The Department of Botany at the Central University of Punjab successfully conducted a five-day intensive course on "Plant Metabolomics and Techniques" from November 28, 2024, to December 3, 2024. This programme, sponsored by the Ministry of Education under the Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN), attracted 54 participants, including biotechnologists, industry professionals, students, researchers, and faculty from diverse locations such as Kolkata, Chennai, Amravati, Allahabad, and Sagar.
The course was coordinated by Dr. Jian Zhau from Hunan Agricultural University, China, and Dr. Vinay Yadav from the host institution. The inaugural session was graced by the presence of Professor R.P. Tiwari, Vice-Chancellor of the university, who emphasized the importance of such programmes in exposing Indian students to global research trends and fostering international collaborations.
Led by distinguished experts, Prof. Jian Zhao and Dr. Vinay Yadav, the course covered cutting-edge topics and techniques, empowering participants to identify and analyze plant metabolites using advanced techniques like GC-MS, LC-MS, and NMR, interpret complex metabolomics data to gain insights into plant function and health, and apply metabolomics in fields such as plant breeding, disease diagnosis, and the development of herbal medicines.
During the concluding session, Dr. Vinay Yadav highlighted the course’s achievements in providing participants with exposure to diverse techniques for identifying useful plant metabolites, building confidence and capability in interpreting metabolomics data, introducing software tools for analyzing metabolomics datasets, offering a foundational understanding of metabolic control analysis to identify genes for manipulation, and enhancing the ability to address challenges associated with metabolomics data.
He further stated that participants greatly benefited from Dr. Zhao’s valuable insights into the latest advancements in plant metabolomics. Dr. Mukesh Kumar Yadav, Coordinator of Gian Course stated that this course, sponsored by the Ministry of Education, India, offered participants a unique opportunity to learn from a global expert and gain hands-on experience with advanced techniques.
It is expected to significantly contribute to the advancement of plant science research in India.