ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
With reverence and pleasure, I would like to express my unfathomable sense of
gratitude to the chairman of my Advisory Committee, Dr. Ashok, T.H., Professor and
Head, Department of Plant Biotechnology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. I
am greatly indebted to him for his priceless guidance, boundless encouragement, moral
advice and affection showed on me during the course of this research work. I feel
shortage of words to express and quantify his contribution and cooperation to the fruition
this research undertaking. It was a great pleasure and privilege for me to have him as my
guide.
I would also like to show my deep gratitude to Dr. Nirmala, N., Asst. Professor,
Department of Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Hassan, who made it possible for
me to undertake these studies and accomplish this research work.
My deep gratitude also goes to Dr. Ramesh, S., Associate Professor, Department
of Genetics and Plant Breeding, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore for carrying
out analysis of data and critically going through the manuscript and for his valuable
suggestions for the improvement of the thesis..
It gives me great pleasure to express my deep sense of reverence and gratitude
to the members of my advisory committee, Dr. P.H. Ramanjini Gowda, Professor,
Department of Plant Biotechnology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Dr.
C.K. Suresh , Professor, Department of Plant Biotechnology, University of Agricultural
Sciences, Bangalore, Dr. Mohan Rao, A., Associate Professor, Department of Genetics
and Plant Breeding, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, for their kind support,
suggestions and guidance. I also acknowledge gratitude to, Dr. Mohan Kumar,
NUMHENS, Bangalore for helping me carrying out software analysis.
I am thankful to the faculty of the Department of Plant Biotechnology, Dr. H.E.
Shashidhar, Professor; Dr. Dayal Doss, Professor; Dr. D. Thirtha Prasad, Professor;
Dr. Vijaykumar Swamy,
Professor; Dr. Ravi Kumar, R.L., Professor; Dr. N.
Earanna, Professor; Dr. K.M. Harini kumar, Associate Professor, Dr. Anitha Peter,
Associate Professor and Dr. Shyamallama, Associate Professor for their sincere
cooperation and moral support during my stay in this department.
I owe thanks from depth of my heart to my Lab Mates Puroshattam, Giri
Prasad, Chandra Mohan Meena, Suhad, Dalpat Lal, Swaroop Kulkarni and
Manjula who were always forthright in lending a helping hand and moral support during
my research work.
I wish to express my earnest and profound sense of gratitude to my friends,
Wajeed, Manju, Yogendra for their constant support and affection. I would also like to
acknowledge the help and love of Asheesh, Shourabh, Pavan, Berhanu, Rakhi, Sandip,
Prashanth, Savita, Raveendra, Joy, Naveen, Rakhi.
I wish to thank to Mrs. Shalija, Mr. Manjunath, Mr. Raju, Mr. Anant, Mr.
Krishnaappa and all the staff members, Department of Biotechnology, for their valuable
help during my research work.
The time has come to express my deep and sincere appreciation to my beloved
husband Dhanmoni Sharma. I feel the inadequacy of my diction to express my sense of
gratitude, heartfelt respect and affection to him for constant support, sacrifices,
cooperation, kindness and affection. Without him, this work would not have seen the light
of the day. I would also like to express my love to my son Anish, without his sacrifice
and cooperation this study would not have been accomplished.
The most special person in my life is my father Dr. Narendra Nath Sarma. His
love and devotion in every angle for me, today comes to light. Ever-deep respect of
appreciation goes to my beloved mother Meena Sarma, mother-in-law Makan Sharma,
my sister Anamika Sarma, brother-in-law Saurabh Pran Sarma, brother Dibyajyoti
Sharma and Pankaj Sharma, without their love and blessings this study would have
scarily accomplished.
It is my pleasure to express my profound and heartfelt thanks to University
Grant Commission (UGC), Government of India for the financial support, without which
the study would have not been possible.
I greatly acknowledge the Department of Plant Biotechnology, UAS, GKVK,
Bangalore for providing facilities to carry out my research work.
Any omission in this brief acknowledgement does not mean lack of gratitude.
Bangalore,
2012
(Chayanika Sarma)