ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

timoriana) cultivars grown in Manipur was analysed
using pod morphology and RAPD profiles.
In vitro regeneration through induction of callus and
somatic embryos was achieved in P. timoriana using
cotyledonary node and hypocotyl explants.
Microbial Resources
Efforts have been continued to develop pure culture
of the root nodule bacteria (NNB) of the aquatic
legume, Neptunia oleracia (NO), as a microbial
inoculant and the NO as green manure in rice. The
inoculation of NNB resulted in grain yield increase of
13.4% in rice. Inoculated rice showed para-nodules
on the roots. The effect of NO as green manure was
also found to be at par with that of Azolla, a
commonly used green manure for rice. Suitability of
NO as green manure will be demonstrated at
farmers' field. Fast growth rate of NO during summer
months may prove to be a better green manure in rice
than Azolla which is commonly used in wet land rice
cultivation.
A Neptunia oleracea runner at 0 day (left) and after
30 days (right) of growth in tank water
Petroleum ether extracts of culture filtrate of the
Pseudomonas isolate - RFP-36 showed antifungal
activity against Rhizoctonia solani and
Macrophemina phaseolina.
Forty-two isolates of Bacillus obtained from the
marketed samples of fermented soybean (Hawaijar)
were added to the collections already maintained at
the institute raising the total Bacillus collections to
126. Molecular identification of the 126 Bacillus
isolates was carried out using ARDRA (Amplified
Ribosomal DNA Restriction Digestion Analysis). One
hundred and twenty six isolates in 23 genera of
cyanobacteria have been isolated from Loktak lake,
191
rice fields of Manipur and catalogued. These
isolates are currently screened for production of
natural colorants. Initial screening of 20 isolates
showed marked variation in phycobillin and carotene
content.
Aquatic Bioresources
Ornamental fishes belonging to the genera Puntius,
Colisa and Botia have been collected and maintained
at aquaria for identification of spawning phase,
sexual dimorphism, age at first maturity, breeding
behaviour, reproductive cycle, fecundity, style of
reproduction, parental care, characteristic of eggs
and larvae in captivity. Two endemic and one
indigenous fish of the genus Puntius viz, Puntius
manipurensis, P. bizonatus and P. sophore; three
indigenous fishes of the genus Colisa viz. Colisa
fasciatus, C. labiosus and C. sota and one
indigenous fish belonging to the genus Botia have
been taken up for commercial exploitation.
Other Activities
The institute has organized three Training
Programmes on the “Use of tools and techniques for
bioresource development and utilization” for the
graduate students of the leading colleges of Manipur.
Culturable seeds of Osteobrama belangeri (Pengba)
were produced in a Training-cum-demonstration
programme of the institute and about 10 lakh
spawns and 20,000 fingerlings were distributed free
of cost to selected fish farmers and entrepreneurs of
Manipur as starting material for popularization of this
fish in the region.
Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneshwar
Technical
Cutting edge technology in molecular biology
continued to serve as a useful tool for acquiring
insights into biology of the aging process,
pathogenesis of chronic myeloid leukemia, infectious
diseases such as cholera, malaria and filariasis and
in plant and environmental biotechnology.
Molecular Biology of Aging
Inorganic pyrophosphatase, 3' non-translated β-F1
Autonomous Institutions