 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 21: A three-day skill development program on "Advances in Plant Tissue Culture", equipping participants with state-of-the-art techniques to address challenges in agriculture and biotechnology, concluded here today at CSIR-IIIM, Jammu. The event blended theoretical knowledge with hands-on training, fostering innovation and skill development among researchers, students, and industry professionals. In the programme, More than 20 participants, including scholars, students and agri-entrepreneurs drawn across the country, have got the opportunity to emphasize its role in fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable agriculture.
The Three-day program commenced with an introductory lecture on "Principles of Plant Tissue Culture", covering the fundamentals of in-vitro plant propagation, types of culture media, and their applications. Participants delved into the significance of synthetic seeds in crop preservation and mass propagation, followed by an interactive Q&A session. The afternoon featured hands-on training on basic tissue culture techniques, enabling attendees to practice sterile handling and media preparation under expert guidance. Day two focused on practical skills, beginning with preparation of Murashige and Skoog (MS) media, a cornerstone of plant tissue culture. Participants learned to sterilize media and glassware using autoclaves and practiced pouring sterilized media into culture flasks for inoculation. The second session emphasized surface sterilization of explants (plant samples) and their inoculation into regeneration media. Attendees also prepared pre-cultures for genetic transformation, gaining insights into protocols for enhancing plant resilience and yield.
The final day advanced into genetic transformation techniques, where participants prepared explants for infection using Agrobacterium, a bacterium pivotal in transferring desirable genes to plants. A live demonstration of synthetic seed preparation highlighted their role in cost-effective, large-scale cultivation of elite plant varieties. The session underscored the potential of these techniques in addressing food security and climate resilience.
Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM Jammu, presided over the valedictory session and felicitated participants with certificates. In his address, Dr. Ahmed emphasized the transformative role of plant tissue culture in agriculture, crop diversification, crop improvement and other allied sectors, urging attendees to drive innovation through startups and collaborative research. "This technology can be a watershed movement for India's secondary agriculture, meeting growing demands sustainably," he remarked. While congratulating the participants on the successful completion of their training program, he said that this program aligned with CSIR-IIIM Jammu's mission to foster skill development and translational research in plant biotechnology. By bridging theoretical knowledge with practical expertise, the institute aims to empower a new generation of scientists to tackle global agricultural challenges.
Among various scientists, technical staff and scholars, the valedictory event was graced by Er. Abdul Rahim, Head, RMBD & IST Division; Dr Dhiraj Vyas, Head, Plant Sciences & Agrotechnology Division; Dr. Srinivas Kota, Scientist & Technical Coordinator; and Dr Nasir Ul Rasheed, Senior Scientist & Nodal, Skill Development. |
