National seminar on "Emerging trends in plant sciences" was organised by the department of Botany

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Date: Mar 29, 2022

The two days National seminar entitiled “Emerging trends in plant sciences” was organised by the department of Botany, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, in collaboration with CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow on March 29-30, 2022. The seminar covered a wide area in plant sciences such as plant physiology and molecular biology, microbiology, ecology, plant biotechnology which provided a perfect platform for research scholars and students to highlight their research work through oral and poster presentations. The seminar was organized in hybrid mode and many eminent scientists/academicians from all over the country delivered keynote lectures and inspired the young minds of the country especially those from this region to take up research activities. The highlight of the seminar was the sensitizisation programme for Young scientist on science and technology (SYST) sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi which aimed at awareness of Science and technology for young scientists and fostering young researchers towards societal challenges. 

The Seminar honoured the service of Prof. Nikhil K. Chrungoo, department of Botany; Dean, School of life sciences. Prof. Chrungoo made significant contributions towards plant science research ranging from staple crop such as rice to underutilized crops such as buckwheat and chenopodium and cash crop such as saffron. He made seminal contributions towards the up-liftment of the university in general and the department in particular. He superannuated from his active service on the 31^st March 2022.

Doordarshan Kendra Shillong also took the oppurtunity to interview Prof. N.K. Chrungoo before his superannuation. Prof. N.K. Chrungoo interacted with the media and enlightened them on the different areas of his research interest particularly in the area of underutilized crops and pigmented rice cultivars of NE India. He also shared his views and ideals behind his idea of introducing Plant and Molecular Biology, a PG course introduced by him in the department of Botany that will provide opportunity to the young aspirants of the state to venture into the area of plant and molecular biology.

The programme started with the Inaugural Function which was graced by the Padma Shri.  Prof. Pramod Tandon, Honorary Scientist, the National Academy of Sciences; Member, National Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, Prof Bidyut K. Sharma, Director, ICAR-AAU and Prof. Nikhil K. Chrungoo, Dean, School of life sciences. Prof. H. Kayang, Head, Department of Botany; Convenor, National seminar delivered the welcome address and Prof. S. K. Barik, Director, CSIR-NBRI; Convenor, National seminar briefed about the program. The planary as well as technical session were chaired and co-chaired by the faculties from the school of life sciences, NEHU and scientists from CSIR-NBRI such as Prof. Pramod Tandon, Prof. N.K. Chrungoo, Prof. H. Kayang, Prof. Mumtaz Dhkar, Prof. Suman Kumaria, Prof. S. R. Joshi, Dr Meera C. Das, Dr. Sukti Majaw, Dr Krishna Upadhaya and Dr. Dibyendu Adhikari. The planary session began with Prof. Ashwini Pareek, who delivered an interesting lecture on journey from traditional knowledge to translational research. He highlighted the research work carried out by his team on comparative genomics between two contrasting rice genotypes, Pokkali, a salt tolerant but low yielding rice variety and IR64, a high yielding but salt intolerant rice variety. He showed that over-expression of stress gene OsIF in IR64 improved the growth and yield of this plant significantly in adverse conditions of high salinity, high temperature and drought with 20 percent higher yield. Prof. B.K. Sharma talked on Genome engineering: A way forward for the development of climate smart crop. He commenced his presentation with the challenges envisaged in feeding an increasing population with threats to food crops caused by climate change and inadequacy of conventional breeding techniques. He emphasised on how genetically modified crops have been accepted worldwide because of their yield advantage.  He concluded his presentation by urging all concerned to say “YES” to genetically engineered crops. Prof. Sudhir K. Sapory, was one of the invited speaker who spoke on plant responses to different stimulus. He took the audience to the most recent areas of plant stimulus such as response to moonlight and sound. He briefed about how plants cells retain memories in response to external environment and gave the audience ideas to venture on this aspect of plant physiological response. Prof. G.D. Sharma highlighted the role of plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPM) that are extensively used as microbial inoculants for improving agricultural productivity. He stressed upon cultivation of soil meta-genomics approach to explore the enormous diversity of soil microbial communities and suggested manipulation of the rhizosphere for sustainable agricultural processes.  An interesting talk on Bioeconomy and Entrepreneurship: Prospects in North-East India was delivered by Prof. Pramod Tandon. He focussed on the potential of traditional knowledge and the need to transform into commercial opportunities for development of bio-products and processes. He stressed upon how under “Atmanirbhar Bharat” India converted crisis to opportunity and how bio-resources can be utilized for economic development and also highlighted his contribution towards production, value-addition and marketing of various plants like orchid, strawberry, orchids, bamboo mushroom and the much famed “lakadong” variety of turmeric.   He motivated the gathering with the various skill development programmes especially designed for the NE-Region.  Planery session 2 began with Prof R. N. Gohil who spoke on shifts in syllabi and research needs and the requirements in these shifts as per the demands of time and research area. He also stressed on the need to revive the basic area of botany like taxonomy and economic botany.  Prof. N. K. Chrungoo emphasised on the need to find pearls in the wilderness and the necessity to accommodate pseudocereals such as buchwheat and chenopodium to mainstream foods owing to their high nutritional values to overcome nutritional security along-side food security. Prof. Manoj Prasad took the audience to the area of micro-RNAs and their potential in plant stress and defence response.

Special lectures under sensitizisation programme for Young scientist on science and technology (SYST) was sponsored by DST wherein Prof. S. K. Barik and Dr Rashmi Sharma delivered talked about Science and Technology for young scientists and fostering young researchers towards societal challenges. They stressed on the need for innovative research pertaining to societal challenges and introduced various schemes and fellowship programmes such as INSPIRE, N-PDF, SYST, Bio-care etc. designed to encourage young researchers.  

The Valedictory cum felicitation ceremony was graced by Prof. P. S. Shukla, Vice Chancellor NEHU, Prof. G. D. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, USTM and Prof. S. K. Barik, Director, NBRI. Prof. H. Kayang and Prof. S. K. Barik, Convenors, National Seminar welcomed the gathering, gave the minutes of the seminar and announced the prizes of poster and presentations under different themes. The felicitation of Prof. N. K. Chrungoo was conducted with love and honour by his colleages, faculty members, students, family members and friends who shared their experience with Prof. N.K. Chrungoo, showered their love and blessings to the superannuating faculty. The Botany club honoured Prof. N. K. Chrungoo with a citation and a ryndia and presented a token of love and appreciation for his selfless service to the department.  The programme culminated with cultural programme where the students of the department showcased the vibrant culture of India especially that of the North-Eastern region.