ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

some diseases are the two most important
constraints in their production throughout these
regions. Therefore, the development of drought and
disease resistant cultivars are important objectives in
most breeding programmes of these crops. Under
Sorghum programme, two genotypes M35-1 and B35
were used as parents for developing the recombinant
inbred line mapping population. The genotype B35 is
a well characterize source of staygreen while M 35-1
is the most popular post rainy season leaf senescent
cultivar grown on a vast area in the states of
Maharashtra and Karnataka. Quantitative trait loci
and corresponding flanking molecular marker for
staygreen have been identify and verified by NRCS,
Hyderabad. UAS, Dharwad is evaluating
recombinant inbred line population for charcoal rot
resistance and related traits across location and
seasons to develop genetic linkage map using SSR
and EST based markers. MAU, Parbhani is
developing population for marker development for
shoot fly resistance in sorghum. TNAU, Coimbatore
is characterizing sorghum germplasm for drought
tolerance using molecular markers. QTL mapping
and MAS to improve drought tolerance, downy
mildew resistance stover quality and under standing
the oxidative stress adaptation in pearl millet are in
progress. SSR markers are being developed to
saturate linkage map of finger millet at UAS,
Bangalore. Transgenic approach is also being
followed for salinity tolerance and low-HCN in
sorghum to control downy mildew in pearl millet.
Multi-site evaluation of transgenic mustard
(DMH-11) based on barnase barstar system
Heterosis breeding could be deployed for enhancing
the crop productivity in mustard. Production of
hybrids requires availability of suitable male sterility
restorer system to facilitate hybrid seed production.
University of Delhi, South Campus has developed a
male sterility restorer system making use of barnase
and barstar genes. The male sterility and restorer
capacity were subsequently transferred to suitable
combines through recurrent backcrossing for
development of DMH-11 hybrid. The hybrid seed
production of DMH-11 is being undertaken by the
inventors for last 2-3 years after taking necessary
regulatory clearances. Two contained open field
trials of the DMH-11 at Delhi University research
station during 2003-04 and 2004-05 sought 55% and
DBT Annual Report 2006-07
46
45% yield heterosis respectively over national check
variety Varuna. Hence the Department supported to
conduct the multi-location field trials of this hybrid.
The National Research Centre of Rapeseed-
Mustard, Bharatpur conducted these trials along
with four checks, viz.CMS based hybrid (DMH-1),
National Checks (Varuna and Kranti) and a zonal
check, at 10 locations during the year 2006. It was
observed that higher yield of DMH-11 over the best
check variety was recorded in 6 out of 9 locations.
Maximum heterosis was recorded at Delhi location
(28%). Since the trial was not shown in time in all the
locations, the data recorded for the yield and its
components did not reflect the true potential of DMH-
11. Keeping in view the recommendation of the MEC,
the trials are being repeated during the current rabi
season at 10 sites in six states
Crop Biofortification
(i) Biofortification of wheat for micronutrients
through conventional and molecular breeding
approaches
The Network Project through conventional and
molecular breeding approaches was sanctioned in
the month of December 2005. There are 5 subprojects
ongoing at 4 institutions namely IARI, New
Delhi and its Exptl Station Indore, IIT, Roorkee, PAU,
Ludhiana and IARI, Pune.
Cereal crops vary considerably for micronutrient
content in grains and other plant parts. In wheat only
20% of Fe and 70% of Zn, that is taken up by the plant
are translocated to the grain, and these are primarily
deposited in aleurone layer. Large proportion of
micronutrients deposited in the aleurone layer is lost
during milling and less than 50% of whatever is
consumed, is absorbed by the body due to presence
of phytic acid. Some of the wild species of wheat with
higher levels of micronutrients might be very efficient
in micronutrient uptake and their partitioning to grains
as compared to the cultivated germplasm that shows
little variability for the traits.
Activity wise progress is as follows : For screening
of wheat and related germplasm for micronutrients
iron and zinc (including carotenoids for beta
carotene in case of durum) and for low phytate level,
diverse germplasm consisting of old and new