National Banana Research Program

The application of biotechnology techniques in crop improvement is of increasing importance for the African continent. The utilisation of modern biotech techniques complemented by conventional plant breeding can play a major role in ensuring food and health security in Africa. Biotech therefore holds promise for many small or marginal farmers of Africa. The utilisation of available agricultural technologies in Africa is limited because adoption requires purchased inputs such as chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Biotech may supplement or provide alternatives to these inputs hence increasing efficiency and food productivity. This means that the less fortunate in our continent, with dwindling food fortunes, stand to benefit from this technology.

Crop improvement is the highest priority research activity in Uganda's effort to increase crop productivity and subsequently food security. In order to exploit the benefits of biotechnology Uganda Government has established a National Agricultural Biotechnology Centre whose goal is to do research designed to meet challenges in food security, poverty alleviation and agricultural productivity.
Equipment
The National Agricultural Biotechnology Centre consists of two well equipped laboratories. The molecular biology and tissue culture labs have capacity to do micropropagation, cell culture, embryo rescue, diagnostics and molecular biology.
The molecular biology laboratory consists of Transiluminator with a photo documentation system, hybridization oven, water bath, thermocyclers, gel apparatus for DNA eletrophoresis, vertical and horizontal laminar flow hoods, microfuges, bench top refrigerated centrifuge, fridge, freezers (-20, -80), incubators, Orbital shaker, stereo microscope, ice machine, Autoclave, ELISA machine, Nitrogen tank, spectrophotometer and a pure lab classic water source.
The tissue culture laboratory, with too transfer rooms consisting 7 laminar floor hoods, 3 growth rooms and a modern hardening facility is capable of undertaking commercial projects commercial projects in addition to research. Other equipment in this facility includes autoclaves, inverted microscope and stereo microscopes.

The molecular biology laboratory consists of Transiluminator with a photo documentation system, hybridization oven, water bath, thermocyclers, gel apparatus for DNA eletrophoresis, vertical and horizontal laminar flow hoods, microfuges, bench top refrigerated centrifuge, fridge, freezers (-20, -80), incubators, Orbital shaker, stereo microscope, ice machine, Autoclave, ELISA machine, Nitrogen tank, spectrophotometer and a pure lab classic water source.
The tissue culture laboratory, with too transfer rooms consisting 7 laminar floor hoods, 3 growth rooms and a modern hardening facility is capable of undertaking commercial projects commercial projects in addition to research. Other equipment in this facility includes autoclaves, inverted microscope and stereo microscopes.

• Activities
• " Diagnostic of plant diseases and viruses
• " Marker assisted selection
• " Transformation
• " Cloning
• " Biochemistry (protein detection and quantification)
• " Micropropagation
• " Embryo rescue
• " Cell culture
• " Germplasm conservation
• " Cryopreservation