Name:	Pranay Rishabh Pratijit
Grade Category:	7-9 (Grade 9)
Subject Area:	Biology (Biotechnology)
Project Type:	Experimental
Language:	English
Project Summary:	Aschochyta blight, caused by fungus Aschochyta rabiei is the major constraint to chickpea productivity in Saskatchewan province as well as in the chickpea growing regions of the world. Chickpea breeders have been intensifying their efforts to develop improved ascochyta blight resistant cultivars. One of the challenges in the past has been that screening for resistant plants was tedious and time-consuming. The identification of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers tightly linked to chickpea (Cicer arietinum) quantitative trait loci (QTL) conditioning resistance to aschochyta blight would enhance the efficiency and cost effectiveness of marker-assisted selection (MAS) for this trait. We have designed eight KASPar (KBioscience Allele Specific PCR) SNP markers based on existing SNP haplotype markers found within two genomic regions carrying genes for ascochyta blight resistance in chickpea. We have carried out KASPar SNP genotyping assays for all eight primer set amplified in two parental lines, ILC 72 and CR5-10 and 94 RILs (Recombinant Inbred Lines) derived from two parents. The genotyping data for the eight KASPar SNP genotyping assays has been scored and these SNP loci have been integrated into the existing chickpea genetic map. The validated mapped loci will be available for future routine use in high-throughput SNP genotyping assays.
Equipment Used:	StepOne PCR machine, personal computer, digital camera, other equipment commonly found in a plant biotechnology research lab.
Software Used:	Eversoft 1stPage 2000 HTML editor, Microsoft PowerPoint 2003, GIMP Image Manipulation Program v. 2.6.4, Mozilla Firefox browser.
Source of the Idea:	I have developed a keen interest in biotechnology, mainly because of my mother's background in molecular plant pathology. The idea for this project came about after a meeting with my mentors Dr. Andrew Sharpe and Ms. Christine Sidebottom. I think it is a worthwhile cause to be able to select disease-resistant varieties of a crop in a short span of time with the help of molecular genetics and biotechnology.
Special Skills:	Basic HTML programming; Digital image capturing and editing.
Awards:	Special Achievements Award for Innovation at the Saskatoon Regional Science Fair 2009 Biotechnology Award at the Saskatoon Regional Science Fair Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge 2009 Third-place in Open Category Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge 2009 Genome Prairie Award
Past projects:	None. Participating for the first time.