Role of Biotechnology in the Development of Horticultural Crops Sengar R.S.1, Chaudhary Reshu1, Singh B.2 1Tissue Culture Lab, College of Biotechnology, S.V.P.U.A.&T, Meerut-250 110. 2Deptt. of Horticulture, S.V.P.U.A.& T, Meerut-250 110. Abstract Biotechnology offers a vast potential in horticulture. The biotechnological tools may likely to have greater impacts in horticulture, where even minor changes such as in colour, aroma quality and postharvest behaviour would make significant commercial impacts Genetic transformation, micropropagation, in vitro conservation of germ plasm, synseed technology, virus-cleaning through STG techniques, biofertilizers biopesticides and postharvest biotechnology are important areas in biotechnology of horticultural crops. In India micropropagation of horticultural crops has established well and in vitro protocols have been successfully exploited in ornamental crops, some forest plants, banana, cardamom etc. A few genetically-engineered crops are also in the pipeline at various stages of testing. To provide virus free plants in citrus, shoot tip grafting technique can be successfully employed while embryo-fruitful results in mango breeding. Systematic R&D efforts aimed at commercialization of product and process may go in a long way in promotion of horticulture industry in the country and to enhance India's capability to compete globally. Top Key words Horticultural crops, micropropagation, in vitro conservation, biotechnological techniques. Top |