Project 1: Differential analysis of transcript expression in Casuarina: Trichosporium interaction to isolate defense related genes (Funding Agency: DBT/2006-2009) [BT/PR/5943/AGR/16/531/2005]

Status: Differential display of mRNA was conducted on pathogen elicitor treated and untreated calli of C. equisetifolia to identify transcripts specifically expressed during pathogenesis. Sequencing of specific fragments showed the expression of transcripts like Resistance (R) gene, Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase (PAL) and arabinogalactan protein genes during pathogenesis.

Project 2: Infrastructure development of the Botanical Garden of the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding and ex-situ conservation of selected Rare and Threatened species (Funding Agency: MoEF 2007)

Status: Infrastructure development activities are being initiated and 20 individuals of endemic and threatened species, Phyllanthus narayanaswami were collected from Ananthagiri Range of Visakhapatnam district and planted in botanical garden for the study of its performance.

Project 3: Bioproduction of secondary metabolites from Aegle marmelos (Funding Agency: NMPB) [2006-2009]

Status: Studies on callus induction from various explants were initiated. In the process, different explants of juvenile tissues namely leaf, hypocotyls, root, shoot were tested for callus induction. The explants were inoculated in media containing varying concentrations of different plant growth regulators. Mature leaf tissue collected from standing trees were also tried for callus induction. For qualitative and quantitative assessment of the biomolecules, preliminary screening of alkaloids, flavanoids, anthraquinones, tannins and phenolics were carried out in the leaf and root tissues.

Project 4: Establishment of seed production systems for NTFPs of Attapady Hills (Funding Agency: AHADS) [2006-2008]

Status: Discussions were held with the officials of AHADS regarding the land for planting and for establishment of the SPS. Seeds of Caesalpinia sappan, Oroxylum indicum and Saraca asoca were collected from Kerala and germination studies are in progress.

Project 5: Developing strategies for describing, testing and registering varieties of forest tree species in India (Funding Agency: Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority) [2006-2008]

Status: Selected trial plots of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. tereticornis, Casuarina equisetifolia and C. junghuhniana were visited in the State of Tamil Nadu. Probable characters which can be used as descriptors for these species were identified. These characters include both vegetative and reproductive characters. The Leica QWin Version 1.0 software for Image analysis was upgraded into Lecia QWin Version 3.0 for handling images up to 12 mega pixel size and to measure morphological traits and to digitally store the phenotypes for later reference.