ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

With a view to isolate the taxol biosynthetic genes, a
cDNA library from the endophytic fungus isolated
from Taxus celabica was constructed at Indian
Institute of Science, Bangalore. Presence of
taxadiene synthase and taxadiene 13 hydroxylase
was confirmed by DNA sequencing and it would be
used in the screening of the Alternaria cDNA library to
isolate the corresponding cDNA clones. Work has
been continued to elucidate the novel metabolic route
to a phenolic fragrance 2-hydroxy-4methoxybenzaldehyde
formation in root organs of
Hemidesmus indicus at Indian Institute of
Technology, Kharagpur. Two novel enzymatic routes
have been demonstrated.
RAPD and minisatellite profiles of sandalwood
(Santalum album) populations of the Southern
regions of India have been generated at Vittal Mallya
Scientific Research Foundation, Bangalore. Marked
genetic variability has been observed in different
populations and within individuals of a population.
The wood oil quality of representative samples was
assessed by GC-MS for presence of various
sesquiterpenes. cDNA libraries from leaf and wood
tissues have been generated to isolate complete
ORFs of terpene synthases from sandalwood.
Work on cloning and characterization of regulatory
elements of genes involved in picrosides
biosynthesis in Picrorhiza kurrooa has been initiated
at Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology,
Palampur. Upstreem sequences of 1-deoxy-Dxylulose-5-phosphate
reductoisomerase (DXR) and
3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Co-A reductase (HMGR)
have been cloned.
Genomic analysis of sesquiterpene biosynthesis
regulation in Artemisia annua metabolome has been
initiated at CIMAP, Lucknow. The full-length amorpha
4, 11diene synthase (ads) gene from A. annua
genotype CIM-Arogya have been cloned. Work on
expression of genes controlling trichome number
(from Arabidopsis) in A. annua has been recently
initiated at University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad.
Four genes of the isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic
DBT Annual Report 2006-07
74
pathway in genotype Sampada of Papaver
somniferum (poppy) have been cloned at CIMAP,
Lucknow.
Plant Biotechnology
During the year, support continued for programmes
under forestry, horticulture and plantation crops;
basic research; solanaceae genome and molecular
taxonomy. Three meetings of the Task Force were
held during the year and two meetings of the
Scientific Advisory Committee on micropropagation
research and technology development. In addition a
number of idea generation meetings and
brainstorming discussions were organized for
th
initiating new programmes during the 11 Plan. A new
initiative launched during the year was on host
pathogen interaction. During the year another major
new initiative has been on improvement of vegetable
crops using biotechnology approaches. Some of the
salient achievements of the ongoing programmes are
as follows.
Forestry, Horticulture & Plantation Crops:
In the area of forestry, studies continued on
developing micropropagation protocols for important
trees, germplasm characterization, conservation and
other related aspects of forestry improvement.
Micropropagation protocols are being developed for
Grewia optiva, Buchanania lanzan, Red sanders,
Sandal wood and Eucalyptus hybrid. Field evaluation
studies for two important eucalyptus hybrids have
been taken up at 6 locations, and data is being
collected.
In a study supported at TFRI, Jabalpur, teak
populations belonging to Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Orissa, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, were assessed
for their genetic diversity using ISSR and AFLP
molecular markers. The polymorphic loci amplified
were 43 from the 29 populations by ISSR markers
and 226 from ten populations by AFLP markers.
Studies were also supported for genetic engineering
of Leucaena leucocephala and Populus for