Genetic and Genomic Resources for Grain Cereals Improvement

Dr Mohar Singh currently works as Principal Scientist (Plant Genetic Resources) at ICAR- National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources Regional Station, Shimla India. He received his PhD degree in Plant Breeding from Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University Palampur, India followed by DSc from Himachal Pradesh University Shimla India. He is working on genetic and genomic resources of pulses, pseudo cereals and cereals including their crop wild relatives and landraces foe diversity analysis using next generation technologies, which resulted into identification of useful traits against nutritional and major biotic and abiotic stresses including agronomic improvement related characters, some which have been introgressed into the cultivated backgrounds for diversification of cultivated gene pool. He has published more than 120 research papers in journals of national and international repute and also holds three textbooks and eight edited books to his credit published by Elsevier Insight, Academic Press and Springer, among others. Professor (Plant Genetic Resources), International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru, Hyderabad, India

• Summary Introduction Origin, distribution and diversity including taxonomy/biosystematics Erosion of genetic diversity from the traditional areasStatus of germplasm resources conservation (ex-situ/in-situ on farm) Germplasm evaluation and maintenanceUse of germplasm in crop improvementLimitations in germplasm useGermplasm enhancement through wide crossesIntegration of genomic and genetic resources in crop improvementConclusionsReferences