(Group Leader)
Dr. Muhammad Arif
Principal Scientist
Team members:
The main objective of our group is the improvement of basmati rice for biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. Molecular markers are being used for the incorporation of stress tolerance genes from donor rice lines to basmati rice. We are also involved in mapping of grain quality traits of basmati rice like amylose contents, aroma, gelatinization temperature, grain shape and size. We are also working on the molecular diversity of basmati and non basmati rice lines, traditional basmati rice lines, lines being received from China and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines.
We are in the process of development of basmati lines with 3 bacterial blight resistance genes pyramided in a single plant. We are also incorporating drought tolerance genes from drought tolerant donor lines from IRRI into basmati rice.
Salient facilities:
- Basmati DNA Testing to rice exporters
- DNA finger printing of rice
Support:
- Punjab Agriculture Research Board (PARB), Pakistan
- Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences (CAAS), China/IRRI, Philippines
- Pakistan Innovative Biological Services (PIBS), NIBGE