Biotechnology: Presant Status & biosafety concernsDepartment of Agriculture

H. M.J.BandaraPlant Quarantine OfficerSri Lanka

Mandatory Crops:Cereals, legumes, condiments, fruit crops, root & tuber crops, oil seed crops vegetables, floricultural plants

Activities:

Research & development, Seed certification & plant protection, Planting material production Distribution & Plant quarantine, Germplasm management, Botanic gardens, Agriculture extension, Education & training,

Finance & administration

Department of Agriculture

Tissue CultureMolecular techniques (Based on nuclear acid & proteins)

Biotechnology

Biotechnology is defined in many ways.

Tissue culture is considered one of the techniques. It’s associated directly with genetic

transformation.

HORTICULTURAL CROP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE- Tissue Culture Program

Banana Tissue Culture

Papaya tissue culture

HORTICULTURE CROP RESEARCH AND DVELOPMENT INSTITUTEVirus indexing (serological)

Banana

Papaya

CitrusMicrobiologyFood Research UnitFermentation Food analysis

PLANT VIRUS INDEXING CENTER

Serology and PCR Based Virus Indexing- Banana Virus

Pineapple

RT PCR for Detection of RNA Virus

SITHA ELIYA POTATO RESEARCH CENTER:

Tissue Culture Program Potato

Straw berry

Pineapple

RARDC, BandarawelaTissue Culture Program

Potato

Anthurium

Gerbera

Strawberry

Madonna lily

Virus indexing of potato by ELISA

RARDC, Agunakolapelessa

Banana •Thubakarwial

RICE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE:Rice Biotechnology

Anther Culture

Exploitation of Somaclonal Variation

Wide Hybridization

NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS-Tissue Culture Program

Propergation of Endemic & rare Plants

Floriculture Plants

Mutation induction

PLANT GENETIC RESOURCE CENTER: Tissue Culture Program

Banana

Citrus spp

• In vitro pineapple potato Conservation • Papaya tissue Culture

PLANT GENETIC RESOURCE CENTER: Tissue Culture Program

Anther Culture in rice Haploid Culture

a good system for transformation

PGR/RRDI- Rice research

PCR based DNA markers for breeding/gene pyramiding

•Gall midge resistance

•Thrips resistance

•Bactria leaf blight resistance

•BPH resistance

Mango - Mangifera zeylanica Magifera indica

Maize(PGRC/MI)

Finger printing of hybrids Pathogens - Ralstonia, BLB Onion - Characterization & breeding

Genetic Characterization by DNA markers

Wild tomato X tomato

Wild okra X okra

Introgression of genes from wild relatives

Future Work

SSR markers for rice AFLP for fingerprinting of germplasm &

Varieties Northern blot techniques for Analysis of HSP regular gene

Expression Isolating the fragment for Coat

protection gene papaya Ring spot virus

Application of Tools in Biosafety Regular Measures

Tissue Culture Safe handling of materials Restricted multiplication

Serological methods Testing &detection of foreign Genes bases in proteins Serological method should not be the sole method. Genes expression (transgenic)is spatially &

temporally controlled PCR/Blot methods Based on DNA More sensitive

method.Detect only presence or foreign DNA

National Plant Quarantine Service

Requirements

With the existing infrastructure & function and provided with additional strength

(Trained staff, Detection equipment, Risk assessments Studuo) NPQS could undertake the regulatory activity

Institutional Biosafety Committee

Liaison with the national committeesIdentification of institutes:transformation work,GMO detection /testing,regulation & risk assessmentPreparation of guidelines on biosafety regulations,risk assessments & managementMaintain constant access to relevant data base or registers both local & foreignMonitoring & evaluation of programs Building awareness

Requirements for Implementation of the Biosafety Procedures

Policy level supportFinancial,administrative & legislative supportBiosafety clearing house mechanismMonitoring, evaluation & inspection servicesTraining of decision makers,&technical level scientists & techniciansFacility enhancementPublic awareness, education & promotion of public participation including stake holders.

GENETIC Transformation ofAgricultural Crops

Policy level decisions & if necessary, changesIdentification of priority problems/cropsIdentification of InstitutesFacility development