National Centre for Plant Genome Research

The National Centre for Plant Genome Research has been established by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of India's independence as well as birth anniversary of Prof. (Dr.) J.C. Bose. The formal announcement was made on November 30th 1997.

The establishment of the Centre followed several years of intensive research on various facets of both fundamental as well as applied aspects of plant molecular biology, under the auspices of the DBT-sponsored Centre for Plant Molecular Biology (CPMB) in the School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Consequently the research projects of four principal investigators who initiated the CPMB constitute the ongoing research programme of the Centre. With the identification of chickpea (Cicero arietinum) as a mandate crop of the Centre to pursue genomic studies, the focus of the research is slowly shifting to chickpea genomics. The programme at the moment is being implemented from the CPMB building and is expected to continue there till the NCPGR has its own research labs.

The term genome refers to an organism's complete set of genes and genomics refers to a scientific discipline of mapping, sequencing and analyzing genomes. Genomic research seeks to understand how genes and genomes are structured, how they have evolved and how they function? Application of genomics to study the crop species offers special opportunities for innovative approaches for combining information on DNA sequences with their function. The knowledge of plant genomes is required to accelerate the process of plant improvement, greater assurance of food security, extended uses of plant products and to enhance the utility and value of crop plants beyond traditional uses.

Understanding the genetic composition of plants and the function of their genes will greatly accelerate traditional approaches to plant improvement by breeding. The National Centre for Plant Genome Research (though formally registered with the Registrar of Societies, Delhi on July 16, 1998), started functioning with skeleton administrative and secretarial staff consisting of five members with effect from April 1998. The Centre has also taken on its roll nineteen scientific and technical staff inclusive of seven scientists from the Centre for Plant Molecular Biology (CPMB) established by the Department of Biotechnology, which has been integrated into the NCPGR w. e. f 1.4.1998 in consonance with Clause XXII of the Memorandum of Association of the Centre. As the Center's own buildings are yet to come up, it has initiated its research activities from the buildings of the Centre for Plant Molecular Biology on the JNU Campus. The Camp Office of the Centre has been located in the International Guest House on the JNU Campus.

The Centre has been allocated 15 acres of land by the Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi on its campus for location of the National Centre for Plant Genome Research. The construction of building has been in progress.

Research Groups

 Ph.D. PROGRAMME

The Ph. D. Programme of the Centre was launched in the academic year 2001-2002. This is a long term training programme of the Institute leading to Ph. D. degree of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in addition of short term training programmes that the Institute organizes periodically for which the scientists of the other institutes are eligible. The scholars are admitted to this programme on the basis of a national level competitive examination and interviews from amongst a large number of applicants all over the country. The Centre has admitted a total of 16 students in the last two years of its Ph. D. programme. The selected scholars are required to do first course work for a period of six months, which is followed by research work on different areas of Plant Genomics in various laboratories.

Website address: http://www.ncpgr.nic.in

© National Centre for Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, India, 2002

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