ICRISAT conducts training in next-gen genomics for scientists

ICRISAT’s CEGSB conducts two-week training in next generation genomics for PJTSAU scientists

To accelerate crop improvement in Telangana, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics or ICRISAT’s Center of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology (CEGSB) trained a group of young scientists from the State’s Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) on next-generation genomics approaches.

Advocating adoption of latest genomics technologies, Dr V Praveen Rao, Vice-Chancellor, PJTSAU, said, “It is time we trained our young scientists in the latest genomics and molecular breeding approaches, for they will be the torchbearers for advancing crop improvement program in State.”

CEGSB and PJTSAU organized the training at ICRISAT during 6-17 May, 2019. The program, partially supported by the CRP Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (GLDC) and CGIAR Platform on Excellence in Breeding, is the 14^th course organized by CEGSB in its endeavor to build capacity in modern genomics and molecular breeding across institutions.

During the training program, a one-day international workshop ‘Genomic Selection for Crop Improvement’, was held on 15 May. The workshop brought renowned scientists including Professor Wallace Cowling from The University of Western Australia; Professor John Hickey of The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh (UK); Professor Ben Hayes and Professor Lee Hickey from The University of Queensland (Australia) to talk about advances in methodologies, optimization of models and applications of genomic selection from examples of different crops, livestock and poultry.