Writeup
Our molecular biology programs are mainly involved in contemporary approaches to strengthen the Breeding programs, not only as a value addition, but also visualized as backbone for future breeding. For the last 3 years, marker team has been involved developing the markers for industrial traits, which are nearing deployment. Currently, the team is involved in validating the markers, entering into the phase of using the markers in core selection program.
While dissecting the Molbio programs, the major breakdown concepts are gene discovery, marker development, population genomics and bioinformatics, wherein genotyping has been the backbone activity in most concepts. Today genotyping has evolved as sequencing ("genotyping-by-sequencing") towards high throughput, precision and fast. Considering the genome sequencing and high-throughput markers like SNPs, the number of markers that we handled has raised from less than 100s to several thousands. Similarly the volume of materials that we handled also has raised from few genotypes to 100s of families (thereby 1000s of plants in each population) both in Eucalyptus and Casuarina, which are essential for population improvement. In addition, genome sequencing, future breeding programs of Casuarina and sub-line breeding in Eucalyptus will foresee the fact that the volume of materials will likely to raise beyond the current predictions, essentially warrants the persistent need for additional resource.
Looking at the current programs in Molecular Biology domain, Eucalyptus MAS is handled by Prasad Hendre, while he is also involved in development of SSR markers in Casuarina. Ashok Kulkarni is fully involved in gene discovery in Casuarina for further down stream applications in Casuarina breeding. Nagabhushana is focusing on development and use of markers in Eucalyptus for population improvement. He has also taken responsibility for Corymbia genus, one of the potential raw materials for PSPD.
Population improvement in any crop generally involves handling large number of genotypes, type, analyze and derive meaningful conclusions. The concept cuts across various materials, viz., second generation materials (current POC material) in Eucalypt, introduced camaldulensis (CSIRO) and urophylla (CSIR) and Hybrid derivatives (camal-uro). From the activity point of view, population improvement involves, looking at diversity and matting pattern to add meaningful value to selection process in Eucalyptus, besides implementing the powerful concept in tree improvement, “Breeding without breeding”(BWB).
Having said that, the current 3 resources are fully engaged in their respective programs, while population improvement still remains vacuum. Earlier, we have tried to fulfill this gap by research trainees, but unfortunately, this has become the continuous need for the marker team. More importantly, this resource is expected to handle large scale samples for typing, analyze and interpret the results, while research trainees are handicapped, requiring continuous feedback. During 2010 and 2011, we have used the manpower of research trainees, while we could work only on a portion of Euca materials. The fullest potential of population genomics can be realized with the continuous efforts measuring the population dynamics on introduced materials inline for improvement.
Of the two research trainees, we have engaged Ms. CH. Neerajackshi who worked initially on clonal seed orchard materials and later on seedling seed orchard materials, wherein she estimated the mating pattern of the above materials, which involved typing of more than 500 genotypes, analyze them and derived meaningful conclusions. Neerajackshi demonstrated, consistent hard work throughout the experiments, besides she was very critical on the data quality as evident from her duplicated experimental design by both manual gel based and capillary sequencer based typing. She has also shown sufficient curiosity throughout the experiment as shown from her discussions with me and team. Towards the completion of her tenure as Research trainee, she has officially presented her work, we have interviewed her on 15 APR 2011 and the feed back was submitted to HR.
I would like to submit a request to recruit Ms. CH. Neerajackshi as a permanent resource in the team, who is opt to fill the vacuum mentioned earlier. I have listed the following tentative deliverables for this year after discussing with Mohan,
1. Exploitation of Genetic diversity for breeding without breeding (BWB) in Eucalypt.
2. Selection model for breeding seed orchards of second generation material using out-crossing and diversity.
The details of the above deliverables can be discussed and are in-line with her expertise, while in the subsequent years; she could propagate the learning and models in the CSIRO, CSIR Hybrid derivatives and Casuarina.