Germplasm Exploration, Evaluation & Conservation

GERMPLASM EXPLORATION, EVALUATION CONSERVATION DIVISION

Objective: Development of tools, resources and information on aquatic genetic material for conservation research and applications

Thrust Areas:

• Conservation genetics and genomics: Documenting inter- & intra-specific genetic variation & genetic stocks & genomic resources
• In situ conservation: Germplasm exploration, status & utilization, people's participation approach
• Ex situ conservation: Live gene bank & artificial propagation for prioritized species; establishment of repositories; cryopreservation of sperm/embryonic cells; germplasm registration and IPR
• Human resource development.

Salient Achievements:

• Explored river basins viz., Indus, Ganga, Ghagghar, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari and their tributaries to collect the fish accessions for taxonomic validation, stock identification and repository
• Sixteen fish and shellfish species studied for their population genetic structure using molecular markers across the natural range of distribution in Indian rivers
• Taxonomic validation done for Indian mahseers using molecular markers
• Microsatellite enriched genomic library constructed for Chitala chitala and Pangasius pangasius
• Type I Markers developed in Clarias batrachus EST-SSR (221); SNPs (33); ESTs (1923) and genes related to immune response (24)
• DcDNA libraries of 6 tissues developed for Clarias batrachus
• Complete mitochondrial genome of Clarias batrachus and Pangasius pangasius sequenced
• A total number of 33 fish species have been characterized at species level using different molecular markers and polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers identified for 30 fish species
• Genes with differential expression identified for hypoxia tolerance in Clarias batrachus
• Sperm cryopreservation protocol developed for 26 fish species & tested with production of viable hatchlings for 18 fish species
• Tissue bank established with over 13,000 accessions
• Established Live Gene Bank at Lucknow and Guwahati
• The innovative approach of ICAR-NBFGR inviting Sate Govt. to declare one fish as state fish, received enthusiastic response with 16 states already declared/accepted state fish
• Embryonic stem cell line developed for Indian catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis
• Documented role and potential of fisher folk institutions in sustainable management and conservation of fishery resources
• Efforts initiated to focus indigenous knowledge documentation for access benefit sharing.