Tissue Culture section is engaged in following research and development activities -
The section has a joint collaborative project with M/S Biotor Industries for developing cost effective castor micropropagation protocol.
Development elite varieties of sugarcane -
Development of drought Tolerant, Salt Tolerant, Disease Resistant sugarcane varieties by employing Callus Culture Technique.
Uptil now 8000 somaclones have been developed out of which 350 somaclones have been tested for their field performance in 17 rod-row trials.
Somaclone No. T.C. 873 is found to have salt tolerant characteristic while somaclones No. T.C. 906B and T.C. 922 are found to be smut resistant. Other somaclones are being tested under field condition.
Scientists also undertake laboratory and green house experiments to find new or modified protocol of sugarcane micropropagation so as to reduce the cost of production of micropropagated sugarcane plantlets.
Current Research Projects
Development elite varieties of sugarcane.
Development of modified (cost effective) protocol of sugarcane micropropagation.
Large scale production of sugarcane plantlets of different varieties.
Development of cost effective protocol of banana micropropagation.
Development of cost effective protocol of potato micropropagation.
Development of cost effective protocol of castor micropropagation.
VSI has recently undertaken development of protocol for banana, potato and castor micropropagation for the production of quality planting material. This will help in improving the yield and quality. This will help in improving productivity of crops as well as the income of farmers.
