential to meet the challenges of biotic and abiotic stresses that limit agricultural production today and are likely to become far more formidable in future under changing climate. This sub-project initiates activities in a consortium mode with a perspective that can be put succinctly as follows.
- Prospecting novel genes, promoters and alleles for economically important traits using indigenous bioresources with emphasis on less studied species
- Functionally validating the new genes in model systems and different genetic backgrounds
- Transferring the validated genes and alleles to recipient species cutting across biological barriers
- Developing highly competent groups of scientists of international standard drawn from various disciplines and institutions for undertaking research in genomics and its application for improvement of agricultural species.
This would require long-term elaborate efforts and liberal funding for a longer period. With this perspective, the immediate objectives of this sub-project have been defined.
