Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute

It was the vision of Prof. A. Abraham, a botanist who conceived the idea of establishing a Jawaharlal Nehru Botanic Garden and Research Institute in Kerala to study and conserve the rare and vanishing wild plant genetic resources of the country. It also undertakes research programmes for the sustainable utilization of the resources.

In 1996 Saraswathy Thangavelu Extension Centre of JNTBGRI housing the Bioinformatics component became functional. During the year 2003, JNTBGRI was bought under the newly formed society, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE).

JNTBGRI is the only organization in India, which maintains a 300 acre conservatory garden for the wild tropical plant genetic resources of the country, besides a well integrated multidisciplinary R & D system dealing with conservation, management and sustainable utilization of tropical plant resources. During the past 30 years, it has flourished into one of the premier R & D organization in Asia, devoted to conservation and sustainable utilization of tropical plant diversity. 

Objectives and Mandate of JNTBGRI 

  • To make a comprehensive survey of the economic plant wealth of Kerala.
  • To conserve, preserve and sustainably utilise the plant wealth of Kerala.
  • To introduce, cultivate and culture plants of India/other countries with comparable climatic condition for the economic benefit of Kerala and India.
  • To carry out botanical, horticultural and chemical research for plant improvement and utilization.
  • To offer facilities for the improvements of ornamental plants and to propagate them in the larger context of establishment of nursery and flower trade.
  • To organize germplasm collections of economic plants of interest to the state in the case of those species for which separate centers are not already in existence.
  • To establish a model production center for translating the fruits of research to public advantage leading to plant-based industrial ventures.
  • To engage in activities, conducive to help botanical teaching and to create public understanding of the value of plant research in general, and the need for preserving our plant wealth.
  • To establish an arboretum in approximately half the area of the Garden, with representative specimens of trees of Kerala and India, and trees of economic value from other tropical areas of the world.
  • To establish a garden consisting of medicinal plants, ornamental plants and various introduced plants of economic or aesthetic value.
  • To establish laboratories for botanical, horticultural and chemical research, with the aim of improvement and utilization of plants of medicinal and ornamental value.
  • To prepare a flora of Kerala.
  • To establish tissue culture facility with special reference to the improvement of seeds/fruits/flowers and quick and easy propagation.
  • To organize breeding for plant improvement and production of hybrid seeds, in the case of species for which such facilities are currently lacking or inadequate.
  • To be engaged in garden planning and research.
  • To serve as a source of supply of improved plants not readily available from other agencies.
  • To do chemical screening of plants of potential medicinal importance.
  • To work in collaboration with similar institutes in India and outside
  • To promote and establish modern scientific research and development studies relating to plants of importance to India and to Kerala in particular.

Academic programmes in JNTBGRI 

  • PhD programmes
  • Postdoc training
  • Short-term training programmes
  • Training programmes in Bioinformatics
  • Specialized training course in plant tissue culture

Currently, Scientists of JNTBGRI have PhD guideships from many of the leading Universities of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Besides, as a commitment to develop human resource in diverse areas of plant science, JNTBGRI extends support to students undergoing MSc, BTech and MTech programmes for carrying out their dissertation work on a payment basis (fee details).

JNTBGRI also offers short-term training programmes to research students and teaching faculties from affiliated colleges and University departments.

Divisions of JNTBGRI 

  • Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Division
  • Conservation Biology
  • Ethnomedicine and Ethnopharmacology
  • Garden Management Education Information and Training
  • Microbiology
  • Phytochemistry and Phytopharmacology
  • Plant Genetic Resources
  • Plant Systematics and Evolutionary Science
Contact Details

Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute
Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
PIN 695562

Website: http://jntbgri.res.in/  

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