Government Project Worth Rs 4 Crore Awarded to PAU for Developing Predictive Breeding Techniques to Boost Guava Quality and Increase Shelf Life
The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has embarked on a significant research project, funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, to the tune of Rs 4 crore. The project aims to revolutionize biotechnology-driven precision and predictive breeding in guava, a fruit prized for its high nutraceutical content, often referred to as the "apple of the tropics."
The five-year research endeavour is led by a team of ten scientists from PAU, including Dr Amandeep Mittal as Project Co-ordinator and Principal Investigator-I, and Dr Naresh Kumar Arora as Principal Investigator-II. The team also includes Co-Principal Investigators: Dr Manav Indra Singh Gill, Dr Parveen Chhuneja, Dr Inderjit Singh Yadav, Dr Rajbir Singh Boora, Dr Rimaljeet Kaur, Dr Kirandeep Kaur Kang, Dr Pawan Kumar Malhotra, and Dr Daljinder Singh.
The project focuses on enhancing key traits such as coloured fruit skin and flesh, reduced seed count and hardness, improved shelf life, and increased sweetness. It will work towards improving the Allahabad Safeda genome and creating elite cultivars rich in anthocyanins, with soft seeds, enhanced sweetness, and extended shelf life.
The use of Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) in evaluating progeny generated through hybridization will significantly reduce the input cost, time, and space needed to develop improved guava varieties. This approach is expected to address key challenges faced by farmers and fruit processors.
The project will also undertake the development of a pangenome of Indian-origin guava varieties and a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) array. Through this, the team will map genetic factors controlling key traits and leverage PAU's rich guava germplasm collection to incorporate genetic diversity and valuable traits for enhanced post-harvest performance.
In a show of support, PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal congratulated the team on this achievement. The Director of Research, Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, and Registrar, Dr Rishi Pal Singh, also encouraged the researchers. The exceptional work of the team was applauded by Dr Yogesh Vikal, Director of the School of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Dr HS Rattanpal, Head of Fruit Science.
This research project marks a significant advancement in agricultural biotechnology for fruit crop improvement, offering promising solutions for farmers and the fruit processing industry.
Scientists from the Punjab Agricultural University are pursuing a research project, funded by the Department of Biotechnology, with a focus on both science and health-and-wellness, as they aim to revolutionize biotechnology-driven precision breeding in the nutrient-rich guava. The project's goals include enhancing sweetness, extended shelf life, and the development of guava varieties rich in anthocyanins, benefiting both farmers and the fruit processing industry.
