Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Quality management system (QMS) is a systemic approach of managing quality through good infrastructure, well defined organizational structure, standard procedures, resources and products. QMS aims at customer satisfaction through continuous improvements. QMS in plant tissue culture is novel approach covering the recognition of commercial tissue culture production facilities, accreditation of test laboratories and certification of tissue culture raised plants of recognized tissue culture production facilities by the Accredited Test Laboratories. The whole programme is popularly known as National Certification System for Tissue Culture Raised Plants (NCS-TCP). Tissue culture technology through micro propagation has revolutionized the agriculture scenario worldwide by mass clonal multiplication of various economical plant species. In Indian scenario, this sector has witnessed a significant growth particularly in the last 10 years and a number of companies with production capacity ranging from a few lakhs to 30 million plants per annum are functional with cumulative production capacity of more than 300 million plants per annum. There is an enormous potential which can be realized by propagation of disease free and high quality planting material. Lack of effective quality parameters in micro-propagation may result into spread of virus infected and/or somaclonal variants which may hamper its growth resulting in lower levels of acceptance of this promising technology. Therefore, a quality management system is crucial for the healthy growth of the micro propagation industry. Accordingly, NCS-TCP has been established by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India which is first of its kind in the world. It is a dynamic and comprehensive system intended for facilitating production of quality tissue culture plants and providing mechanisms for certification of quality tissue culture plants. NCS-TCP has received a very enthusiastic response from the industry. In spite of the fact that the Recognition of the companies under the NCS-TCP is not mandatory, within the short duration of its implementation from 2007, more than 90% of the leading tissue culture companies have got themselves recognized under the system and many other small units are in the process of assessment. Significant impact of NCS-TCP includes strengthening the capacities of tissue culture companies, enhancing their visibility resulting into market reach, increase in the production capacity of recognized companies, introduction of new crops and increase in the number of samples referred to testing. It may be concluded that this system has provided conducive environment for the growth of plant tissue culture industry in India and has potential to be replicated worldwide.

Biography

Shiv Kant Shukla has done PhD in Biotechnology and has diversified experience in the area of commercial biotechnology. He had earlier worked as in charge of commercial plant tissue culture unit and currently working in Biotech Consortium India Limited (BCIL), New Delhi a company promoted by DBT, Govt of India. As the Manager BCIL, he is managing projects of national importance such as National Certification System for Tissue Culture Plants (NCS-TCP), consultancy services for setting up of biotech park/incubator, organization of entrepreneurship development programmes in biotechnology etc.