Our research activity is to improve or maintain the plant quality through biotechnological methodology mainly via cell culture, tissue culture and genetic transformation. Target plants are medicinal and horticultural plants. All such research activities are confined to maintain the genetic stability of elite clone of wild sources and genetic improvements of less valued wild varieties. For continuous supply of natural bioactive compounds chiefly high value pharmaceuticals from common and rare medicinal plants, in vitro mass propagation, cell culture, shoot and root culture programme has been taken without destruction or disturbance of natural flora for maintaining the biodiversity of indigenous medicinal plants. Generate somaclonal variation and their stable maintenance of horticulture plants is another aspect for their commercial expatiation. Methods have also been standardized for low cost ex-situ conservation of important medicinal plants through in vitro culture. Presently we are working with plants like Asparagus racemosus, A. tenifolius, A.officinalis, A. asparagoides, A. sprengeri, A. robustus, Withania somnifera, Tylophora indica, Tinospora cordifolia, Coleus forskohlii, C. aromaticus, Mentha piperita, M. longifolia, Andrographis paniculata, Bacopa monniera, B. chamaedroides, Allium tuberosum, Stevia rebaudiana, Aloe vera, Rauvolfia serpentina, Ornithogalum virens, Artemisia annua, A. vulgaris, Scilla indica, Taxus baccata.
Chromosome study is carried out in different members of Lilliales in addition to above tissue culture derived species for detection and analysis of their cytological status. Publications: (i). Research Paper; 35 papers in reputed national and international journals, some are in Plant Science (Elsevier), Journal of Biotechnology (Elsevier), Biotechnology Letter (Springer), Plant Cell Reports (Springer), Planta Medica (George Teiame Verlag, Germany), Hort Science (Elsevier), Cytobios (Faculty Press, Cambridge ), Biologia Plantarum (Springer), Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants (Haworth Press, USA) Current Science (IASc), Indian J Exp Biol (CSIR) (ii). Text Book: Plant Tissue Culture- Basic and Applied (University Press)
