New Delhi: The Department of Biotechnology at the Central University of Haryana (CUH), Mahendergarh has secured another prestigious research project worth ₹40 lakh from the Haryana State Council for Science, Innovation and Technology (HSCSIT), Government of Haryana. The project, titled “CRISPR-based Stacking of Fatty Acid Biosynthesis Genes to Improve Oil Quality in Previously Edited Abiotic-Stress Resilient Mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern)”, will be conducted by a team including Dr. Humira Sonah and Prof Rupesh Deshmukh, Department of Biotechnology, Prof. Pawan Kumar Maurya, Department of Biochemistry, and Dr. Mona Sharma, Department of Environmental Science.
The research aims to utilize advanced CRISPR gene-editing technology to stack key fatty acid biosynthesis genes in previously developed abiotic stress-resilient mustard lines. The study seeks to enhance the nutritional and commercial quality of mustard oil while maintaining the crop’s resilience to environmental stresses such as drought and salinity.
Following the sanction of the project, the research team met Prof. Tankeshwar Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, and Prof. Pawan Kumar Sharma, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Haryana, and received their blessings and encouragement for the successful implementation of the project. They congratulated the investigators on securing the prestigious research grant and appreciated their efforts toward advancing innovative agricultural biotechnology research. They also expressed confidence that the project would contribute significantly to the development of climate-resilient and nutritionally enhanced mustard varieties while further strengthening the university’s research and innovation ecosystem.
This interdisciplinary project reflects CUH’s growing strength in cutting-edge agricultural biotechnology and genome editing research. The outcomes are expected to contribute significantly to the development of climate-resilient, high-quality oilseed crops, supporting sustainable agriculture, nutritional security, and food security.
