Showing papers by "Jitendra P. Khurana published in 2003"

Rapid Induction of Somatic Embryogenesis by 2, 4-D in Leaf Base Cultures of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract: Wheat leaf base segments treated with 2, 4-D (10μM) for 24h developed somatic embryos without an intervening callus when cultured on basal Murashige and Skoog’s medium for less than 2 weeks. This response is auxin specific and genotype independent. In fact, vacuum infiltration of 2, 4-D, although at a higher concentration (50μM), in the basal leaf segments for 1 min, followed by culture on the basal medium, was sufficient to evoke the embryogenic response. In comparison to indirect somatic embryogenesis, this highly efficient system for direct embryogenesis not only curtails the time span for somatic embryogenesis by 15-20 days, it also obviates any secondary changes that may occur during dedifferentiation. The rapid induction of somatic embryogenesis in wheat leaf bases, under easily manipulable culture conditions, thus provides a unique opportunity to monitor the molecular events associated with auxin-mediated induction of somatic embryogenesis and also to study the associated developmental events.

Plant molecular biology and biotechnology research in the post-recombinant DNA era.

Abstract: After the beginning of the recombinant DNA era in the mid-1970s, researchers in India started to make use of the new technology to understand the structure of plant genes and regulation of their expression. The outcome started to appear in print in early the 1980s and genes for histones, tubulin, photosynthetic membrane proteins, phototransduction components, organelles and those regulated differentially by developmental and extrinsic signals were sequenced and characterized. Some genes of biotechnological importance like those encoding an interesting seed protein and the enzyme glyoxalase were also isolated. While work on the characterization of genome structure and organization was started quite early, it remained largely focused on the identification of DNA markers and genetic variability. In this context, the work on mustard, rice and wheat is worth mentioning. In the year 2000, India became a member of the international consortium to sequence entire rice genome. Several laboratories have also given attention to regulated expression of plastid and nuclear genes as well as to isolate target-specific promoters or design promoters with improved potential. Simultaneously, transgenic systems for crops like mustard, rice, wheat, cotton, legumes and several vegetables have been established. More recently, genes of agronomic importance like those for insect resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, nutritional improvement and male sterility, isolated in India or abroad, have been utilized for raising transgenics for crop improvement. Some of these transgenics have already shown their potential in containment facility or limited field trials conducted under the stipulated guidelines. Plant molecular biology and biotechnology are thus clearly poised to make an impact on research in basic biology and agriculture in the near future.

Biotechnology in India I

Abstract: Conventional biotechnology based industries are already established economic activities in India. Facilities have also been set up for the production of restriction endonucleases, oligonucleotides, culture media, plastic wares, micro pipettes etc., However recombinant biotechnology products are still at the research stage and market demand is met through imports. The bulk of the R & D resources for product development are currently being provided by the Government, which has also taken steps to develop trained man power, set up the infrastructure for research, and has organised demonstration projects for faster dissemination of research results to industry. The consumption of biotech products will rise from Rs. 18.74 billion in 1992 to Rs. 55.47 billion in 2000 and the expected additional investment is anticipated to be Rs. 14 billion during the next 8 years.