Three forest research institutes develop 20 high-yielding varieties of plant species

New Delhi: Three institutes under Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) in Dehradun – Forest Research Institute (FRI) in Dehradun, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB) in Coimbatore and Tropical Forest Research Institute in Jabalpur – have developed 20 high yielding varieties of plant species.

This development took place with the approval of an autonomous body under the Environment Ministry on Monday.

An official statement confirmed the news, saying that, "Three institutes of ICFRE have developed 20 high yielding varieties of plant species. The Variety Releasing Committee (VRC) of ICFRE, granted approval for the release of these varieties of plant species, at a meeting held today."

FRI in Dehradun has worked for more than a decade on ten improved varieties of 'Melia dubia' and three clones of Eucalyptus tereticornis, the timber which is in high demand in the industry.

The released cultivars of Melia, popularly known as 'Dreake or Malabar Neem', not only have a high productivity per unit area with an average of 34.57 cubic metre per hectare per annum, but also have an excellent bole form, which is a desirable characteristic for plywood industry.

The average productivity of the released varieties of Eucalyptus has been recorded as 19.44 cubic meter per hectare per annum, against the present productivity level of 5-7 cubic meter per hectare per annum.

These clones have also been found to be resistant to pink disease and wall gasp, the Ministry said.

Similarly, IFGTB has developed five inter-specific hybrids of 'Casuarina equisetifolia X Casuarina junghuhniana' for use as timber while TFRI in Jabalpur has developed two varieties of medicinal plant 'Rauvolfia serpentina'.

"The developed varieties have to go through stringent long field trials and testing before release," the Ministry said, adding that the VRC meeting today was chaired by DG Forest S S Negi.

ICFRE carries out holistic research on forestry species and the nine institutes under it are engaged in improvement of plantation of tree species to improve yield, quality and productivity to meet the demand for domestic consumption by industries.

In its earlier efforts, ICFRE released 27 high-yielding clones in 2010, 2011 and 2014 of 'Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus Hybrid, Casuarina equisetifolia, Casuarina junghuhniana and Dalbergia sissoo' which are in commercial production now.

(With PTI inputs)