Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education
भावाअशिप - उष्णकटिबंधीय वन अनुसंधान संस्थान
ICFRE - Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur

Genetics and Tree Improvement

Last Updated on : 11 April 2023

 The division is engaged in genetic improvement of forestry species, encompassing conservation of genetic resources  and biotechnology and vegetative propagation of various tree species viz., Tectona grandis (Teak), Pterocarpus marsupium (Beeja Sal), Dalbergia latifolia (Rosewood), and various NTFP species, viz., Rauvolfia serpentina (Serpentine) , Madhuca indica(Mahua), Tamarindus indica (Tamrind) and Buchnania lanzan (Chironji) and 6 bamboo species. Conservation of genetic resources of Tectona grandis (Teak), Santalum album (Sandalwood), Boswellia serrata (Salai), Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Pterocarpus marsupium (Bija Sal) through selection and collection of germplasm from diverse areas of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh has been achieved. Biotechnological interventions, including molecular marker assisted evaluation of germplasm have been worked out for future performance of Tectona grandi (Teak), Santalum album (Sandalwood) and Boswellia serrata (salai). The division also dealt with selection and collection of germplasm of medicinal plants like Rauvolfia serpentina (Serpentine) and Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy) across the country for screening of best accession for higher chemical content. Selection of best sources for higher productivity of Diospyros melanoxylon (Tendu), Bauhinia vahlii (Kachnar) and Madhuca indica (Mahua) in Chhattisgarh has been done.

Besides, the division has successfully developed macropropagation and micropropagation protocol for several woody species like, Tectona grandis (Teak), Gmelina arborea (Khamer), Dalbergia sissoo (Sissoo), Dalbergia latifolia (Shisam), Albizia procera (Safed siris), Azadirachta indica (Neem), twelve bamboo species and several medicinal plants like, Kaempferia galanga (Chandramul), Bacopa monnierie (Brahmi), Saraca indica (Ashoka),  Ruta graveolens (Shatab), Rauvolfia serpentina (Serpentine) and  Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy).

Two new varieties of Rauvolfia serpentina as improved varieties in terms of high reserpine content, root yield and total alkaloid has been released. The variety named as TFRI-RS 1 reported to contain high root yield whereas TFRI-RS 2 reported to contain high alkaloid and reserpine as compared to check varieties viz, RS-1(JNKVV, Indore) and CIM-Sheel (CIMAP, Lucknow). Both the varieties can be exploited for cultivation of Rauvolfia serpentina (Giloy)and supply of authenticated planting material can be ensured.

Mandate

To undertake research on conservation and genetic improvement of commercially important tree species of tropical forests for productivity enhancement

Activities 

  • Population Genetics
  • Clonal Forestry
  • Carbonic anhydrase as abiochemical marker for carbon sequestration in teak
  • Molecular diversity analysis in teak
  • Azadiractin quantification in Azadirachta indica
  • Establishment of germplasm bank of Litsea glutinosa (Lour)
  • Germplasm collection and ex situ conservation of Pterocarpus marsupium
  • Somatic embryiogenesis in Dalbergia latifolia
  • Comparative field performance of micro propagated plantlets of three bamboo species.
  • Genetic Improvement of Bamboo (National Bamboo Mission funded project)
  • Release of variety of Rauvofia serpentine.
  • Establishment of progeny trial of Dalbergia latifolia
  • Comparative field trial of seedlings and cutting raised plants of Dalbergia latifolia.
  • Establishment of progeny trial of Tectona grandis
  • Establishment of Seedling Seed Orchard (SSO) of Tectona grandis.
  • Establishment of germplasm bank of Tectona grandis

Trainings

  • One week training on Plant Biotechnology is being provided to Graduate students of Biotechnology and other Stakeholders.(Fees- Rs.1,000)
  • Six months (Fees – Rs. 20,000) and three months (Fees – Rs. 15,000) Post-Graduate and Graduate dissertation work.
  • One month Internship for graduate students.

Consultancy Services

Clonal fidelity testing services are being provided to Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh Forest Departments for Eucalyptus clones and tissue culture raised bamboo plants and revenue is being generated for the institute/council.

Others

 Ongoing Projects (ICFRE Funded)

S. No.

Name of the Project

Principal Investigator

Post

Duration of Project

Project Members

Funding Agency

1.

 All India Coordinated Programme for genetic improvement of Teak

-

-

2012-2022

-

ICFRE, Dehradun

1a

Selection of plus trees, raising their progeny trials and establishing Germplasm bank

Dr. Pramod Kumar

Scientist C

2013-2023

Co PI-Dr. Arun Kumar A.N.

Dr. P.K. Rana

ICFRE, Dehradun

1b

Development of management practices of teak seed production areas, seedling seed orchards abd clonal seed orchards

Dr. Pramod Kumar

Scientist C

2014-2024

Dr. P.K. Rana

Mukesh Kumar Sonkar

ICFRE, Dehradun

1c

Studies on population structure, linkage disequilibrium and marker-trait association mapping of teak

Dr. Naseer Mohammad

Scientist D

2011-2022

Dr.Pramod Kumar

Y. Pardhi

ICFRE, Dehradun

2.

Studies on improving adventitious rooting in Dalbergia latifolia Roxb. and field performance of its rooted plantlets

Dr. Pramod Kumar

Scientist C

2016-2021

Mukesh Kumar Sonkar

ICFRE, Dehradun

3.

Evaluation of progeny trials of Tectona grandis and production of improved planting stock resistant to defoliator and leaf skeletonizer

Dr. F. Shirin

Scientist F

2017-2020

Mukesh Kumar Sonkar

ICFRE, Dehradun

4.

Population dynamics, structure and genetic diversity of P. marsupium in the tropical forests of Madhya Pradesh

Dr. Naseer Mohammad

Scientist D

2017-2020

Dr. H.O. Saxena

Y. Pardhi

Mukesh kumar  Sonkar

ICFRE, Dehradun

5.

Genetic conservation and conservation of chironji (Buchanania cochinchinensis Lour)

Dr. Naseer Mohammad

Scientist D

2018-2021

 Dr. F.Shirin

Dr. N.D. Khobragade

Sushma Maravi

Y. Pardhi

 Trilok Gupta

ICFRE, Dehradun

6.

Variability for growth, wood traits and natural regeneration status of Hardwickia binata a multipurpose trees species in Madhya Pradesh.

Dr. Arun Kumar A. N.

Scientist F

2020-2023

Dr. P. K. Rana

 Mukesh Kumar Sonkar

 

ICFRE, Dehradun

7.

Evaluating the impact of tree improvement activities on seed quality of Tectona grandis in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh .
 

 

Dr. Geeta Joshi

Scientist F

 2020-2023

Dr. Pramod Tiwari,    Dr. P.K. Rana

ICFRE, Dehradun

  Ongoing Projects (Externally Funded)

S.No.

Name of the Project

Principal Investigator

Post

Duration of Project

Project Members

Funding Agency

1.

Development of tissue culture protocols for important forestry species, viz., Buchanania lanzan, Madhuca indica and Tamarindus indica

Dr. F. Shirin

Scientist- F

2018-2020

Dr. Y. Mishra

CG SFD, Raipur CAMPA

2.

Assessment of diversity and natural regeneration status of Sterculia urens Roxb. for development of conservation strategy in Madhya Pradesh.

Dr.  Naseer Mohammad

Scientist- D

2018-2020

Dr. Arun Kumar A.N.

Dr. P.K Rana

Y. Pardhi

Manoj Kumar Poosam

MP SFD

Bhopal

3.

Preliminary assessment of Indian Sandalwood population in Chattisgarh for growth, heartwood, Oil and regeneration status.

Dr. Arun Kumar A.N.

 

Scientist-F

2019-2020

Dr. Geeta Joshi

Dr. S. C. Biswas

CG SFD, Raipur CAMPA

4.

Conservation of RET species of Chattisgarh – Plumbago zeylanica and  Celastrus panicualata and production of quality planting material.

Dr. F. Shirin

Scientist-F

2019-2020

Dr. Naseer Mohammad

Dr. Pramod Kumar

CAMPA- CG

Raipur

             

5.

Documentation and assessment of the ststus of permanent preservation plots(PSP), Seedling Seed Orchard(SSO), and Clonal seed Orchard (CSO) in Chattisgarh

Dr. Pramod Kumar

Scientist-C

2019-2021

Dr. F. Shirin  Dr. P.K. Rana

CAMPA- CG

Raipur

 

6.

Population status, collection, conservation, characterization and evolution of genetics resources of Indian rosewood, Dalbergia latifolia.

 (NPC: Dr. K.R. Shashidharan)

 

Dr. F. Shirin

Scientist -F

2020-2025

Y. Pardhi

Mukesh Kumar Sonkar

Trilok Gupta

CAMPA-AICRP-28

MoEF&CC,

New Delhi

7.

Quality teak production : Capitalizing on cloning.

(NPC: Dr. Yashodha)

Dr. F. Shirin

Scientist-F

2020-2025

Dr.P.K. Rana

Trilok Gupta

CAMPA-AICRP-09

MoEF&CC,

New Delhi

8.

All India coordinated research project on bamboo.

(NPC: Dr. H.S. Ginwal)

Dr. F. Shirin

Scientist-F

2020-2025

Dr. Geeta Joshi

Dr. Pramod Kumar

Dr. Naseer Mohammad

Mukesh Kumar Sonkar

Trilok Gupta

CAMPA-AICRP-02

MoEF&CC,

New Delhi

9.

Genetic Improvement and value addition of Madhuca longifolia.

Dr. F. shirin

Scientist-F

2020-2025

Dr. Pramod Kumar

Dr. Naseer Mohammad

Mukesh Kumar Sonkar

Trilok Gupta

CAMPA-AICRP-23

MoEF&CC,

New Delhi

10.

Eucalyptus Improvement

Dr. Naseer Mohammad

 

Scientist-D

2020-2025

Y. Pardhi

Manoj Poosam

Trilok Gupta

CAMPA-AICRP-04

MoEF&CC,

New Delhi


Personnel of the Division

S.No.

Name

Designation

E-mail ID

1. .

Dr. Fatima Shirin

Scientist-F & Head of  Division

shirinf@icfre.org

2

Dr. Naseer Mohammad

Scientist-D

mohammadn@icfre.org

3.

Dr. Pramod Kumar

Scientist-C

pramodk@icfre.org

4

KAUSHAL TRIPATHI

Scientist-B

tripathik@icfre.org

5

NIKHIL VERMA

Scientist-B

 

6

Dr. P.K. Rana

Assistant Chief Technical Officer

ranapkd@icfre.org

7

Sushma Maravi

Assistant Chief Technical Officer

maravis@icfre.org

8

Yogesh Pardhi

Assistant Chief Technical Officer

pardhiy@icfre.org

9

Mukesh Kumar Sonkar

Technical Officer

sonkermk@icfre.org

10

Trilok Gupta

Senior Technician

guptat@icfre.org

11

Manoj Kumar Poosam

Senior Technician

poosammk@icfre.org

12

Ravi Prabhat Kujur

Office Attendent

kujurrp@icfre.org

Contact :

Dr. Fatima Shirin

Head of Department

Genetics and Tree Improvement Division

Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur (MP)    

482021

Phone: +91 761-2840002 

E-mail: hod_gti_tfri@icfre.org

Designed & Developed By : IT Division, ICFRE HQ
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