Special Talk – “CRISPR/Cas-Enabled Crop Precision Breeding and Disease Diagnostics”
Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav – Celebration of 75 Years of India’s Independence at ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack
The ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack is conducting a Special Talk series to celebrate 75 years of India’s independence as Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM). The third Special Talk in the series – “CRISPR/Cas-Enabled Crop Precision Breeding and Disease Diagnostics” was delivered by Prof. Yinong Yang, Professor Department of Plant Pathology & Environmental Microbiology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, USA on 07 December 2021 at 10:00 a.m. IST (11:30 p.m. EST USA) on virtual mode. Prof Yang is one of the pioneers for application of CRISPR-Cas genome editing system in plants. The bacterial CRISPR-Cas9 system has been adapted and improved in his lab for plant genome editing and precision breeding of transgene-free, genetically improved crops such as rice, potato and mushroom (e.g. non-browning mushroom). CRISPR-PLANT is a portal of CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing developed by Prof Yang’s group. Polycistronic tRNA-gRNA (PTG) technology for multiplex genome editing, Bsr-d1 promoter for rice disease resistance, Adenine base editing (A/Tto G/C) in rice plants, CRISPR/Cas-enabled precision breeding, construction of CRISPR mutant library of 1072 rice RLK genes, editing of rice cultivar Jupiter (IPA1) and early detection of Citrus greening pathogen by CRISPR-Cas12 technology are some of the major highlights of Prof Yang’s research. The virtual talk was attended by over 140 participants from across India. The captivating talk by Prof Yang on CRISPR-Cas phenomenon elicited a lively discussion that drew many participants in the vortex.
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The Special Talk was presided over by Dr. Padmini Swain, Director (A), ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack. Dr. P.C. Rath, Head, Crop Protection Division & Chairman, AKAM Committee at NRRI welcomed the Special Guest and Dr. Sudhamoy Mandal, Principal Scientist (Plant Pathology) & Member-Secretary, AKAM introduced Prof. Yinong Yang to the audience. The program was moderated by Dr. Kutubuddin Ali Molla, Scientist, Crop Improvement Division (CID) & Member of AKAM Committee at NRRI and Dr Sutapa Sarkar, Scientist, CID. Vote of thanks was proposed by Dr Sutapa Sarkar.
