DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
CALL FOR
PROPOSALS IN THE AREA OF GENOMICS AND METABOLOMICS
OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
Molecular biology offers promising tools for
the creation of novel crop varieties with improved nutritional value,
resistance to herbicides, pests, diseases and adverse climatic conditions. The
post-genomic era presents new opportunities for manipulating plant chemistry
for improvement of plant traits. Using recombinant DNA technology, it is now
possible to manipulate the levels and composition of therapeutically active
compounds and essential oils in medicinal and aromatic plants. However, in
order to accomplish this task, it is crucial to understand the whole metabolome along with the biochemical pathways and
identification, characterization and expression of the gene(s) involved in the
synthesis of specific natural products. Organ specificity or temporal
restrictions for the production of natural products can also be overcome using
genetic engineering. In addition, opportunities are emerging for the
application of genetic engineering in to existing breeding programmes
for realizing the biosynthetic potential of medicinal and aromatic plants.
The
Department of Biotechnology as a nodal funding agency invites proposals under the
following three categories :
·
Projects with
specific objectives based on specific metabolite products in Artemisia annua for increasing the yield of artemisinin
and rose for developing high value essential oil rich clones.
·
Exploratory
projects on comparative metabolomics of Papaver somniferum for
increasing the morphine alkaloids content in Indian cultivars; Picrorhiza kurroa for
increasing irridoid glycosides content, Phyllanthus amarus for
enhancing lignans and flavanoid
contents and Plantago ovata
for developing improved varieties with high mucilage content.
·
Genome
initiative and comparative alkaloidomics in Ocimum
(tulsi) and Santalum
album (sandal).
Financial support could
be considered for a period of three to five years or longer in the programmes demonstrating significant progress. The
proposals should be result-oriented within a stipulated time frame. The focus
should be on rate limiting factors in metabolic pathways and should be in a
gap-filling mode towards targeting the desired high value products from
medicinal and aromatic plants. Preference will be given to the project
proposals where collaboration with industry is proposed.
Twenty copies of the
proposal in the prescribed format should be sent to Dr. Mohd. Aslam, Scientist – E,
Department of Biotechnology, Block –2, CGO complex, Lodhi
Road, New Delhi – 110 003. The last
date for the receipt of application is