New crop improvement technique developed

Experts lay stress on tissue culture for better growth.

FAISALABAD: Experts have developed a new technique for improving production of cotton and other crops through tissue culture.

A spokesman for the National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) told The Express Tribune that plant tissue culture and transformation protocols were becoming major tools for crop improvement and fundamental studies.

“Development of transgenic plants relies directly on efficient tissue culture and transformation potential of target tissues,” he said.

He said as per new technique G Arboreum cotton genotypes were evaluated for their tissue culture response by culturing different explants on different growth hormones.

In this connection, a research seminar on “Establishment of regeneration and transformation system for cotton” is being arranged at the institute on September 6 in which veteran scholar Muhammad Ismael Lashari will speak extensively on the topic.

Scientists from various parts of the country would also give their expert opinion on the newly developed technique.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2011.