Biotechnology has gained more and more momentum in Agriculture because of its application in the development of transgenic plants production of valuable drugs and in commercial micro propagation. Since the opportunities in this field are very high Agricultural Bio technology has been included as one of the subjects for undergraduate students of Agricultural Universities. A good understanding of basic aspects of plant tissue culture molecular biology and recombinant DNA technology is very important for realizing the application of biotechnology in Agriculture.

Though there are number of books published on Agricultural biotechnology this book has been brought in especially to explain the basic aspects of agricultural biotechnology in a simple and lucid manner. The contents of the book has been divided into six major parts viz. plant tissue culture molecular biology recombinant DNA technology environmental bio technology industrial biotechnology and immunology.

In plant tissue culture important laboratory practices medium preparation aseptic manipulation somaclonal variation haploid production embryo culture micropropagation protoplast fusion and cryopreservation are dealt elaborately with figures. In case of molecular biology chapters emphasis has been given for DNA organization DNA replication protein synthesis and DNA repair mechanisms. Before taking up the recombinant DNA techniques important aspects of restriction enzymes plasmids have been touched upon. Protocols for various laboratory exercises have also been given. Application of biotechnology for industrial purposes has been explained in a simple manner.

The chapters of this book have been designed in such a way that the subject can be understood by the students by self-learning.

Table of Contents..

---

Introduction: Part - I Plant Tissue Culture

1. Introduction
2. History of Plant Tissue Culture
3. Types of Culture
4. Media Constituents of Plant Tissue Culture
5. Preparation of Stock Solution
6. Selection of Explants
7. Aspects Manipulation
8. Incubation of Culture
9. Callus Induction and Maintenance
10. Cell Suspension Culture
11. Production of Secondary Metabolites
12. Somatic Embryogenesis
13. Artificial Seeds or Synthetic Seeds
14. Somaclonal Variation
15. Micropropagation / Clonal Propagation
16. Production of Virus Free Plants
17. Anther Culture
18. Microspore Culture or Pollen Culture
19. Ovary Culture
20. Embryo Culture
21. Protoplast Isolation, Protoplast Fusion and Somatic Hybridisation
22. Cryopreservation / in Vitro Germplasm Preservation
23. Application of Plant Tissue Culture for Crop Improvement

Part - II Molecular Biology

1. Brief History of Molecular Biology
2. Organisation of Cell
3. Organization of DNA
4. DNA Structure
5. Repetitive DNA
6. Organelle Genome
7. Organization of Genes in DNA Molecules
8. DNA Replication (Duplication)
9. DNA Damage
10. DNA Repair Mechanism
11. Central Dogma
12. Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)
13. Genetic Code
14. Transcription
15. Translation
16. Regulation of Gene Expression in Prokaryotes

Part - III Recombinant DNA Technology

1. History of Genetic Engineering
2. Tools of Genetic Engineering
3. Vectors
4. Gene Constructs
5. Gene Cloning
6. Electrophoresis
7. Screening of Recombinants
8. Sequencing of Genes
9. Vectors for Cloning in Higher Plants
10. Direct Gene Transfer
11. Problems in Gene Transfer
12. Molecular Markers

Part - IV Environmental Biotechnology

1. Environmental Biotechnology

Part - V Industrial Microbiology

1. Industrial Microbiology

Part - VI Immunology and Immunity

1. Immunology and Immunity

Appendix

Table of Contents..

---