About Us

• To ensure quality teaching in the Genetics, Cytogenetics and Plant Breeding related subjects and also to facilitate quality research work of PG and Ph.D students.
• To impart capacity building to students through trainings and guidance
• To Collect, evaluate, maintain and characterize the genetic resources of field crops 
• To conserve the valuable crop genetic resources by in-situ methods and under controlled conditions 
• To evolve superior crop varieties/hybrids with high yield, quality, biotic and abiotic stresses  using classical and also using biotechnological tools 
• To conduct multidisciplianry research for pyramiding multiple traits in crop varieties 
• To ensure quality seed production of seed chain of notified varieties  
• To disseminate the knowledge on latest farm technologies to the farmers through on farm and off farm mode.

Botanical research work in the Madras State was initiated as early as in 1898 with the appointment of a separate Economic Botanist for Sugarcane. By 1907, Agricultural College and Research Institute was started at Coimbatore for offering Agricultural Education besides conducting research and extension. For paying more attention to the research of various crops, separate breeding stations were established for various crops.  In 1912 during the British colonial period, one Government Economic Botanist (GEB) was posted at Coimbatore to initiate research and thus Paddy Breeding Station, the oldest rice research station came into existence. Later, other breeding stations for Cotton (1922), Millets (1923), Oilseeds (1940), Pulses (1943) and Forages (1976) were established with the leadership of crop specialists under the umbrella of Department of Agricultural Botany in 1971. Recognizing the importance of crop breeding, the Department of Agricultural Botany was upgraded into a Directorate and designated as “School of Genetics” from 1.3.1980. Later during 1997, the Directorate was re-designated as “Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics”. In due course, two more separate departments viz., Plant Genetic Resources and Genetics and Plant Breeding were established on 2009 and 2019 respectively.

LOCATION

The Directorate is located at an elevation of 426.72 m, between 11^o N latitude and 77^o E longitude with an average rainfall of 670 mm per year. Various crop based Departments of this Directorate are involved in multidisciplinary research with a team of well-trained scientists for crop improvement, crop management and crop protection.

• Offering courses on Genetics, Cytogenetics, Plant breeding  for UG and PG and Ph.D students 
• Supporting postgraduate (PG and PhD ) students research 
• Evolving new varieties/hybrids in important agricultural crops for the benefit of farmers.
• To conduct basic and applied research in Botany, Genetics,  Cytogenetics and Plant Breeding
• Characterization of germplasm accessions in important agricultural crops
• Preserving the available plant genetic resources without loss of viability under controlled conditions.
• Generating pre breeding plant genetic material by utilizing wild species and land races for quality, pest and disease resistance.
• Applying marker assisted tools with classical approaches to introgress critical traits 
• To conduct of AICRP trials of various crops for the evaluation of test entries for all over India. 
• Identification of new donors for major biotic and abiotic stresses
• Monitoring and coordinating Nucleus and Breeder seed production of entire TNAU
• Producing and supplying nucleus/breeder seeds/planting material of notified varieties/hybrids of different crops. 
• Imparting training to field staff/ Veterinarians/ Agrl. Officers/farmers etc. on “Improved varieties/hybrids and production technologies”. 
• Production of quality seeds through farmers participatory mode.
• Capacity building of young breeders of TNAU through appropriate trainings on updated breeding methodologies 
• Being the Centre for Advanced Faculty Training, conducting 21 days training programme for the scientists from all over India (once in a year).

1. Department of Rice
2. Department of Millets
3. Department of Pulses
4. Department of Oilseeds
5. Department of Cotton
6. Department of Forage crops
7. Department of Plant Genetic Resources
8. Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding