Background Overview: Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding
The Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding (DGPB) of Gazipur Agricultural University is a cornerstone of the Faculty of Agriculture, dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge, capacity building, and innovation in crop improvement. DGPB is an academic and research unit dedicated to teaching, research and extension in plant genetics, innovations in breeding, biotechnology, climate resilient technologies. Since its establishment, the department has been committed to strengthening crop sector by fostering excellence in education, research, and practical applications of classical and modern plant breeding. For ensuring food security and sustainable agricultural growth of the country, the department plays a vital role in producing skilled graduates who contribute to academic institutions, research and extension organizations, seed industries, private seed companies and other national development programs. The department offers undergraduate courses as part of the BS (Agriculture) curriculum and postgraduate programs leading to MS and Ph D degrees, and it supervises research on improvement of vegetables, oilseeds and cereal crops using conventional and modern breeding approaches. Undergraduate students receive training in Mendelian and population genetics, biometrics, cytogenetics, plant breeding methods, seed technology, and molecular genetics. The postgraduate programs—leading to MS and Ph D degrees—provide specialized research opportunities in areas of quantitative genetics, hybrid development, molecular plant breeding, mutation breeding, tissue culture, and phenomics & genomics-assisted crop improvement. Through rigorous coursework, practical field training, and laboratory research, students gain hands-on experience that prepares them for professional success in both scientific and applied agricultural fields.
The department maintains well-equipped laboratories for genetics, cytology, advanced plant breeding, and molecular breeding, along with research fields. DGPB will establish a controlled-environment facilities soon to support research of year-round experiments. These resources enable students and researchers to bridge theoretical understanding with real-world applications. The department’s academic staff consists of experienced professors, young researchers, and technical personnel who are actively engaged in teaching, supervision, and scholarly publication. Their contributions help position the department as a hub of innovation within the agricultural sector of Bangladesh through extension links with different stockholders, public-private organizations and farmers. The department mission emphasizes advancing knowledge through scholarly research, publications and training successive generations of students in modern breeding methods, department also emphasizes in the development of high yielding climate resilient crop varieties for commercial cultivation by the farmers.
Research is a major pillar of the department’s activities. Faculty and graduate researchers work on improving major cereals, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, and industrial crops that are important for Bangladesh’s food security and economy. Conventional breeding programs focus on developing high-yielding, stress-tolerant, and quality-enhanced varieties, while modern approaches incorporate molecular markers, DNA fingerprinting, marker-assisted selection (MAS), and genomics to accelerate breeding efficiency. Research also addresses emerging challenges such as climate change, salinity, drought, cold, heat stress, and the need for crop diversification. Many projects are conducted through national and international collaborations, strengthening the department’s scientific capacity and visibility. Beyond teaching and research, the department maintains strong linkages with government agencies, extension services, NGOs, private seed companies, and international organizations. Faculty often contribute to national crop research priorities, variety release committees, training programs, and workshops aimed at disseminating new technologies to farmers and extension workers. Such partnerships ensure that the department’s academic outputs translate into practical benefits for the agricultural sector. In future, the Department will continue to play vital role in expanding scientific knowledge, improving crop productivity, and preparing skilled professionals who contribute to sustainable agricultural development in Bangladesh.
