The Department of Crop Physiology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat was established in the year 1986 with the following mandates:
1. Teaching: Imparting fundamental and applied knowledge of plant physiology for application in agriculture.
2. Research: Basic and applied research on physiological problems faced by the farmers at different agro-ecological situation of Assam.
3 3.Extension: Extension activities on identification of physiological disorders/ problems of various crops and their remedial measure.
Thrust research areas of the department: Identification of stress tolerant germplasm in relation to submergence, water logged and water deficit situations, nutrient stress (deficit and toxicity) and environmental stress (light, temperature, soil and water pollution etc.) situations.Physiological and biochemical analysis of different crop through quantification on the photosynthetic capacity, growth response, mathematical changes in physiological parameters, biomass allocation, internal chemical changes such as carbohydrates, shift in carbon nitrogen balance, modification of water relations through changes in water status and osmotic adjustment, generation of antioxidant defense system, anatomical modification and the quality parameters to generate data base for future crop development programme. Study of enhancing source activity and sink potential in crop plants for higher economic yield, identification and conversion of plants with low CO2 compensation point, improvement of photosynthesis and productivity through increase in the light use efficiency, studies on biological nitrogen fixation in non-legume plants, enhancement of nutrient use efficiency (NUE) – germplasm evaluation for efficient nutrient acquisition and utilization under deficient and toxic conditions, development of crop plants with efficient ion transporters for uptake and remobilization, phosphorus uptake and use efficiency through improvement of root architecture, physiological and molecular interventions, development of micronutrient rich (Fe, Zn, Se) food crops and enhancement of bio-availability. Nitrogen Assimilation, Nitrogen use efficiency and management under stress situation on real time basis.
5. Artificial or Fake Photosynthesis: Use of Semiconductor, Nanowires for artificial photosynthesis, Nanowires for integrated Solar-to-Fuel Conversion Systems. Artificial Leaf transforming Carbon dioxide into Fuel, Polymers, Pharmaceutical precursors.
6. Physiological and molecular basis of enhanced storability of perishable and non- perishables, enhancement of shelf/vase-life of horticultural crops through physiological and molecular approaches, physiological studies on shelf-life of underutilized perishable fruit crops.
7. Study on crop responses to green house gases including Nitrous oxide, Methane, Ozone, and atmospheric pollutants viz., N& S Aerosols, Black Carbon aerosols, Acid rain, Sulphur dioxide, Oxidised and Reduced Nitrogen, and generation of database on the crop responses through modeling to predict their growth and productivity under present scenario of climate change, so that farmers would be able to utilize the information in future.
8. Hormonal regulation of crop growth and development for its commercial application.
9. Development of plant ideotypes for different crops under various agro ecosystem of Northeastern India.
Future Plan of the Department:
Short Term goal:
a)Introduction of new need based courses of both UG, Post Graduate program. Modernization of lab and field facilities to help undertake basic and strategic research. b) Development of infrastructure facility. c) Induction of more National and International post graduate students into the department. d) Research strategies on management and mitigation of climate change and abiotic stresses e.g. temperature, water, (drought and excess water), nutrient (deficit and toxic), radiation stresses etc.Long Term goal:
1.To develop and transform into a Centre of Excellence in Crop Physiology. 2.To set up Advanced Microscopy and Digital Imaging Laboratory
| CP-123 | Fundamentals of Crop Physiology | 3(2+1) |
| CP(E)-223 | Application of Physiological Tools for improving Crop Productivity | 3(2+1) |
| AS(CP)-123 (For College of Sericulture) | Crop Physiology | 3(2+1) |
| PP 501* | Principles of Plant Physiology-I : Plant Water Relations and Mineral Nutrition | 3(2+1) |
| PP 502* | Principles of Plant Physiology-II : Metabolic Processes and Growth Regulation | 3(2+1) |
| PP 503* | Plant Developmental Biology: Physiological and Molecular Basis | 3(2+1) |
| PP 504 | Physiological and Molecular Responses of Plant to Abiotic Stresses | 3(2+1) |
| PP 505 | Hormonal Regulation of Plant Growth and Development | 3(2+1) |
| PP 506 | Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms of Mineral Nutrient Acquisition and their Functions | 3(2+1) |
| PP 507 | Photosynthetic Processes, Crop Growth and Productivity and Concepts of Crop Modelling | 3(2+1) |
| PP 508 | Physiology of Field Crops | 2(2+0) |
| PP 509 | Physiology of Horticulture Crops | 2(2+0) |
| PP 510* | Seed Physiology | 3(2+1) |
| PP 511 | Phenotyping Physiological Processes | 2(2+0) |
| PP 512 | Crop Growth Regulation and Mangement | 2(2+0) |
| PP 591 | Masters Seminar | 1(1+0) |
| PP 599 | Masters Research | 30 |
| PP 601 | Functional Genomics and genes Associated with Few Physiological Processes | 2(2+0) |
| PP 602 | Signal Perceptions and Transduction and Regulation of Physiological Processes | 2(2+0) |
| PP 603 | Molecular Approaches for improving Physiological Mechanisms through Trait Introgression | 3(2+1) |
| PP 604 | Plant Phenomics: Next Generation Phenomics Platforms | 2(2+0) |
| PP 605 | Experimental Techniques to Characterize Plant Processes for Crop Improvement | 2(0+2) |
| PP 606 | Global Climate Change and Crop Response | 2(2+0) |
| PP 607* | Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Source Sink Capacity for Enhancing Yield | 3(3+0) |
| PP 608 | Seed and Fruit Growth and their Quality Improvement | 2(2+0) |
| PP 609 | Plant-microbe Interactions | 3(2+1) |
| PP 610 | Weed Biology and Physiology of Herbicide Action | 2(2+0) |
| PP 691 | Doctoral seminar I | 1(1+0) |
| PP 692 | Doctoral seminar II | 1(1+0) |
| PP 699 | Doctoral Research | 75 |
| UG Courses | ||||
| # | Course No. | Course Title | Course Credit | Syllabus |
| 1 | AS(CP)123 * | Crop Physiology | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 2 | CP123 * | Fundamentals of Crop Physiology | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 3 | CP223 (E) | Application of physiological tools for improving crop productivity | 3(2 + 1) | * courses are compulsory |
| Masters Courses | ||||
| # | Course No. | Course Title | Course Credit | Syllabus |
| 1 | CP101 | Crop Physiology | 3(3 + 0) | |
| 2 | CP501 * | PRINCIPLES OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY-I | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 3 | CP502 * | PRINCIPLES OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY –II | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 4 | CP503 | Plant Developmental Biology | 2(2 + 0) | |
| 5 | CP504 | PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR RESPONSES OF PLANTS TO ABIOTIC STRESSES | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 6 | CP505 | HORMONAL REGULATION OF PLANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 7 | CP506 | CLIMATE CHANGE AND CROP GROWTH | 2(2 + 0) | |
| 8 | CP507 | PHYSIOLOGY OF GROWTH AND YIELD AND MODELING | 2(1 + 1) | |
| 9 | CP508 | SEED PHYSIOLOGY | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 10 | CP509 | POST HARVEST PHYSIOLOGY | 2(2 + 0) | |
| 11 | CP510 | PHYSIOLOGY OF CROP PLANTS: SPECIFICCASE STUDIES | 2(2 + 0) | |
| 12 | CP511 | PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR ASPECTS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS-CARBON AND NITROGEN ASSIMILATION 2+1 | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 13 | CP512 | Mineral Nutrition | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 14 | CP591 (1+0) | Master’s Seminar | 1(1 + 0) | |
| 15 | CP599 (3Credit +17No | Master’s Research | 3(3 + 0) | |
| 16 | CP605 | CLIMATE CHANGE AND CROP GROWTH | 2(2 + 0) | |
| 17 | PP 501 * | Principles of Plant Physiology-1 : Plant Water Relations and Mineral Nutrition | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 18 | PP 502 * | Principles of Plant Physiology-II : Metabolic Processes and Growth Regulation | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 19 | PP 503 * | Plant Developmental Biology: Physiological and Molecular Basis | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 20 | PP-503 * | Plant Developmental Biology: Physiological and Molecular Basis | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 21 | PP-504 | Physiological and Molecular Responses of Plant to Abiotic Stresses | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 22 | PP-505 | Hormonal Regulation of Plant Growth and Development | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 23 | PP-506 | Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms of Mineral Nutrient Acquisition and their Functions | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 24 | PP-507 | Photosynthetic Processes, Crop Growth and Productivity and Concepts of Crop Modelling | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 25 | PP-508 | Physiology of Field Crops | 2(2 + 0) | |
| 26 | PP-509 | Physiology of Horticulture Crops | 2(2 + 0) | |
| 27 | PP-510 * | Seed Physiology | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 28 | PP-511 | Phenotyping Physiological Processes | 2(2 + 0) | |
| 29 | PP-512 | Crop Growth Regulation and Management | 2(2 + 0) | |
| 30 | PP-591 | Masters Seminar | 1(1 + 0) | * courses are compulsory |
| PhD Courses | ||||
| # | Course No. | Course Title | Course Credit | Syllabus |
| 1 | CP603 | MOLECULAR APPROACHES FOR MPROVING PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 2 | CP604 | Techniques in Plant Physiology | 3(1 + 2) | |
| 3 | CP606 | POST HARVEST PHYSIOLOGY | 2(2 + 0) | |
| 4 | CP607 | Weed Physiology and Herbicide action | 2(1 + 1) | |
| 5 | CP608 | SEED PHYSIOLOGY | 3(2 + 1) | |
| 6 | CP691 (0+1) | Doctoral Seminar I (Major) | 1(0 + 1) | |
| 7 | CP692 (0+1) | Doctoral Seminar II (Minor) | 1(0 + 1) | |
| 8 | CP693 (5Credit+40Non | Doctoral Research | 5(5 + 0) | |
| 9 | PP 601 * | Functional genomics and genes associated with a few physiological processes | 2(2 + 0) | |
| 10 | PP 602 * | SIGNAL PERCEPTIONS AND TRANSDUCTION AND REGULATION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES | 2(2 + 0) | * courses are compulsory |
1. National Conference on Plant Physiology organised by AAU, Jorhat and ISPP, New Delhi on 5th –7 November 2009
2. ICAR sponsored summer institute on “Climate variability and its impact on crop production–physiological perspective towards mitigation strategies” for 21 days (23rd August to 12th September 2011) at Assam Agril University , Jorhat.
3. Thematic meeting on Application of Radiation Technology and radioisotope in the field of Agriculture, Food and Health” on 28-29th May, 2014.
4. ICAR sponsored summer Institute on 'Abiotic and Heavy Metal Stress Management in Crop through Physiological, Phytoremediation and Proximate sensing approaches (September 02, 2016 to September 22, 2016).
5. International conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture’ (ICCBSA-18) held on 13-16th December, 2018 :
6. ICAR Sponsored Winter School on ‘Abiotic Stress: Advances, impact and prospects’ w.e.f. February 06, 2019 to February, 26, 2019.
7. International Conference n Biodiversity, Food security, Suistainability & Climate Change (ICBFSCC-2023) during 25-28 April, 2023.
1. Methane emission in paddy field is a common phenomenon observed in kharif, Boro, Ahu rice. Traditional local cultivars emit high amount of methane compared to high yielding varieties.
2. Incorporation of Azolla in rice field is an innovative approach that presents a novel opportunity to expand and diversify the supply of fertilizers and production of rice crop through tapping CO2 and enhancing the O2 evolution system under changed environmental conditions. This is revealed in the research project ‘“Tapping Of Carbon Dioxide In Rice Ecosystem Through Azolla Cultivation.”
3. In a project entitled ‘“Crop condition assessment under abiotic stress of few selected major crops of NER using remote sensing technique.”, the spectral data NDVI on different crops have been developed to understand the various strategies adopted by plants to cope with abiotic stresses viz., elevated CO2, high temperature and varying level of nitrogen fertilizations. The study identified genotypes viz., Inglongkri and Banglami, developed model for modifying cultivation and nutrient application pertaining to the changed climatic situations.
4. Impacts of high temperature and elevated CO2 on different crops like rice, chili and garlic etc. have been studied and high CO2 & temperature responsive rice lines like Inglongkiri, and Banglami have been identified.
5. From the growth parameters and carbon sequestration data, B. tulda followed by Bambusa balcooa showed high carbon sequestration potential among the five bamboo species viz.,Bambusa tulda (Jati), B. balcooa (Bhaluka), B. nutans (Makal), B. bambos (Kata) and Dendrocalamus hamiltonii (Kako). In addition to these, the species of bamboo Dendrobium hemiltoni could be used by farmers to obtain highest profit because it has the highest biomass production capacity. Considering the carbon sequestration potential, this species can be used extensively for plantation in farmers field and in certain uncultivated lands as a solution to the menace of global warming.
6. Nitrogen deposited through aerosol of oxides of nitrogen ranges from 6.0-38kgha-1yr-1, whereas nitrogen deposited from aerosol of ammonia is in between 7-24 kgha-1yr-1 in Assam.
7. ‘Wheat 231’ is a physiologically efficient wheat variety identified for higher NUE with higher yield and its attributes. Moreover, dose response studies indicated that either N @ 150 kg ha1 (as granule) or N @ 1500 ppm (as foliar spray) in the form of Urea, was found to be effective in augmenting the nitrogen use efficiency.
8. Srimanta, a variety of Sali rice genotype, has been found to be viable for delayed sowing situations in Assam, where the sowing is needed to be deferred by more than one month owing o recurrent flood.
9. Wheat crop varieties viz.C-306 and PBW-343 have been identified as physiologically efficient under rain fed situation of Assam.
10. Breaking of potato bud dormancy: Just after harvest, potato tuber has a dormancy period. These tubers can be induced to sprout for the second crop by treating with 10 ppm GA3.
11. Cold hardening of Boro rice: Boro rice seedling can withstand adverse effect of low temperature and grow well when sprayed with 10 ppm of GA3.
12. Yield and quality improvement of ratoon pineapple: NAA @ 100 ppm plus Zn
@ 0.2% when sprayed on the developing fruit of ratoon pineapple results in 30% increase in yield and quality of fruit.
13. Storage of ginger: Ginger variety ‘Nadia’ when packed in perforated polythene bag can be well stored for 5 – 7 months.
· Sonalika wheat seeds when soaked with 1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate improves yield under rainfed condition.
14. When rice seedlings are dipped (roots) in 2% Calcium chloride solution and then planted, can tolerate iron toxicity to a great extent.
· Priming rape seed with 0.05% ascorbic acid and when sown is found to increase yield and other yield attributing character etc.
15. Rice ecotypes viz. IET 17509. Bandana and Govind have been found to perform better under aerobic situation compared to irrigate one during ‘Ahu’ season.
16. Vase life of gladiolus spikes can be increased up to eight days compared to control by combined application of Salicylic acid 150ppm+10ppm Nanosilver +4% Sucrose in the holding solution.
17.
