The thrust of research is to bring the techniques of plant tissue culture and molecular biology in the development of procedures for embryo rescue and regeneration, development of novel hybrids, induction of somatic embryogenesis, micro-propagation of endemic and/ or endangered medicinal plant species, isolation and heterologous expression of genes for the synthesis of biodegradable polymers, and characterization of lignin biosynthesis pathway genes and their down regulation.

Plant Tissue Culture : mass propagation of conifers, forest trees, ornamentals, medicinal and aromatic plants, development of novel hybrids and isogenic lines, hyperproducing cell lines and hairy root cultures for the synthesis of drugs, tissue culture project implementation on turnkey basis. In vitro induction of flowering in bamboos.

Molecular Biology : gene prospecting, development of DNA molecular markers, development of transgenics

Training : ability to impart advance training in plant biotechnology

Development of Downey mildew resistant grapes : Downey mildew, a fungal disease caused by Plasmopara viticola, inflicts considerable losses to the cultivated grapes. For the introgression of Downey mildew resistance in “Thompson” and “Flame” seedless varieties of grapes, in ovulo embryo rescue technique has been used. The novel hybrids are characterized in field and by DNA molecular markers (Biol. Plant. 45(3), 359-365, 2002).

Micropropagation of Grape cultivars : Protocols for micropropagation of edible grape cultivars and grape root stocks have been developed.

Tissue Culture of Oilseed crops : In vitro regeneration system is one of the major pre-requisites for the application of biotechnology to Pongamia pinnata, a non-edible oil bearing tree species. The present endeavour has been undertaken with the objective of developing efficient and reproducible in vitro regeneration system for this plant, via organogenesis and embryogenesis. The potential of seed derived oil of pongamia as a substitute for diesel is recognized and identified as “Biodiesel”. A method for in vitro regeneration of this plant species is developed. (Biol. Plant. 46(2), 187-192, 2003).

Peanut is an important oil seed crop. Peanut seeds are the rich source of edible oil (43-55%) and oil cake is a valuable animal feed. Protocols for elite peanut genotypes with high capacity plant regeneration via embryogenesis and organogenesis are standardized. Somatic embryogenesis of peanut is also pioneered.

Tissue culture of Medicinal Plants : Development of protocols is in the process for in-vitro plant regeneration, hyper-production of desired drugs by cell culture/ hairy root cultures, screening for biodiversity at molecular and chemical level of plants which are endangered and/ or endemic to the Western Ghats. The plants being worked upon are Nothapodytes foetida, Calophylum inophylum, Iphigenia magnifica, Gymnema sylvestris, Bidaria khandalensis, Sauropus androgynous and Rauwolfia serpentina. (Plant Cell Tissue Organ Culture 72, 247-251, 2003).

Molecular Biology : The 1.3 kb gene for eukaryotic elongation factor 1A has been isolated, cloned and sequenced from sugarcane and fully characterized. Isolating the promoter sequence for this gene is in the process (Plant Sci. 162, 315-321, 2002).

Isolated, cloned and sequenced the Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) biosynthesis genes from Streptomyces aureofaciens and expressed these heterologously in E. coli for the synthesis of PHB (Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 31, 63-69, 2002; Microbiol. Res. 158, 19-27, 2003).

Isolated a Bacillus sp. for synthesis of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate and its copolymers.

Somatic embryogenesis/ organogenesis : Development of in vitro regeneration systems through somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis is of importance, not only to complement existing methods of propagation of the species but also for genetic improvement through transformation. In vitro plantlet regeneration through organogenesis has been achieved in Pinus wallichiana A.B.Jacks (Plant Cell Reports 19, 74-80, 1999) Phase dependent somatic embryogenesis in Pinus roxburghii : Success in obtaining somatic embroyogenesis in Pinus roxburghii is of great significance as Pinus roxburghii takes 4 years for micro and megasporogenesis, male and female gametophytes development and embroyonic development. Out of these four years the physiological state of the embryo development, which is responsive under in vitro condition, lasts only for 10-15 days (window). The studies were carried out to establish these windows which have resulted in development of somatic embryogenesis system in Pinus roxburghii. (Curr. Sci. 79, 999-1004, 2000).

The embryogenic cell lines of Pinus roxburghii have been successfully cryopreserved (Biol. Plant. 46, 205-210, 2003).

Tissue dependent pathways of somatic embryogenesis in cashewnut (Anacardium occidentale L.) Somatic embryogenesis occurred via two different routes. Direct (through PEDCs explant immature zygotic embryos) and indirect (through IEDCs – explant nucellus). Developmental stage of explants (fruits at 3-4 weeks after fertilization) was crucial for expression of somatic embryogenesis. Both processes would be useful for propagating existing and new hybrid varieties getting an insight into physiological processes involved in embryogenesis and embryo maturation and for genetic manipulation and bio reactor scale-up. (In vitro cell Dev. Biol. Plant 36(1), 41-46, 2000 and Scientia Hort. 92, 75-82, 2003).

Novel plants through genetic engineering and mutation : A gene transfer model system for the annual crop, turmeric has been developed. pAHC 25 plasmid for BASTA resistance was introduced in regenerating cells of turmeric using helium gun. Gene transfer was confirmed in the plants raised through cell lines. Similarly a model system for a perennial temperate tree Pinus roxburghii has been developed transient gene expression has been obtained by microprojectile bombardment. Recently the Plasmid pAHC25 with Basta resistance and Gus reporter has been introduced in regenerating needles through biolistic transformation methods (Plant Cell Biotech. Mol. Biol. 3(182), 43-50, 2002).

Bamboo biotechnology : In vitro induction of flowering in bamboos has an immense potential. We propose utilization of benzyl adenine (BA) for flowering. BA can be used as a marker for in vitro induction of flowering and to understand the phase change from juvenility to maturity at molecular level (Nature, 344, 335-336, 1990; Poster presentation at 10th IAPTC&B Congress on Plant Biotech: 2002 and beyond, June 23-28, 2002, Florida, USA).

Dr. SK Rawal
National Chemical Laboratory ,
Dr. Homi Bhabha Road ,
Pune 411 008 India
Email : rawal@dalton.ncl.res.in
Phone : +91-20-2589 3367
Fax : +91-20-2589 3367