Post Graduate

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

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

1. Major Courses Cr        Minor Courses                                      Cr

1. 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