TNAU and IRRI jointly organized a five-day training program on "Genomic selection: Principles and Methods" from October 14-18, 2024, in Coimbatore, focusing on advanced genomic technologies for crop improvement.
Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines, conducted a five-day training program on "Genomic selection: Principles and Methods" from October 14 to 18, 2024, at the Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (CPMB&B), TNAU, Coimbatore.
The training program attracted participants from various institutions, including faculty and scientists from TNAU, ICAR research institutes, Kerala Agricultural University, and UAS Bangalore, Karnataka.
Dr. R. Ravikesavan, Director of the Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, welcomed the resource persons and participants. He encouraged young researchers to utilize the training for crop improvement programs. The resource persons for the event were Dr. Raja Raghupathy, Project Scientist at TNAU, and Dr. Parthiban Prakash, Breeding Optimization Scientist from IRRI, Philippines.
In his inaugural address, Dr. N. Senthil, Director of CPMB&B, emphasized the importance of advancements in genomics technologies and the application of genomic selection in rice and wheat breeding programs.
Dr. M. Raveendran, Director of Research at TNAU, delivered the presidential address, highlighting the critical need for developing improved crop varieties to ensure food grain production by 2050. He stressed the importance of enhancing crop productivity within the available agricultural area, given that yield plateaus have been reached in many crops.
Dr. Raveendran emphasized the significance of empowering commercial varieties for increased yield under abiotic and biotic stress conditions to achieve climate resilience. He noted that while past breakthroughs were achieved through single gene mutations in cultivated varieties or wild species, current crop improvement programs need to target multiple traits using advanced genomic technologies.
The training program aims to serve as a platform for developing knowledge on genomic selection and its application in crop improvement. Dr. E. Kokiladevi, Professor & Head of the Department of Plant Biotechnology, proposed the vote of thanks.
The technical sessions of the training program will cover various aspects of genomic selection, including concepts, workflow, and factors affecting the process. Participants will also receive hands-on training in bioinformatic tools, training set selection methods, approaches for handling multi-location trial data, and other relevant statistical methods.
This comprehensive training program is expected to equip researchers and scientists with the latest knowledge and skills in genomic selection, ultimately contributing to the development of improved crop varieties that can meet the growing global food demand while addressing climate change challenges.
The training program attracted participants from various institutions, including faculty and scientists from TNAU, ICAR research institutes, Kerala Agricultural University, and UAS Bangalore, Karnataka.
Dr. R. Ravikesavan, Director of the Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, welcomed the resource persons and participants. He encouraged young researchers to utilize the training for crop improvement programs. The resource persons for the event were Dr. Raja Raghupathy, Project Scientist at TNAU, and Dr. Parthiban Prakash, Breeding Optimization Scientist from IRRI, Philippines.
In his inaugural address, Dr. N. Senthil, Director of CPMB&B, emphasized the importance of advancements in genomics technologies and the application of genomic selection in rice and wheat breeding programs.
Dr. M. Raveendran, Director of Research at TNAU, delivered the presidential address, highlighting the critical need for developing improved crop varieties to ensure food grain production by 2050. He stressed the importance of enhancing crop productivity within the available agricultural area, given that yield plateaus have been reached in many crops.
Dr. Raveendran emphasized the significance of empowering commercial varieties for increased yield under abiotic and biotic stress conditions to achieve climate resilience. He noted that while past breakthroughs were achieved through single gene mutations in cultivated varieties or wild species, current crop improvement programs need to target multiple traits using advanced genomic technologies.
The training program aims to serve as a platform for developing knowledge on genomic selection and its application in crop improvement. Dr. E. Kokiladevi, Professor & Head of the Department of Plant Biotechnology, proposed the vote of thanks.
The technical sessions of the training program will cover various aspects of genomic selection, including concepts, workflow, and factors affecting the process. Participants will also receive hands-on training in bioinformatic tools, training set selection methods, approaches for handling multi-location trial data, and other relevant statistical methods.
This comprehensive training program is expected to equip researchers and scientists with the latest knowledge and skills in genomic selection, ultimately contributing to the development of improved crop varieties that can meet the growing global food demand while addressing climate change challenges.