1. Brief History of 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, DBT, and DST, and international agencies like DANIDA, EEC etc.  In the last 15 years, the department has generated INR 20 crores (US$ 4 million).

 M.Phil. programme in Seed Pathology (now 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 visited the department as Visiting Professor under Sir M. Visweswaraiah Chair and started the M.Phil. course.  With the support of DANIDA and DSHC the department is now 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

2. Departmental research activities: 

The department is operating the 'Mysore Centre' of the All India Coordinated Pearl millet Improvement Project (AICPMP) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Under this programme Biology and management of downy mildew of pearl millet disease is in progress: Field screening, host-pathogen interactions, molecular variability of the pathogen, resistance gene characterization, systemic acquired resistance, and biological control of the downy mildew disease - Prof. H. Shekar Shetty after his superannuation is placed in charge of this ICAR- AICPMIP programme.

3. Status of the Department (FIST/SAP/DRS)

4. Chairs/Fellowship/Medals (if any)

• Dr Paul Neergaurd Gold Medal for securing 1^st rank in M.Phil Seed Technology
• Dr S B Mathur Gold Medal for securing 1^st rank in M.Sc Biotechnology
• Applied Botany Decennial Year Gold Medal for securing 1^st rank in M.Sc Biotechnology
• Prof H Shekar Shetty Felicitation Committee Endowment Gold Medal for securing 1^st rank in M.Sc Biotechnology
• Prof. S. Honnaiah Memorial Gold Medal for securing 1^st rank in M.Sc Biotechnology
• Prof. K. M. Safeulla Memorial Gold Medal for securing 1^st rank in M.Sc Biotechnology
• Prof. H. Shekar Shetty Endowment Lecture instituted by M/s. Pioneer Overseas Corporation (A Du Pont Company, Hyderabad)
• Prof. Paul Neergaard and Prof. Viggo Smedegaard Petersen Endowment Lecture in the area of Biotechnology.

  5. Awards/Honors received by individual Teachers:

    Prof. H. S. Prakash

• Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)- 2011
• Team leader - Terminal evaluation of UNDP-FAO-GOI Programme on quarantine facilities
• Member of Committee for State Seed Certification facility strengthening
• Member of ISTA- World Group of Virologists
• Member of National Project Steering Committee for International Project on Coffee Leaf Rust funded by International Coffee Organization (ICO) and Common Funds for Commodity (CFC)
• Chairman of Technical Session on "Systematic - Virus", American Phytopathological Society meeting held at Raleigh, USA, July 28-Aug 1, 2009
• Advisory committee member of Institute of Biotechnology & Allied Sciences Training & Research Institute, Sikar, Rajasthan

Prof. Bharathi P. Salimath

• Young Scientist Award, 1995 Karnataka State for Advancement of Science, Karnataka.
• Dr. Veerendra B. Kamath Award, 1996, Indian Association For Cancer Research.
• Kalpana Chawla Young Women Scientist Award - 2004 instituted by Karnataka Council for S & T
• Member, PAC, (Health Sciences), DST (2005-08);
• Member, PAC (Life Sciences), DST (2003-05; 05-07)
• Member NAAC, UGC, 2007-08
• Member, Project Review & Monitoring Committee (PRMC) for the Project on "Information Support System in Science and Mathematics for Rural Higher Secondary Schools". 2008-2010
• Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, Overseas Fellowship- 2008
• Rashtriya Gaurav Award- 2009
• Best Citizen of India Award- 2010

Prof. S. R. Niranjana

• Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)- 2012
• Sir. C. V. Raman Young Scientist Award by Karnataka Council for S & T-2009
• Member, PAC, (Biocontrol), DBT (2012-15)
• PP Singhal memorial Pesticides India Award-2007 instituted by ISMPP
• V.P. Bhide Memorial Lecture Award- 2004 instituted by ISMPP
• Fellow of Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology
• Zonal president, Indian Phytopathological Society- 2006-07
• Indian Phytopathological Society Best paper Award - 2007
• Seed Health in Agricultural Development Best paper Award - 2008
• P.R. Verma memorial Award - 2008
• Member NAAC, UGC, 2009-10

Dr. S. Umesha

• Prof. K. S. Jagadeeshchandra Young Scientist Award for Plant Sciences, 2001-2002
• Zonal Councillor, Indian Phytopathological Society- 2006-07

• DBT Overseas Associateship 2006-07

• Elected, Plant Sciences - Sectional Committee Member, for south zone of Indian Science Congress Association - 2009-10, Kolkata, India.
• Fellow Member, International Society of Biotechnology, India

Dr. K. Ramachandra Kini

• Young Scientist Award in 86th Indian Science Congress, 1999 
• BOYSCAST Fellowship 2006-07
• Best Poster Award at SHAD-2008
• Prof. H. C Dube Outstanding Young Scientist Award-2012, instituted by Indian Society of Mycology & Plant Pathology

Prof. H. Shekar Shetty

• OM PRAKASH BHASIN AWARD for Science and Technology, 1997-1998
• Fellow of Indian Academy of Sciences in 1997, Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences in 1998, Fellow of National Academy of Sciences in 2002
• Member, PAC, Plant Sciences, DST (2001-2003), GM crop Monitoring and Evaluation Committee, DBT
• Member of the Crop Science Panel, ICAR, 1999-2002, Crop Variety Releasing Committee
• Chaudhury Devi Lal Best Coordinated Research Project Award to AICPMIP (2004)

  6. Individual teachers ongoing research projects:

 7.  Any other Information:

Infrastructural Facilities available

Major Equipments

• Electron Microscope
• Phosphor Image Analyser for fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection
• Ultra centrifuge
• Spectramax Plate reader
• Image analysis system
• Gradient PCR machine
• Realtime PCR machine
• Microscopes
  • Epifluorescence, phase contrast, stereo binocular with digital imaging
  • Inverted Trinocular with CCD Camera
• Pulse field gel electrophoresis system
• Deep freezers (-80oC
• HPLC System
• UV-Visible Spectrophotometers
• NanoSpectrophotometer
• High Speed Refrigerated Centrifuge
• Microplate Luminometer (Orion)
• Multilabel Plate Reader
• Liquid Scintillation Counter
• CO₂ incubators

Other infrastructural facilities

• Well equipped Molecular Biology Laboratories
• Radioisotope laboratory
• Cold room, climate controlled rooms
• International Seed Health Training Center
• Computational and networking facilities
• Departmental Library
• Back-up power generator facilities
• Green House and Screen House facilities
• Plant Tissue Culture and animal cell culture facilities
• Sick-plot to screen the cultivars of pearl millet, sorghum, maize and sunflower for downy mildew disease
• International Guest House sponsored by DANIDA
• Vehicles: Toyota Qualis- 1 and Canter (18 seater)- 1

   14. Contact :

         Chairman

         Telephone No.+91-821-2419877