Overview of Biotechnology Division, BARI

Biotechnology research at BARI started with the establishment of a tissue culture laboratory for potato seed production in 1985. Another tissue culture micro-propagation of horticultural crops was established with the assistance of FAO in 1993. A laboratory for independent Biotechnology Division was established in 1998. Scientists of Biotechnology Division have a pioneer role in starting advance biotechnology research in the country especially in the agriculture sector.

Biotechnology Division’s research is basically divided in to 5 areas i.e. 1. Plant regeneration and micropropagation, 2. Cell and organ culture, 3. Molecular genetics, 4. Genetic engineering and transformation, and 5. Outreach research.

The division is equipped with modern laboratory facilities including a state of art laboratory, a class II green house and confined GM crop research field. Facilities for research on molecular biology and genetic engineering, GM crop detection and stewardship of GM crops are available here.

Complete genome sequencing of tomato leaf curl virus, development of 4 Bt brinjal varieties are some of the success stories of Biotechnology division, BARI. Research on late blight resistant GM potato, leaf curl resistant tomato, shoot and fruit borer resistant brinjal and pulse crops, coat protein gene sequencing of papaya ringspot virus is going one. Till now the division has developed anther culture protocol for barley and maize. Micropropagation protocol for fruits i.e. banana (BARI Kola-1,2,3,4), jackfruit, pineapple, Malta, watermelon, strawberry, rape, pumelo; flowers i.e. gladiolus, tuberose, orchids, chrysanthemum, gerbera, dahlia, rose; spices ie. Zinger, chili etc. Regeneration protocols of brinjal, tomato, papaya, potato, okra, sweet gourd, soybean are achievement of this division.

Biotechnology Division BARI has collaboration with various national and international research institutes and universities. Cornell University, USA; Michigan State university, USA; Global Institute of Food Security (GIFS), Canada, World Vegetable Center are some of the important international research partners.