PLANT BREEDING AND GENETICS ?
MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding: Quick facts
The basic details about the course have been mentioned in brief in the table below:
| Full-Form | MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding |
| Course Level | Postgraduate |
| Duration | 2-years |
| Eligibility | Bachelors of Science (BSc) |
| Admission Process | Entrance Exam or Merit Based |
| Entrance Exams | ICAR AIEEA PG, LPUNEST, SAAT, OUAT, SOETAP, etc |
| Average Course Fee | INR 6,000 – INR 2,40,000 per annum |
| Job Options | Plant Breeder, Plant Geneticist, Farm Manager, Agronomist, Assistant Professor, Associate Researcher, etc. |
| Average Salary | INR 3 lakh to INR 5 lakh per anum |
| Top Recruiting Area | Nurseries, Plant breeding centers, Agriculture ministries, Research laboratories, Crop research directories, Academic institutes, etc. |
Why Study MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding?
- Since plants are the primary source of human food, therefore it is important to conduct research and find ways to produce commercially in huge amounts. It is an important field of study that focuses on feeding a huge population.
- There are various reasons due to which the crop dies. Therefore the plant breeders can develop plants that are resistant to diseases and insects and can tolerate certain temperature and soil conditions.
- The breeders can make it possible for the plant to grow in the area where they are not likely to grow. They can extend the areas of production of the crop species.
- They can increase the yield of the crops and could be grown commercially even with the help of fewer resources.
- This is an area that is in huge demand and the job opportunities are huge since it is an important tool in promoting global food security.
MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding Admission Process
Admission into this course is usually based on the student’s performance in a relevant entrance test. It includes the national and state-level entrance tests. Though the private institutes conduct their entrance test or choose candidates based on their previous academic scores.
MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding Eligibility
To apply for this course, the candidates should fulfill the following requirements:
- They should have completed their bachelors in BSc Agriculture, BSc Agriculture (Hons), BSc Biotechnology, or any other related field.
- They should have a minimum aggregate of 60% in their bachelor’s from a recognized university.
Merit-Based Admissions
Various institutes refer to the bachelor’s level scores to select the students for this course. The candidates have to go through the following for this kind of admission:
- They will have to go to the official website of the institute they want to apply to.
- They can now register themselves and fill the online application form for admission, followed by paying the application fees.
- The students will be evaluated based on their academic scores and a merit list of selected students will be released.
- The shortlisted candidates will be called for counseling to finalize the course of their choice and for document verification.
- Once the candidates pay the admission fees, they will be enrolled in the course.
Entrance-Based Admissions
Admission into this course is usually conducted through exams like ICAR or state-level exams. The candidates may have to follow the following processes:
- The candidates will have to register themselves for the exams like ICAR or any of the state-level exams by filling the application form and paying the application fees.
- They will have the download the admit card and appear for the exam.
- The candidates will have to clear the minimum cut-off of the exam to get shortlisted. The merit list will be released with the names of candidates that are shortlisted.
- The shortlisted candidates will be called for counseling, where they will be finalizing their preferred course and college.
- They will be enrolled after document verification and submission of the admission fees.
MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding: Entrance Exam Dates
Some of the entrance exams that are available for admission into MSc in Genetics and Plant Breeding are:
| Exam | Application Date | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|
| ICAR AIEEA PG | 3rd week of June 2021 – 3rd week of July 2021 | 1st week of August 2021 |
| OUAT | June 2021 | July 2021 |
| LPUNEST | June 28, 2021 – July 15, 2021 | July 1, 2021 – July 18, 2021 |
| SAAT | February 5, 2021- July 14, 2021 | Phase 1: June 7, 2021 – June 13, 2021 Phase 2: July 12, 2021 – July 18, 2021 |
| SOETAP | March 1, 2021- July 20, 2021 | July 27, 2021 |
Entrance Exam Preparation Tips
To prepare for any of the agricultural entrance exams, the candidates should keep the following points in mind:
- They should be aware of the updated syllabus of the exam.
- They should refer to the previous question papers to understand the pattern followed in the exam and the difficulty level.
- They should prepare a timetable to cover all the topics of the syllabus in the time frame they have.
- They should practice regularly and take mock tests to check the level of their preparation.
- They should clear the basics of all the topics included in the syllabus.
MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding Syllabus
The MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding is a 2-year program, that includes 4 semesters. All these semesters have 3 to 4 subjects with at least 1 elective subject. The syllabus for institutes may differ but the subjects and the topics covered are usually the same,
MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding Subjects
The syllabus of Kerala Agriculture University has been mentioned below for reference. The other institutes will most probably have similar subjects.
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Mendelian Genetics | Molecular Genetics |
| Techniques in Cell Biology | Cytogenetics |
| Cytology | Plant Breeding |
| — | Plant Biochemistry |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Genetic Engineering | Population Genetics |
| Plant Biotechnology | Developmental Genetics |
| Environmental Genetics | Biosystematics |
| Modern Methods in Crop Breeding | |
| Elective Papers | |
| Biophysics | Applied Palynology |
| Plant Tissue Culture | Transgenic Plants |
| Biotechnology | Phytochemicals |
| Plant Cell Culture Technology | — |
MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding Colleges
Various agricultural colleges offer this course. It is offered by both public and private colleges. Some of the top colleges are mentioned below:
MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding Government Colleges
Some of the top government colleges that offer MSc genetic and plant breeding courses are mentioned in the table below. The institutes mentioned have been ranked by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research).
| ICAR Ranking 2021 | Top Institutes | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana | INR 77,290 |
| 3 | Indian Agriculture Research Institute, New Delhi | INR 43,150 |
| 8 | Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore | INR 44,825 |
| 10 | Banaras Hindu University | INR 6,262 |
| 13 | Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur | INR 29,830 |
| 17 | Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut | INR 72,000 |
| 19 | Kerela Agriculture University, Thrissur | INR 30,700 |
| 23 | Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur | INR 19,160 |
| 24 | Anand Agriculture University, Anand | INR 22,500 |
| 48 | Bihar Agriculture University | INR 11,620 |
| 49 | Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat | INR 19,590 |
| 55 | Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Cooch | INR 6,000 |
MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding Private Colleges
Some private colleges and universities that offer MSc in Genetics and Plant Breeding are mentioned in the table below. These institutes are ranked by NIRF 2020:
| NIR Ranking 2020 | Top Institutes | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Orissa | INR 1,25,000 |
| 56 | Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Science, Allahabad | INR 1,17,000 |
| 99 | Lovely Professional University | INR 2,40,000 |
| 151 | Rabindranath Tagore University, Bhopal | INR 55,000 |
| 151 | Shoolini University, Solan | INR 1,32,310 |
| – | Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture and Research Institute, Coimbatore | INR 70,750 |
| – | Jagannath University, Jaipur | INR 70,000 |
| – | Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phoole University, Jaipur | INR 82,500 |
| – | Madhav University, Sirohi | INR 75,000 |
| – | J.S. University, Shikohabad | INR 33,500 |
After MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding Course
After completion of the master’s program in genetic and Plant breeding, the candidates can find jobs in research centers, farms, government organizations, and academic institutes. The candidates who want to pursue higher studies in this field can go for a doctorate course i.e, a PhD
PhD After MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding
The candidates can go for a PhD after MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding. They can do a PhD in the same field or can choose any other similar areas of agriculture. For admission into the PhD course, they will have to clear an entrance exam, followed by a personal interview.
Some of the PhD courses that the candidates can go for are mentioned below:
- PhD in Genetics and Plant Breeding – It is a 3-year doctorate program that deals with the agricultural sciences specializing in genetics and breeding of plants. It will provide students in-depth knowledge and will have to prepare a thesis in this area.
- PhD Agriculture – It is a 3-year doctorate program, where students get in-depth knowledge on how to produce food, fiber, and fuel. It also covers topics like plant genetics, plant physiology, soil science, crop management, etc.
- PhD Agronomy – It is a doctorate program that deals with the physical & biological characteristics of soil, soil & tissue analysis, resource conservation, irrigation, water quality, drainage, fertilizers, and other nutrient sources.
- PhD Horticulture – It is a doctorate program that deals with the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, crops, plants, etc.
MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding Jobs & Placements
Some of the job options available after completion of MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding are mentioned below along with the average salary.
Top Job Profiles
| Job Profile | Description | Average Course Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Plant Breeders | They work with a wide range of plants to identify and develop a variety of plants and crops. They conduct experiments to explore various new breeding combinations. They try to find effective ways to produce huge amounts of crops with few resources. | INR 7,26,257 |
| Geneticist | They analyze genetic information, conduct DNA testing and other genetic trials. Their responsibilities include analyzing statistical genetic information, databases, and other computer files. | INR 3,80,000 |
| Farm Manager | They oversee the operations of a farm, which usually includes planning & managing production and handling business administrations. They carry out routine maintenance of the equipment and farm building. They also hire, train and supervise the workers and their activities. | INR 4,84,790 |
| Agronomist | Their work is to manage the nutrient distribution of the crops being grown. They track the manure inventory, conduct quality control, and supervise employees. They also conduct testing and evaluations. | INR 5,73,091 |
| Research Associate | They conduct experiments for research firms or academic institutes in a specific area. They collect, prepare, analyze, and evaluate specimens. They also give lectures to the bachelor and master students. | INR 3,64,608 |
| Assistant Professor | They are usually employed by colleges and universities. They teach and supervise the graduates. They also conduct their own research and assist the professors in their research, | INR 3,59,000 |
Top Recruiters
- The MSc in Genetics and Plant Breeding graduates are hired by the seed industry, plant breeding centers, nurseries, research laboratories, crop plantation facilities, crop research directories, agriculture ministries, genetic engineering firms, biotechnology companies, etc.
- They can be hired as farm managers to oversee the activities on a farm and to supervise other employees.
- They can find teaching and research positions available in SAUs and agriculture universities.
- They can clear exams for seed testing and certification officer in government organizations.
MSc Genetics and Plant Breeding Salary
The most common job that the graduates will look for after completion of their master’s program is of a plant breeder. The average salary they can earn in this position is around INR 7,26,257 per annum.
The salary differs for the plant breeders based on the experience they hold. The salary difference based on their experience is mentioned below:
| Experience | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 0 – 1 years | INR 3,55,000 |
| 1 – 4 years | INR 6,14,000 |
| 5 – 9 years | INR 6,95,000 |
| 10 – 19 years | INR 10,00,000 |
| 20 + years | INR 30,00,000 |
