Greenhouse at GU for endangered plants

GUWAHATI, February 11: The endangered and rare plant species of the Northeast, specially those of the State, are in for a major boost in growth and production with the setting up of a most modern "Greenhouse" at the Department of Biotechnology of Gauhati University here. The house will be primarily used for "acclimatising and hardening" of plants developed from the tissue-culture laboratory already existing at the department, informed PJ Handique, Faculty Member of the Department and Principal Investigator of the project under which the house is being set up. "Our top priority is for mass culture of the plant varieties which are on the verge of extinction for their over exploitation due to their immense medicinal and commercial value," said Handique. The house is a part of the National Agriculture Technology Project (NATP) sponsored by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Though there are about five such greenhouses in the region under various research institutions, the uniqueness of this house is the 'automated' control system for controlling humidity, temperature and light as and when required. Handique informed that if the temperature or any of the other two factors rise or fall above or below the ideal standard the computerised system will automatically control it. Handique informed that the plants identified as rare and those moving fast towards being endangered are developed in the laboratory conditions. Normally, on an average a plant takes about a month's time to mature through the process. Among the plants already being developed a few of them are quite significant from medicinal point of view as well as that of commercial usage. These include ginseng, saanchi, agnisikha, misimi tita etc. Handique informed that one kilogram of the agnisikha plant commands a price of about Rs 1,500 which explains the mad scramble for over exploitation. The principal investigator also informed once the house became fully operational commercial utilisation of its services would be considered. Handique hoped that the problem of rampant exploitation of medicinal plants will be solved to a big extent with multiple production of such plants and their conditioning here.