The green revolution brought prosperity and food security but is not sufficient to ensure future food requirement for a country like Pakistan where population growth rate is very high. With limited land and water resources the only option left is to enhance food and fiber production by input of technology. Biotechnology offer unlimited genetic resources because of the ability to utilize diverse genetic resources for plant improvement that can enhance both the quantity and quality of food and fiber demands of the country. An emerging area of research is the application of plants in energy sector as well as healthcare of population.
Activities in Agricultural Biotechnology Division are aimed at use of modern molecular methods to understand problems that limit crop productivity, isolate relevant gene(s) that can confer novel agronomic traits, transform those genes in crop plants and characterize engineered plants under glasshouse and field conditions. Development and utilization of DNA markers for marker-assisted selection of desirable plants is another approach that has been used to develop superior plant varieties. The program is ultimately aimed at characterization and enhancement of germplasm resources in the country which is vital for maintaining competitive edge of the country in agriculture sector and safeguard National interest in WTO regime. Another research aspect is the establishment and utilization of Genomics and Proteomics tools for understanding of key pathways important for crop productivity. These activities are expected to enhance crop productivity, reduce cost of production and reduce losses by disease and insects. The Division also serves as receiving unit for technologies developed elsewhere using molecular tools for the benefit of scientific community and agriculture sector. The Division has incorporated both formal (M. Phil/Ph.D) and informal training activities for the development of trained manpower in Agricultural Biotechnology. The activity also provide young talented workforce for speedy accomplishment of research endeavors.
The research activities of Agricultural Biotechnology Division are divided into nine research groups. The Molecular Virology and RNA Silencing Group is involved in understanding virus disease complexes that are major limiting factor to crop productivity. Understanding of complexity and evolution of virus-disease complexes and critical analysis of viral genes that overcome host defenses are the priority. This is the most active group on emerging viral diseases in the developing world. The group is also developing technologies for control of these complexes through genetic engineering and novel application of gene silencing technologies. The Plant Molecular Biology and Transformation Group is working on isolation of novel genes and their cloning in plant expression vectors with necessary modifications to optimize their expression in plants. Plant genetic engineering group specializes in transformation of crop plants including cotton, tobacco, sugarcane and potato. Important traits being engineered in cotton are insect resistance, virus resistance, abiotic stress tolerance and fiber improvement. The group is also making gene constructs aimed at developing novel agronomic traits in crop plants.
The Plant Genome Resource Lab has developed several cDNA libraries that are being used to identify fiber and disease related genes in cotton. The Genome mapping lab is working on rice as a model system. The Plant Genomics and Molecular Breeding group is working on DNA fingerprinting technology, molecular markers, cotton genomics and use of molecular markers in crop breeding. The Proteomics and Stress Group is using genomic approaches to identify stress related proteins. A new group has been organized to initiate work on improvement of wheat through genetic engineering. The tissue culture laboratory is working on commercial production of seed potato. The insect molecular biology works on molecular characterization of important insects and understanding of novel technologies developed by NIBGE for control of insects. The Division is also providing services for GMO detection and other WTO related requirements for export of agricultural commodities.
Division Research Groups:
- Gene Isolation
- Gene Transformation
- Molecular Analysis
- Gene Expression/ Bioassays/ Biosafety
- Plant Microbiology
- Chloroplast Biotech and Biopharming
Agricultural Biotechnology Division Members:
· Dr Shahid Mansoor ( PS, Division Head )
· Dr Aftab Bashir ( Principal Scientist )
· Dr Shaheen Asad ( Principal Scientist )
· M Zahid Mukhtar ( Principal Scientist )
· Dr Nasir A. Saeed ( Principal Scientist )
· Dr Muhammad Arif ( Principal Scientist )
· Dr Muhammad Saeed ( Principal Scientist )
· Dr Ghulam Rasool ( Principal Scientist )
· Dr Mehboob ur Rehman ( Senior Scientist )
· Ms Anjuman Arif ( Senior Scientist )
· Mr Mazhar Hussain ( Senior Scientist )
· Mr Sher Afzal ( Senior Scientist )
· Mr Imran Amin ( Senior Scientist )
· Mr Muhammad Asif ( Senior Scientist )
· Dr Fathia Mubeen ( Senior Scientist )
· Ms Sumera Yasmin ( Senior Scientist )
· Mr Arsalan H. Zaidi ( Senior Scientist )
· Ms Naima Hamid ( Senior Scientist )
· Mr Safdar Ali Mirza ( Senior Scientist )
· Ms Shazia Iram ( Junior Scientist )
· Ms Javaria Qazi ( Junior Scientist )
· Mr Muhammad Arshad ( Junior Scientist )
· Ms Asma Imran ( Junior Scientist )
· Ms Farwa Narjis ( Junior Scientist )
· Mr Younis Malik ( Principal Scientific Assistant )
· Mr Tariq M. Shah ( Principal Scientific Assistant )
· Mr Tariq Mehmood ( Principal Scientific Assistant )
· Mr Ali Rizwan ( Senior Scientific Assistant)
· Mr Muhammad Saeed ( Senior Technician )
· Mr M. Javed Iqbal ( Senior Technician )
· Mr Zahid Iqbal Sajid ( Scientific Assistant-I )
· Mr Asghar Ali ( Scientific Assistant-I )
· Mr Naveed Ahmed ( Scientific Assistant-I )
· Mr Muhammad Ali ( Scientific Assistant-I )
· Mr Abdul Wahid ( Scientific Assistant-II )
· Mr Attiq ur Rehman ( Scientific Assistant-II )
· Mr Muhammad Ahmed ( Scientific Assistant-II )
· Mr Najaf Hussain Shah ( Scientific Assistant-III )
· Mr Shahbaz Shabbir ( Scientific Assistant-III )
· Mr Imran Zahid ( Data Entry Operator-II )
· Mr Ghulam Shabbir ( Scientific Assistant-IV )
· Mr Khalid Mehmood ( Scientific Assistant-IV )
· Mr Wasif Ali ( Scientific Assistant-IV )
· Ms Shehnaz Akhtar ( Scientific Assistant-IV )
· Ms Kalsoom Akhtar ( Field Attendant )
· Mr Zakir Hussain ( Scientific Assistant-IV )
· Mr Imran ul Haq ( Scientific Assistant-IV )
· Mr Muhammad Sarwar ( Scientific Assistant-IV )
· Mr Ghulam A. Hydri ( Scientific Assistant-I )
· Mr Ahsan Mahmood ( Scientific Assistant-II )
· Mr Ghulam Shabbir Hussain ( Field Attendant )