OGIRC

PTG - Plant Biotechnology

The Plant Biotechnology PTG conducts studies to:

  • Evaluate and develop Ontario-grown ginseng germplasm
  • Produce large numbers of genetically identical plants using an adapted six-step in vitro tissue culture system
  • Evaluate potential donor lines to establish the first synthetic ginseng cultivar
  • Develop the ginseng germplasm collection (approximately 600 accessions) of the Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Centre of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
  • Collect samples of 3- and 4-year-old ginseng roots from established growers in the Delhi/Simcoe area of southern Ontario for production of the extracts used by the other Platform Technology Groups
  • Collect soil samples from same grower sites for nutritional and pesticide analysis by an A&L Laboratories, an accredited industrial partner
  • Provide root and seed samples to the Phytochemistry PTG for individual plant ginsenoside determinations

Link to Plant Biotechnology publications: click here

Plant Biotechnology PTG Members

Dr. Dan Brown - AAFC; UWO, Dept. Biology

Keywords: In vitro plant regeneration, gene transfer technology, developmental plant physiology, gene expression control, micropropagation, synthetic seed technology

 

Dr. Praveen Saxena - University of Guelph, Dept. Plant Agriculture

Keywords: Plant growth and development; micropropagation; plant metabolism; plant morphogenesis