Syllabus
Practical
- Determination of soil microbial population
- Determination of Soil microbial biomass
- Decomposition studies in soil, Soil enzymes
- Measurement of important soil microbial processes such as ammonification, nitrification
- N2 fixation, S oxidation, P solubilization and mineralization of other micro nutrients
- Study of rhizosphere effect
- Microbial diversity Endophytic microorganisms
- Mycorrhizae, types and role in phosphate mobilization Potassium releasing bacterium
- Microbes in biotic and abiotic stress management
Unit I
Theory
Block 1: Propagation – Crop Establishment
Unit I: Seed as a Propagule
Concept of improving seed characteristics for crop establishment. Mechanisms of regulating seed dormancy, precocious germination, ways to control pre-harvest sprouting in crop plants. Seed viability and its regulation, factors to minimize loss of viability and improve seedling vigour. Concept of seed priming, techniques of priming, seed priming to induce tolerance to stresses. Role of media, nutrition and PGPR’s on seedling vigour and subsequent crop establishment.
Unit II: Vegetative Propagule
Chemical and hormonal regulation of vegetative propagation. Regulation of rooting, bud sprouting, Bulb/tuber dormancy. Chemical regulation of graft union. Concept of in vitro micropropogation.
Unit II
Block 2: Regulation of Plant Growth Processes
Unit I: Regulation of Plant Growth and Flowering
Chemical and hormonal regulation of plant architecture, tillering, branching, bud breaking, Regulation of flowering by photo and thermoperiod, nutrients, chemicals and hormones, concept of speed breeding, Flowering synchrony in hybrid seed production, Sex ratio alteration, flower and fruit thinning, Pollen viability in relation to environment, harvesting, storage and transportation, Prevention of abscission, flower and fruit drop, seed and fruit growth regulation- role of hormones.
Unit II: Fruit Ripening and its Regulation
Approaches to improve shelf life – storage environment, water loss, respiration, Modified atmosphere, gaseous environment for storage, storage disorders, chilling injury.
Unit III: Concept of Senescence and its Retardation
Physiology of senescence and options to regulate, Chemical regulation of senescence, maintenance of chlorophyll during storage, role of hormones/micronutrients in reducing senescence, Concept of stay green, advantages and limitations. Relevance of stay green traits in plant breeding for crop improvement.
Unit III
Block 3: Protective Cultivation–Stress Mitigation
Unit I: Protective Cultivation Interventions to Alter Physiological Processes and Growth
Spectral characteristics of light in polyhouse, light regulation to optimize plant photosynthetic and photomorphogenic processes and plant growth, LED sources of monochromatic light to regulate growth, etiolating and flowering, High temperature induced thermomorphogenic processes, Artificial growing media, soilless cultures, aeroponics, fogoponics, Concept of CO2 fertilization. Effect of humidity on leaf expansion and growth.
Unit II: Drought Mitigation Options and Approaches
Moisture conservation options at soil and plant level, Concept of increasing water holding capacity, role of Hydrogels – water and mineral nutrients release pattern. Approaches to improve transpiration over evapo-transpiration, stomatal and non- stomatal regulation of water loss, antitranspirants, Osmoprotectants, ROS scavengers, plant nutrients, Root stocks in improving tolerance, Chemical regulation of flower drop due to temperature, Chemicals to improve pollen viability during abiotic stress.
Unit III: Specific Plant Processes Regulated by Chemicals and Growth Hormones
Rooting of cuttings, Wine brewing industry, Promotion of gynoecious flower, Hybrid rice production, Induction of flowering in pine apple, cucurbits, Delaying of senescence and ripening, Production of dwarf plant for ornamental purpose, Reduction in flower and fruit drop, Increase in berry size in grapes.
Unit IV
Block 3: Role of Microorganisms in Nutrient Biocycle
Unit I: Microbial transformation of various nutrients
Microbial transformations of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, iron and manganese in soil. Siderophores and antimicrobials.
Unit II: Microbial degradation of organic matter
Biochemical composition and biodegradation of soil organic matter and crop residues.
Unit III: Microbial diversity
Endophytic microorganisms Mycorrhizae, types and role in phosphate mobilization. Potassium releasing bacterium. Microbes in biotic and abiotic stress management.
Unit IV: Role of microorganisms in biodegradation of xenobiotics and pesticides
Biodegradation of pesticides, Organic wastes and their use for production of biogas and manures: Biotic factors in soil development.
Aim of the course
A comprehensive information needs to be provided in this course like light regulation in polyhouse cultivation, photoperiod responses by red/far red light for synchronizing flowering, techniques for soil-less culture like aeroponics, pollen biology and hybrid production, chemical regulation of plant growth processes like flower initiation, flower sex, flower drop, fruit maturity, ripening and shelf-life, etc.
