School of Biotechnology

CENTRE FOR PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Faculty: Dr.K.Veluthambi Project Coordinator Dr.A.K.Gupta Dr.R.Usha

Since Plant Genetic Engineering emerged as a frontier area for crop improvement, the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India planned on adding strength to this area by starting Centres of Plant Molecular Biology in different parts of the country. The Centre for Plant Molecular Biology in Madurai Kamaraj University was started in 1990 with DBT's support as one of the first three Centres in the country. The  Centre was established with the initiative of Prof.A.Gnanam and other scientists of the university. DBT continues to support the centre through the projects granted to Dr.K.Veluthambi and Dr.Usha  The following are the important research programmes of the Centre: ¨      Genetic Engineering of blackgram and cardamom for virus resistance ¨      Molecular Biology of Plant Viruses The Centre for Plant Molecular Biology is located in a new building of 10,000 sq.ft area and has the infrastructure and equipments to carry out experiments in plant molecular biology and genetic engineering. The research facilities include transgenic green houses, biolistic particle bombardment system, tissue culture facilities and growth chambers. The main strength of the centre is in plant genetic engineering and molecular biology of plant viruses