Plant Breeding is concerned with the evolution of superior varieties of crops. Its mainstay is the genetic adjustment of crop plants to social, economic and technological aspects of the environment. The Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics was established in 1954. Since then, the department has been offering courses, research methodologies related to crop improvement, cytology, cytogenetics, biometry, quantitative genetics, molecular genetics and genetic engineering leading to B.Sc. (Hons) and M.Sc. (Hons) degrees. The department is also offering advanced courses and research guidance to Ph.D. scholars. During the past 61 years, the department has produced more than 730 well trained graduates, who have been serving various organizations at provincial, national and international level. Department has highly qualified and experienced faculty, well equipped laboratories and experimental farm for undertaking research projects. Recently, the department has established a “Seed Production and Development Centre” which will not only improve and strengthen seed supply system of province but also serve as major income generating unit for the university.
Objectives
The Department’s overall aim is to focus on the improvement of quantitative and qualitative traits of cereal, fiber and oilseed crops, production of model crop videotapes suitable for cultivation in different agro-environments of the Sindh province and ultimately, development of technology package to enhance the capabilities of farmers for various crops. The specific objectives are:
Impart academic and research training at under-graduate, graduate and post-graduate levels in the field of Plant Breeding and Genetics.
Plan and undertake basic and applied research on cereals and other major crops.
Produce quality seed of wheat, cotton and vegetable crops for distribution to farmers of province.
Establish linkages with provincial, national and international research and educational organizations to undertake collaborative assignments.
Development/evolution of genetically improved cultivars/hybrids and breeding material.
Improve quantitative and qualitative traits of crop species.
| COURSES OFFERED | ||
| CODE | TITLE OF COURSE | C. HRS. |
| TERM-V | ||
| PBG-501 | Genetics of Crop Plants | 3(2+1) |
| PBG-503 | Breeding of Field Crops | 3(2+1) |
| PBG-505 | Cytogenetics | 3(2+1) |
| PBG-507 | Methods in Genetics & Biometry | 3(2+1) |
| PBG-509 | Reproductive System of Crop Plants | 3(2+1) |
| STAT-511 | Elementry Statistics | 3(2+1) |
| TERM-VI | ||
| PBG-502 | Breeding of Maize, Millet and Sorghum | 3(2+1) |
| PBG-504 | Breeding of Oilseed Crops and Tobacco | 3(2+1) |
| PBG-506 | Non-Conventional Approaches to Crop Improvement | 3(2+1) |
| PBG-508 | Molecular Genetics | 3(2+1) |
| CP-510 | General Biochemistry | 3(2+1) |
| TERM-VII | ||
| PBG-601 | Breeding for Cereal Crops | 3(2+1) |
| PBG-603 | Breeding for Pulse Crops | 3(2+1) |
| PBG-605 | Breeding of Fodder and Forage Crops | 3(2+1) |
| PBG-607 | Experimentation | 3(2+1) |
| SUPT-611 | Supporting Course | 3(2+1) |
| TERM-VIII | ||
| PBG-602 | Breeding of Sugar Crops | 2(1+1) |
| PBG-604 | Breeding of Fibre Crops | 3(2+1) |
| PBG-606 | Biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources | 3(2+1) |
| PBG-610 | Internship and Report Writing | 4(0+4) |