Amritsar, March 19 : A 2-days National seminar on “Current Scenario of Microbiology” was inaugurated here today in the conference Hall of the Guru Nanak Dev University. This UGC-SAP sponsored Seminar is being organized by the Department of Microbiology of the University.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A.S Brar presided over the inaugural session while Dr. Ajit Verma, Director General, Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University, Noida delivered the keynote address. Dr. Sajid Hussain, Head of the Department welcomed the chief guest and others. Dr. D.S. Arora, Coodinator, SAP and Director of the seminar presented vote of thanks on this occasion.
Dr. Verma in his keynote address spoke on the discovery of Piriformospora indica, isolated from the roots of a desert plant that proved to be a magic fungi. He said that it has positively influenced the growth of all 148 types of crop plants on which it was tested. He said that it promotes early flowering and fruit formation in crops. He said that it also enhances the concentration ingredients of medicinal plant by 3-4 fold. While giving example, he said that P. indica induced 2.5 fold more antimalarial component production in the leaves of Artemisia annua.
Prof. Brar said that there is deep relationship between science and social science. He said that all are interdependent and interlinked. He said that basic sciences needed to be popularized among students at school level.
He also highlighted the achievement of the University in various fields. He has been instrumental in getting the status of University with Potential for Excellence.
Prof. R.K saxena, Department of Microbiology, Delhi University. South Campus and Professor Akhtar Mamood, Professor Emeritus, Dept of Bio chemistry, Punjab University, Chandigarh also delivered their lectures.