Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics
Dr. Zahid Akram
About Department
Plant Breeding and Genetics is an important discipline in agricultural sciences. Plant breeders are considered to be the leaders of agricultural research team because they increase the potential of crop plants for desired traits by changing their genetic make up. Only after having a better genetic potential, we can increase yield and other traits through appropriate cultural practices. Credit of big increases in quantity and quality of agriculture at commodities goes mainly to this discipline.
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics was established in the year 1982 at the Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (then Barani Agricultural College) with the initiation of B.Sc. (Hons.) program. M.Sc. (Hons.) program was started in 1996 and Ph.D in 1999. The courses regarding Plant Breeding, Evolution, Genetics, Cytogenetics, Biodiversity and Biotechnology are being taught in the department since then. Research work is being carried out on genetic, breeding and agronomic aspects of yield, quality and drought resistance and salt tolerance in cereal, oilseed and pulse crops.
Goals of the Department
- To impart academic and research teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
- To plan and conduct basic and applied research in cereals, oil seeds and pulse crops.
- To suggest recommendations to farmers and breeders especially those working on arid zone crops.
- To develop linkages with provincial and national research institutions to undertake collaborative research.
Research Thrust
Adequate research facilities have been established in field and laboratories. Five acre land have been allocated to the department at University Farm Koont, in which different research experiments (like crossing block, breeding material from ICARDA/CIMMYT, field evaluation of different lines/varieties) of different crops are being conducted.
Keeping in view the rapid advancement in the field of crop improvement through biotechnology and genetic engineering, the department has established appropriate facilities for in vitro culture techniques for various field crops under sterile and controlled conditions, sterile transfer and genetic transformation.
Four laboratories i.e. Genetic Transformation Lab, Biotech Lab, Cytogenetics Lab, and General PBG Lab. have been established, which are fully equipped.
Research studies of the department are being concentrated on evaluation, characterization of germplasm, genetic and cytogenetic studies, use of biotechnological tools in crop improvement for the characters like yield, quality and drought tolerance in crops of economic importance. The department has also coordination with CIMMYT, ICARDA, BARI Chakwal and NARC, Islamabad for evaluation and screening of local and exotic germplasm.
Faculty Members
Dr. Zahid Akram
Chairman
HEC Approved Supervisor
Phone: +92-51-9292097
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Mahmood-ul-Hassan
Associate Professor
Phone: +92-051-9290151
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Talat Mahmood
Assistant Professor
Phone: +92-51-9290718
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Munir Ahmad
Assistant Professor
HEC Approved Supervisor
Phone: 051-9292097
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Saad Imran Malik
Assistant Professor
HEC Approved Supervisor
Phone: +92-51-9290718
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Rashid Mehmood
Assistant Professor
HEC Approved Supervisor
Phone: +92-51-9292097
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Fahad Masoud Wattoo
Assistant Professor
HEC Approved Supervisor
Phone: +92-51-9290718
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Reena Rani
Assistant Professor (IPFP)
Email: [email protected]
Degree Programs
Research
Completed Projects
Research studies of the department are being concentrated on evaluation, characterization of germplasm, genetic and cytogenetic studies, use of biotechnological tools in crop improvement for the characters like yield, quality and drought tolerance in crops of economic importance. The department has also coordination with CIMMYT, ICARDA, BARI Chakwal and NARC, Islamabad for evaluation and screening of local and exotic germplasm.
| S. No. | Name of Principal/Co-Investigator | Project Title | Sponsored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Dr. Muhammad Munir (P. I.) Dr. Saif Ullah Ajmal (Co- PI) | Screening of rapeseed genotypes for drought stress and, breeding and agronomic evaluation of oilseed crops. | BARD Project, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad. |
| 2. | Dr. Muhammad Munir (P. I.) | Evaluation and breeding of drought resistant/tolerant canola varieties | Higher Education Commission (University Grants Commission)/AAUR |
| 3. | Mr. Mahmood-ul-Hassan (P.I.) | Screening of local wheat (T. aestivum) lines/cultivars for their response to Double Haploid Production by anther culture techniques | University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi |
| 4. | Dr. Muhammad Munir (P.I.) | Development of High Yielding Rust Tolerant Wheat Genotypes by Using Molecular Markers | Ministry of Science & Technology, Islamabad |
| 5. | Dr. Muhammad Munir (P.I.) | Screening of Drought Tolerant Wheat Genotypes and Estimation of the Genetic basis. | Agricultural Linkage Programme, PARC |
| 6. | Dr. Muhammad Munir (P.I.) | Optimization of tissue culture techniques andAgrobacterium mediated transformation in wheat | National Commission on Biotechnology |
| 7. | Dr. M .Kausar Nawaz Shah (P.I.) | Identifying drought tolerant synthetic wheat lines and determining their genetic diversity through SSR markers | Higher Education Commission Islamabad, Pakistan |
