GENETICS AND PLANT BREEDING DEPARTMENT
The Department offers gradate programs leading to MS and PhD degree. The Genetics and Plant Breeding Department has major research program on the improvement of vegetables, oil seeds and cereal crops through conventional breeding, tissue culture and molecular approaches.
Faculty: Dr. Md. Golam Rasul, Professor; Dr. Nasrin Akter Ivy, Professor; Dr. A K M Aminul Islam, Professor; Dr. Mohammad Mehfuz Hasan Saikat, Professor; Umakanta Sarkar, Associate Professor; Dr. Mohammad Sharif Raihan, Associate Professor; Rawnaq Nazneen Chowdhury, Assistant Professor (Study Leave)
Adjunct faculty: Dr. Md. Obaidul Islam; Dr. Harun-or- Rashid; Dr. A. Salam, Ex Director (Res.), BRRI; Dr. Lutfur Rahman, Professor, Dept. Genetics and Plant Breeding, BAU; Dr. M. A. Newaz, Professor, Dept. Genetics and Plant Breeding, BAU.
Research Supervisor: Dr. Harun-or-Rashid; Dr. Md. Khairul Bashar, Director (Research), BRRI; Dr. Bhagya Rani Banik, CSO, Breeding Division BARI; Dr. Md. Motiar Rohaman, SSO, BARI; A.S.M. Masuduzzaman, PSO, BRRI; Dr. Khandakar Md. Iftekharuddaula, SSO, BRRI; Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam, SSO, BRRI; Md. Rezwan Molla, SSO, PGRC, BARI; Muhammad Shefatur Rahman, SO, PGRC, BARI.
Courses
GPB 501 Cytogenetics (3cr.): Historical events of cell biology and cytogenetics. Structure and organization of cell organelles. Cell cycle and DNA replication: cell division and its significance. Chromosome-structure, organization, morphology and function; special types of chromosomes- sex chromosomes, polytene and lamp brush Chromosomes, Numerical changes of chromosome and its evolutionary significance and uses; structural changes of chromosomes cytogenetics of deletion, duplication, inversion and interchange; evolution and cytogenetics of some important crops- rice, wheat, sugarcane, pulses, oilseeds, jute, maize, etc.; possible use of cytogenetic tools in crop improvement. (2 theory + 1 practical).
GPB 510 Genetics (3 cr.): Pre- Mendelian concepts of factors. Mendelian inheritance, expression and interaction of genes. Multiple alleles, linkage and crossing over, extra nuclear inheritance, quantitative inheritance, genetic consequences of structural and numerical changes of chromosome, gene concept, genetic materials-replication, repair, transformation, transduction, transcription, genetic code, gene regulation and operon concept, protein synthesis, molecular basis of mutation, electrophoretic study in Genetics.
GPB/SST 521 Plant Breeding (3 cr.): Introduction of plant breeding, origin of crop plants, distribution and domestication under natural selection, mode of reproduction and their significance in pant breeding. Genetic basis of plant breeding, germplasm- collection, evaluation, maintenance and utilization, plant breeding methods- introduction, selection and hybridization, handling of the segregating population, selection and its genetic basis, pollination controlling mechanisms and their signification: self incompatibility, male sterility, Mutation, polyploidy and Apomictic breeding
GPB 531 Quantitative Genetics (3 cr.): Introduction to population genetics, concept of gene and genotype frequencies, Hardy- Wiengberg law, inbreeding, assortative mating, Genetic gain and loss of genetic variation mutation, migration, selection and genetic drift, introduction to quantitative genetics, statistical concepts and procedures, gene effects and variances, estimation of genetic parameters, non-genetic components of phenotypic variance and heritability, artificial selection. (Prerequisite GPB 510, GPB 521).
GPB 541 Breeding Field Crops (3 cr.): Breeding techniques for rice, wheat, maize, jute, sugarcane, potato, oil crops and pulses. (Prerequisite GPB 521).
GPB 545 Breeding Horticultural Crops (3 cr.): Breeding techniques of vegetable crops- tomato, eggplant, country bean, pea, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, radish, cucumber, sweet gourd, ash gourd, knolkhol, bitter gourd, onion, garlic, sweet potato, ladies finger, spinach. Breeding techniques of fruits- banana, papaya, pineapple, melons, mango, jackfruit and litchi. (Prerequisite GPB 521).
GPB 550 Molecular Genetics (3 cr.): Fine structure of gene. transcriptional regulations-promoters, enhancers, initiation, elongation and termination factors. capping. splicing and polyadenylation.Restriction endonuclease, restriction mapping, DNAprobe, southern and northern blot, cDNAand genomic library, gene cloning-insertion of genes into vectors (cutting and joining), selection of transformants. DNA sequencing and gene synthesis. Ribosomal RNA gene, KNA Poly-merase, foot printing, agro bacterium (nature’s genetic engineer) Ti-plasmid, Ri- plasmid, t-DNA transfer mechanism, gene transfer via Ti-Plasmid. chloroplast gene structure and regulation. Mitochondria, genomes structure and gene content. Transport of nuclearly encoded products into organelles, transposable elements. (Prerequisite GPB 510).
GPB 596 Reading and Conference (Credits arranged but not more than 3 cr.): Special study assigned by the Major Professor on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee and /or interest of the student.
GPB 597 Special Problems (Credit to be arranged but not more than 3 cr.): Investigation of special problems in genetics & breeding.
GPB 598 Seminar (1 cr.): Discussion of Genetics and Plant Breeding topics.
GPB 599 Thesis Research (Credits to be arranged but not less than 12 cr): Original thesis research.
GPB 601: Advanced Cytogenetics
(3cr.): Scope of cytogenetic methods as tools in plant breeding, methods and mapping genes use of deficiency, interchange, inversion and trisomics, relative effectiveness of different methods of cytogenetic tool as direct aid in plant breeding methods of producing duplication and interchange stocks, methods of transfer of desirable genes, tertiary trisomics, polyploids autopolyploids, allo-polyploids, aneuploids, bridging species- new characters from interspecific hybrids, alien chromosome addition and substitution, cytogenetical basis of self-in- compatibility and male sterility with their application in plant breeding (Pre requisite GPB 501).
GPB 610 Breeding for Disease Resistance (3 cr.): Introduction; genetics of disease causing organism; kinds of resistance-defense mechanism, vertical and hori-zontal resistance; inheritance of mono-genie and polygenic disease resistance; genetics of host-parasite relationships; race identification; epidemics, population and genetic base- boom and bust cycle and vertifolia effect of Van Der plank; breeding disease resistance varieties- strategy and methods. (Prerequisite GPB 521).
GPB/SST 615 Plant Genetic Resources (3cr.): Evolution of crop plants, center of origin and diversity, genetic erosion ; breeding; systematic approaches of exploration, collection storage, characterization evaluation and utilization of germplasm; genetic resources, quarantine regulation for ex-changing plant genetic resources, cryopreservation,evaluation and characterization of germplasm, documentation, utilization of germplasm, encapsulation for transportation of germplasm, seed laws, seed production, processing, marketing and quality control.
GPB 631 Plant Biotechnology (3 cr.): Introduction. Cell Engineering and Genetic Engineering, Usefulness of plant cell. Plant tissue culture, Protoplast isolation, plant regeneration, titopotenccy.rapid clonal, propagation, somaclonal variation, somatic cell hybridization, construction of plasmid vectors for gene transfer- basic structure and techniques; selection of promoters, markers and 3′noncoding sequences. DNA transfer methods–Agrobacterium mediate transformation, microinjection, electroporation, gene gun (particle bombardment) and others. Plant regeneration from transformed cell. detection of inserted gene- protein, mRNA, and DNA assay, stability and inheritance of foreign genes, transfor- mation of organelle genomes-chloroplast transformation, targeting of gene products, application of plant bio- technology in crop improvement-insect, disease and herbicide resistance, inhibition of gene expression by antisense RNA; molecular marker assisted selection-use of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in backcross breeding, heterosis and QTL (quantitative trait loci) analysis; isozyme, allozyme and RAPD (Random amplified polymorphic DNA) marker, problems and perspective. (Prerequisite GPB-550).
GPB 640 Advanced Plant Breeding (3 cr.): Population improvement-bulk population and intergenotypic competition, methods of utilizing populations, early generation selection and frequency of favorable alleles, allocation of resources for breeding scheme. Development and evaluation of parental materials for use in inbred, synthetic and composites- types of parental material and methods of evaluation; prediction of hybrid, synthetics, and composite- parent hybrid correlation, Breeding for physiological traits, nutritional quality, and symbiotic nitrogen fixation; breeding techniques applicable for the future- conversion of C3 into C4 plants, breeding nutritionally balanced variety. Release of variety, seed production and maintenance of crop variety. (Prerequisite GPB 521).
GPB 645 Breeding for Environmental Stresses (2 cr.): Breeding for adaptation- multi-environmental trial, multiple cropping; drought; water logging; salinity and other stresses. (Prerequisite GPB 521).
GPB 650 Advanced Biometrical Genetics (3 cr.): Introduction, Review of some statistical concepts of biometrical genetics; Gene effects and variances; Estimation of genetic parameters – generation mean analysis, diallel analysis, biparental progenies, design I, II, and III; Selection, Genotype X environment interaction, (prerequisite GPB 531).
GPB /SST 655 Heterosis Breeding and Hybrid Seed Technology (3 cr.): Heterosis -an introduction; history of heterosis breeding; heterosis and inbreeding depression basis of heterosis, genetic diversity, combining ability and heterosis; estimation of the extent of heterosis; mode of pollination and methods of reproduction in crop plants in relation to hybrid breeding: factors influencing hybrid breeding; factors influencing hybrid seed production; use of self- incompatibility and male sterility for hybrid seed production; synthetic and composite varieties- a way for partial utilization of heterosis; population improvement in hybrid varieties; exploitation of heterosis in cereals, vegetables fruits and ornamentals; heterosis breeding- present and future. (perequisite GPB 521).
GPB 660 Population Genetics (3 cr.): Genetic constitution of a population, genetic gain and loss of genetic variation- mutation, migration, selection, joint effect of mutation and selection, genetic drift; genetic variance and correlation, multiple alleles, selling, sib-mating, small population, selection-the response and its prediction, the results of experiments, information from relatives; inbreeding and cross breeding (Prerequisite GPB
521, GPB 531)
GPB/SST 665 Maintenance Breeding and Breeder Seed Production (3 Cr.): Steps in breeding, release and multiplication of varieties, production of Breeder’s and Foundation seed: its procedure, seed certification, genetic purity: its concept and importance in seed production, life span of varieties and factors responsible for other deterioration and shift in their genetic make up, prevalence of natural crossing in crop plants, isolation requirement for seed production, maintenance of existing varieties and component lines of hybrid varieties.
GPB 696 Reading and Conference (Credits to be arranged but not more than 3 cr): Special study assigned by the Major Professor on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee and/or interest of the student.
GPB 697 Special Problem (Credits to be arranged but not more than 3 cr.): Investigation of special problems not related to a thesis problem.
GPB 698 Seminar (2 cr. not more than
1 cr. per Term): Discussion of assigned topics on genetics and plant breeding
GPB 699 Research (Credits to be arranged but not less than 30): Original dissertation research,
Note: Students having CGPA below 3.00 will not be allowed to enroll GPB 596, GPB 597, GPB 696 or GPB 697 until he/she raised the CGPA to 3.00 or above.
Table 15. Minimum Course and Research Requirement for MS Degree1
A. Major Courses | Cr. | Minor Courses | Cr. | ||
1a. Core: | 18 | 2a. Core: | 6 | ||
GPB 501 | Cytogenetics | 3 | HRT 601 Plant Tissue Culture | 3 | |
GPB 510 | Genetics | 3 | STT 510 Design of Experiments | 3 | |
GPB 521 | Plant Breeding | 3 | |||
GPB 531 | Quantitative Genetics | 3 | |||
GPB 550 | Molecular Genetics | 3 | |||
GPB 640 | Advanced Plant Breeding | 3 | |||
1b. Elective: | 6 | 2b. Elective: | 3 | ||
GPB 541 | Breeding Field Crops | 3 | AER 501 | Agricultural Extension and Communication | 3 |
GPB 545 | Breeding Horticultural Crops | 3 | STT 501 | Methods of Statistics | 3 |
GPB 601 | Advanced Cytogenetics | 3 | AGR 601 | Crop Ecology | 3 |
GPB 610 | Breeding for Disease
Resistance |
3 | CBT 501 | Plant Physiology | 3 |
GPB 615 | Plant Genetic Resources | 3 | CBT 516 | Plant Embryology | 2 |
GPB 631 | Plant Biotechnology | 3 | CBT 541 | Plant Biochemistry I | 3 |
GPB 645 | Breeding for Environmental
Stresses |
2 | HRT 541 | Research Methodology | 2 |
GPB 650 | Advanced Biometrical
Genetics |
3 | STT 525 | Multivariate Analysis | 3 |
GPB 655 | Heterosis Breeding and
Hybrid Seed Technology |
3 | Other Courses2 | ||
GPB 660 | Population Genetics | 3 | |||
GPB 665 | Maintenance Breeding and
Breeder Seed Production |
3 | |||
B. Seminar | 1 | ||||
GPB 598 | Seminar | 1 |
- Thesis Research 12
GPB 599 Thesis Research Variable
Total 46
1 Degree requirement may be changed on the recommendation of the Board of the Board of
Studies and the Advisory Committee
2 Approved by the Advisory Committee
Table 16. Minimum Course and Research Requirement for PhD Degree1
- Major Courses Cr Minor Courses Cr
1a. Core: | 12 | 2a. Core: | 9 | ||
GPB 550 | Molecular Genetics | 3 | HRT 601 | Plant Tissue Culture | 3 |
GPB 601 | Advanced Cytogenetics | 3 | STT 501 | Methods of Statistics | 3 |
GPB 640 | Advanced Plant Breeding | 3 | STT 510 | Design of Experiments. | 3 |
GPB 650 | Advanced Biometrical
Genetics |
3 | |||
1b. Electives: 12 2b. Electives 12 | |||||
GPB 501 | Cytogenetics | 3 | AER 501 | Agricultural Extension
& communication |
3 |
GPB 510 | Genetics | 3 | AGR 601 | Crop Ecology | 3 |
GPB 521 | Plant Breeding | 3 | CBT 501 | Plant Physiology | 3 |
GPB 531 | Quantitative Genetics | 3 | CBT 516 | Plant Embryology | 2 |
GPB 541 | Breeding Field Crops | 3 | CBT 541 | Plant Biochemistry I | 3 |
GPB 545 | Breeding Horticultural
Crops |
3 | HRT 541 | Research Methodology | 3 |
GPB 610 | Breeding Disease
Resistance |
3 | Other Courses2 | ||
GPB 615 | Plant Genetic Resources | 3 | |||
GPB 631 | Plant Biotechnology | 3 | |||
GPB 645 | Breeding for Environmental
Stresses |
2 | |||
GPB 655 | Heterosis Breeding and
Hybrid Seed technology |
3 | |||
GPB 660 | Population Genetics | 3 | |||
GPB 665 | Maintenance Breeding and
Breeder Seed Production |
3 | |||
B. Seminar | 2 | ||||
GPB 698 | Seminar | 2 |
- Dissertation Research 30
GPB 699 Dissertation Research Variable
Total 77
1 Degree requirement may be changed on the recommendation of the Board of Studies and the
Advisory Committee
2 Approved by the Advisory Committe