Biotechnolgy:-

It is the branch of microbiological science which is concerned with the utilization of micro-organisms plants and animal cells and their components to generate useful products and services in industrial process.

Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture:-

(i) Gene transfer:- Genetic engineering has been successfully used in transferring gene to various plant species for insect resistance, protection against viruses, herbicide resistance, improvement of storage protein etc. The process uses Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium and though it structure the genetic element.

(ii) Somaclonal variation:- Somaclonal variants for improved yield, disease resistance, resistance to cold, herbicide, metal toxicity, salt and other stressess have been obtained. The variants have been mainly new mutant varieties.

(iii) Rapid Isolation of homozygous lines:- This has been achieved by producting chromosome doubling haploids. The process has been particularly used in Chinal in case of rice and wheat.

(iv) Germplasm conservation has been possible by storing it in liquid nitrogen (at -196C). The process has been more useful in preservation of donally reproduction crops e.g. tubers.

(v) Obtaining pathogen:- Trees crops Meristem culture has been combined with thermotherapy to obtain disease free stocks of crops, particularly in clonal crops.

(vi) Embryo rescue:- Embryo culture has been practised to obtain viable hybrid which have otherwise no possibility of growth.

(vii) Rapid clonal multiplication:- Meristem culture has been used to rapid multiply many fruit and forest tree e.g., Mango tree, teak etc. conventional methods has been very slow.