PhD Environmental Plant Biology

Working as a unit for All India Co-ordinated project on Seed Biology Centre took-up extensive R & D activities on 6 high altitude medicinal plant species in 1985 and so far detailed studies on status in nature, seed viability, multiplication and cultivation trials of important high altitude species have been conducted. Package of practices for Podophyllum hexandrum, Aconitum balfourii, A. heterophyllum, Nadorstachys jatamansi, Rheum emodi, R. moorcroftianum, Carum carvi, Saussurea lappa, Allium stracheyi, Meconopsis aculeate and Picrorhiza kurrooa have been worked out and popularized among the selected farmers through short courses. Superior planting material of these species in the form of seeds and seedlings is being distributed to willing growers.

Country's first Alpine Garden for the medicinal plants was established at Tungnath, where at present 50 species are being multiplied and are being tested for their productivity.

The temperature and irradiance dependence of net photosynthesis is an intrinsic characteristic of alpine species which do not change with the temperature regime under which these plants are grown. Majority of these species are able to grow vigorously even under relatively high temperatures. The high temperature tolerance in these species seems to be associated with high PEP carboxylase activity induced under high temperature. In these species, the seed germination is generally favoured by relatively higher temperatures and longer light period.