Biotechnology
About the Department
The University of Mysore established Department of Studies in Applied Botany and Seed Pathology (DAB) by integrating the ICAR supported Downy Mildew Research Laboratory (DMRL), UGC-SAP-DRS programme on Seed Pathology and M.Phil. in Seed Pathology programme which were formerly housed in the Department of Studies in Botany. DAB introduced M.Sc. in Biotechnology in 1992, which was recognized under DBT-HRD programme of Government of India in 1998. The Department proved its potential as a premier training and research center by attracting grants from various national funding agencies like UGC, ICAR, ICMR, DAE, DBT, and DST, and international agencies like DANIDA, EEC, EU etc. In the last 20 years, the department has generated INR 25 Crores.
M.Phil. programme in Seed Pathology (later Seed Technology) was initiated by the efforts of Dr. Paul Neergaard and Dr. S. B. Mathur, Director of DGISP in the year 1980. Dr. Paul Neergaard was a Visiting Professor under Sir M. Visweswaraiah Chair. With the support of DANIDA and Danish Seed Health Center (DSHC) the department was recognized as Asian Seed Health Center to coordinate the training and research activities in seed health for the Asian region.
The DOS in Applied Botany & Seed Pathology was renamed as DOS in Biotechnology in 2009 by integrating all the courses and research activities and the faculty resources. The M.Sc. Biotechnology Programme at the department is funded by DBT under the HRD scheme. Under this scheme 15 students are admitted to the M.Sc. programme through National level Graduate Aptitude Test in Biotechnology (GAT-B) conducted by National Testing Agency. The department is currently carrying out research in various branches of Biotechnology such as Plant molecular biology and biotechnology, Molecular plant microbe interactions, microbial biotechnology, cancer biology, peptidoglycomics, environmental biotechnology, nanotechnology, etc.