Department of Botany
Yogi Vemana University
Kadapa – 516003
Contact Number : 08562 – 225427

2006

Dr. Patan Shaik Shavalli Khan	Associate Professor
Dr. Puli Chandra Obul Reddy	Assistant Professor & Coordinator
Dr. A. Madhusudhana Reddy	Assistant Professor

It is one of the first departments which has attracted ~ 1.6 crores grants from different funding agencies

1. Biofuel production from hydrocarbon yielding plants. Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. Budget Rs.22, 52, 413-00, Period: 2007-2009
2. Development of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) transgenics carrying HD-START and DREB1F transcription factors for improved abiotic stress tolerane. Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (C.S.I.R), Govt. of India, New Delhi. Budget –Rs.20, 00,000-00, Period: 2009-2012.
3. Phytoremediation of Uranium enriched soils: Molecular, Biochemical and Transgenic approach. Department of Biotechnology (D.B.T), Govt. of India, New Delhi. Budget –Rs. 25, 00,000 -00, Period: 2009-2012.
4. Development of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea, L.) transgenics carrying HD-START transcription factor for improved drought stress tolerance. Department of Science and Technology (D.S.T), Govt. of India, New Delhi.Budget –Rs.26,60,000 -00, Period: 2009-2012.
5. Screening of small millets for abiotic stress tolerance: A physiological approach. Agri Science Project, Yogi Vemana University. Budget: Rs.1, 50,000-00, Period: 2010-2012.
6. Biotechnology interventions for production of androgenic haploids to speed and support breeding of ginger. Department of Biotechnology, Government of India under NER-TWINING program.Budget Rs.60,00,000,Period-2011-2014

Three

Dr. P. Chandra Obul Reddy, Assistant Professor, Department of Botany organized a Public Debate on “Pros and Cons of Biotechnology” on January 31st 2011. The Debate was attended by about 500 students (Mostly PG and Professional), 50 faculty members, 20 NGOs, 50 Farmers and members of Electronic and Print Media. The panelists were

1. Prof. A. R. Reddy, Vice-Chancellor, YVU Kadapa and Co-Chairman, GEAC, New Delhi
2. Prof. P. Reddanna, OSD, NIAB and University of Hyderabad
3. Prof. Kameswar Rao, Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness and Education, Bangalore.
4. Prof. P. Ananda Kumar, Director, Natinal Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology and Member, GEAC, IARI New Delhi
5. Dr. B. Padmodaya, Principal Scientist and Program Co-ordinator, Krishi Vignan Kendra, Utukur, Kadapa
6. Dr. G. Karuna Sagar, Senior Scientist, Agriculture Research Station, Utukur, Kadapa

The panelists in the beginning explained various aspects of biotechnology such as Plant biotechnology, Animal Biotechnology, Pharma Biotechnology, and the present status of production, regulation and research in the country. Further they discussed about GMOs and took specific examples. Issues such as technology itself, Biosafety, Regulatory mechanism, Environmental effects, Biodiversity, impact on Farm economy, etc., were elaborated. Care was taken to include both Pros & Cons of technologies in their explanations. Specific cases of GMOs such as Bt Cotton, Bt brinjal, Golden rice, stem cell research, animal and human vaccines have been highlighted. Subsequently, the floor was open for free debate on all the above issues. The following issues were raised by specific participants which were debated in detail.

1. Pollen escape, effect on Biodiversity
2. Increased resistance to BT project
3. What mechanism strategies are in place to prevent and control such resistance
4. Bioremediation
5. Any development of GMOs that are climate change resistant
6. What is the status of Animal Biotechnology
7. What the Govt is doing to dispel apprehensions of public on this GM Technology
8. Edible Vaccines
9. What is the advantage accrued to small and marginal farmers in India
10. Growing demand for animal biotech products and opportunities for entrepreneurship in this field

The panelist clarified the above doubts and explained in detail giving specific examples with experimental data. Also, the present status of research and development of GM Crops drugs and vaccines, and the existing regulatory mechanism mandatory for approval and commercialization were discussed. The experience of this debate reveals that there is a need for organizing more such meetings in order to enhance public awareness about scientific facts of Biotechnology-derived products.

Dr. Linga Reddy Gutha, Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington visited the department 27th September, 2010 and delivered lecture on “Expression profiling and functional characterization of genes in response to abiotic and biotic stress factors in plants”