With climate change making heat-tolerant vegetable varieties an urgent need, research in the genetics and plant breeding department of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU) in Dinajpur has achieved a notable success in developing heat-tolerant hybrid bottle gourd. Md Khademul Islam, the university's director of public relations, confirmed the development to BSS on Tuesday night.

Researcher Md Shafiqul Islam evaluated the genetic traits and heat tolerance of 58 bottle-gourd genotypes for his PhD and selected five promising hybrids. The aim was to sustain productivity under high temperatures and adverse conditions and to lay a foundation for improved varieties in future.

His final PhD defence seminar was held on Tuesday afternoon in the agriculture faculty's conference room, with Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Enamullah as chief guest and the pro-vice-chancellor, treasurer, registrar, agriculture dean Professor Dr Md Moniruzzaman Bahadur and postgraduate dean Professor Dr Md Mamunur Rashid among the teachers and researchers attending.

Supervisor Professor Dr Md Hasanuzzaman said the five selected hybrids will serve as the basis for developing improved varieties, and the results are expected to open new possibilities for the country's agricultural production. Shafiqul Islam currently works in the vegetable research division of BRAC Seed and Agro Enterprise. The vice-chancellor told BSS that HSTU is giving priority to research progress across its faculties, including agriculture.

Based on BSS's special report from Dinajpur. Source: BSS