SylbV01-00-00. pmd

XII. Suggested websites
www.gov.mb.ca
www.agricoop.nic.in
www.agri.nic.in
https://sathguru.com/seed/
http://www.fao.org/3/V4450E/V4450E03.htm
https://www.seednet.gov.in/smis/SMIS-User%20Manual.pdf
https://www.icrisat.org/seed-systems-models-lessons-learned/
https://www.bookdepository.com/Seed-Industry-India-Gurdev-Singh/

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Plant Sciences
– Plant Genetic Resources
Restructured and Revised
Syllabi of Post-graduate Programmes
Vol. 1
115

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Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) constitute the basic raw material required essentially for
the crop improvement programmes. Agro-biodiversity is the key to success of any programme.
The Indian sub-continent is a centre of diversity for several of our crop plants assuming
significance globally. Over the last four decades, national and international communities
have repeatedly emphasized the use of PGRs for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA). PGR
management encompasses assembling and conserving PGRFA, adding value to them through
characterization and evaluation, quarantine, supply of pest-free samples, biosecurity. In a
latest study by CGIAR genebanks, the scenario has changed due to “highly politicized nature
of access and benefit sharing issues at the international, national and local levels”. At
ICAR level emphasis has been laid on enhanced utilization of Crop Wild Relatives, effective
characterisation and documentation, conservation in genebanks, streamlining of germplasm
exchange within the purview of national interest, resolution of controversial issues and
implementation of multi-lateral system to develop a good vision for agrobiodiversity
management.
In view of the current scenario, need for specialised human resource for teaching cutting
edge technology with application of basic as well as applied aspects like germplasm
assemblage, handling, access to users with benefits, long term genebanking of international
standards, biotechnology, pre-breeding for utilizing wild species for future crop improvement,
increasing entrepreneurship, etc.
, 
would warrant students to have strong knowledge of
practical and management skills which will help them to face the competitiveness in public
and private sector.
Hence, restructuring of course curricula and delivery system to match with the present
situation was felt. In this proposed revision of curriculum in Plant Genetic Resources, the
BSMA sub-group organized a series of meetings and electronic media-led consultations to
develop a set of courses suitable for M.Sc. and Ph.D. students of the discipline.
Emphasis was laid on basic concepts of Germplasm Exploration and Plant Systematics,
Plant Diversity and Conservation, Genetic Enhancement for PGR Utilization, Genomics in
PGR management, as well as the innovative developments for M.Sc. and Phenomics and
Genomics for PGR Utilization, Plant Taxonomy, Ecogeography and Ecology for Ph.D. courses.
The latest state of the art technologies including biotechnology and molecular biology will
enable a complete coverage of the subjects. The basic courses have therefore been kept as
compulsory courses which need to be taken by all the students irrespective of the subject
specialization or stream from which they entered into PG education. The genomic revolution
has generated detailed population genetic data. Big data samples of complete genome
sequences of many individuals from natural populations of many species have transformed
population genetics inferences on samples of loci to population genomics. Molecular analyses
of these is essentially to be taught to students. Hence basic concepts of genetics to develop
analytical, quantitative and problem-solving skills in classical and molecular genetics for
PGR management is incorporated. One of the courses would be to provide knowledge in
genomic tools and their application in PGR exploration, collection, conservation and