Home -> Science Colleges In Assam -> Assam Agricultural University -> Under Graduate Courses -> Assam Agricultural University Plant Breeding And Genetics
Courses Offered
- BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT
The Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics came into existence in 1971 after bifurcation of the erstwhile Agricultural Botany Department with the mandate to impart teaching, research and extension in plant breeding at UG and PG level. Dr M. H. Hazarika was the founder Head of this Department. The MSc. (Agri.) degree programme in Plant Breeding and Genetics was initiated in 1972.Subsequently, the PhD degree programme was offered from 1986 under course credit system. The Department has a well knit undergraduate and post graduate teaching programme in plant breeding and genetics with updated and modern course curricula as per ICAR guidelines. A broad range of carefully designed courses supplemented by courses in other Departments, appropriately address the academic needs of the students. From 1989, this Department acted as the nodal Department by offering MSc. (Agri) programme in Agricultural Biotechnology till 1996, when Agricultural Biotechnology became a separate Department. Since 2012, the Department has been offering MSc. (Agri.) degree programme in Seed Science and Technology. The Department is catering to the needs of trained manpower in crop improvement to the entire NE region since its inception. Most of the faculty members of this Department along with the plant breeders engaged in the crop improvement research in different RARSs of AAU, are products of this Department. Some faculty members of Agricultural Biotechnology Department of AAU are the product from this Department. The alumni of this Department are serving in other national and international institutes like Tezpur University, Assam University, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), institutes of ICAR, IARI, University of Hawaii and University of Iowa, USA. Two alumni are also decorating the coveted positions of Vice Chancellor of Universities. The Department has played a pivotal role in the agricultural scenario of Assam by developing landmark varieties in rice, pulses, oilseeds, forage and other crops. This Department also has the distinction of conducting first summer institute in AAU under the sponsorship of ICAR in 1987 on the topic “Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources of Northeast India”.
VISION
To provide quality education and training in all areas of crop improvement and seed technology
To create a pool of technically sound plant breeders and seed technologists who can respond to the changing dynamics of the society at regional, national and international level
To provide technical advice and training to the farmers and other stakeholders in all areas for better sustainable crop production on the principles of crop improvement and seed technology.
OBJECTIVES
To impart fundamental and applied knowledge on plant breeding & genetics and seed science & technology for growth and development of agriculture
To perform need based translational research on crop improvement catering to local and regional demand
To provide technical advice and training to the farmers and other stakeholders in all areas of crop improvement and seed production
To development superior cultivars of major crops of Assam using conventional breeding methodologies supplemented by molecular techniques.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Presently the Department is involved in the following academic programs:
· BSc. (Agri.), BSc. (Hort), BSc. (Seri)
· MSc. (Agri.) in Plant Breeding and Genetics
· MSc. (Agri.) in Seed Science and Technology
· PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics
As per the 4th Dean’sCommittee report, this Department is offering 8 core courses in the BSc (Agri) level with 22 credit hours. The revised ICAR curricula for MSc (Agri.) and PhD programmeswere adopted from 2009 with little modifications. Under this revised curriculum, core and optional courses are offered, ranging from classical breeding to molecular approaches, including germplasm conservation and management. The faculty members are well qualified to teach and undertake research in different aspects of traditional and modern plant breeding. There are five well equipped laboratories in the Department for teaching and research works. The Department endeavours to impart hands-on-training to students in various aspects of crop improvement and seed technology through different laboratory and field activities. These include hybridization techniques in different crops, selection procedures applied to major crops of the region assisted by the application of molecular breeding techniques. The PG research is oriented towards developing competence of the students for taking up research on crop improvement.Both blackboard teaching and power point presentations are adopted to enable students’ perception of the subject-matter. The teachers of the Department have developed 4 manuals to effectively carry out UG and PG practical classes.