I  Germplasm maintenance and Variety released

Rose

·  The Division is maintaining 300 varieties of rose varieties and belonging to different groups like Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, Grandifloras, Miniatures and Climbers in the country possessing desirable traits.

·     Some of the recent released  varieties of roses are Pusa Bhargav, Pusa Mahak, Pusa Lakshmi, Pusa Alpana etc.

·     Induced mutants: Abhisarika, Striped Christian Dior, Pusa Christina and Madhosh

·    Natural mutants: Chitra, Pusa Abhishek Climbing Sadabahar, Climbing Dr. Homi Bhabha, Delhi Pink Pearl and Nav Sadabahar exhibit unique spectrum of patterns and are well received by the garden enthusiasts.

·     Developed thornless roses (Pusa Mohit and Pusa Komal).

·   The Division has the distinction of developing the DUS test guidelines for the first time in the country to obtain plant breeders/farmers rights for the newly evolved rose varieties.

Chrysanthemum

·     Mutation breeding efforts resulted in development of four varieties Pusa Anmol, Pusa Centenary, Pusa Kesari and TQP-06-01. Selection among the seedling resulted in development of Pusa Aditya, Pusa Chitraksha and Pusa Sona.

·     Some of the recently developed varieties are Pusa Lohit and Pusa Sundri.

Marigold

·  The division is maintaining 100 genotypes of marigold. Seven varieties namely, Pusa Narangi Gainda, Pusa Basanti Gainda and Pusa Bahar of African Marigold and Pusa Arpita, Pusa Deep, Pusa Parv and Pusa Utsav were developed and released for commercial cultivation. These improved varieties are very popular among the farmers and are widely grown throughout India for loose flower production.

·   ‘Pusa Bahar’ variety was Released by Central Variety Release Committee (CVRC) and notified in Gazette of India.

Gladiolus

·   The division is maintaining 160 genotypes of gladiolus and 40 hybrids/ improved varieties have been developed by the division.

·   Recently the Division has released  varieties namely Pusa Red Valentine, Pusa Manmohak, Pusa Kiran, Pusa Unnati , Pusa Vidushi, Pusa Srijana, Pusa Sinduri, Pusa Rajat , Pusa Shanti etc.

·     ‘Pusa Sinduri’ was Released by Central Variety Release Committee (CVRC) and notified in Gazette of India.

Bougainvillea

·  The Division of Floriculture and Landscaping, IARI functions as International Authority for the Registration of Bougainvillea. Seventy five (75) cultivars of bougainvillea were maintained at the centre. The division has released 7 varieties in Bougainvillea viz. Vishakha, Spring Festival, Summer Time, Sonnet, Stanza, Dr. R.R. Pal and most recent variety is Pusa Akansha .

·     Standardized the propagation techniques in bougainvillea.

II. Biotechnology of flower crops

· Micropropagation techniques have been standardized in different ornamental crops including, rose, chrysanthemum, marigold, carnation, gerbera, Bougainvillea, lilium etc.

·  DNA fingerprinting has been carried out with molecular markers like RAPD, ISSR and SSR in crops like rose, marigold, chrysanthemum, Bougainvillea, gladiolus.

·    Standardised the protocols for in-vitro induction of nutraceutical pigments from roses, chrysanthemum, calendula, petunia and bougainvillea .

·    Developed the protocols for in vitro induction of haploid and doubled haploids in marigold through androgenesis and gynogenesis.

Production Technology of Flower Crops

·   Production Technology has been standardized for flower crops like marigold, gladiolus, rose, chrysanthemum, tuberose, lilium.

Landscaping

·   The division is maintaining eighteen species/varieties of warm season turf grasses.

·   Standardized management practices and abiotic stress aspects in turf grasses.

·   Collection and evaluation of ornamental plants for their suitability in vertical walls.

·    Evaluation of various media mixture for their suitability in vertical gardens.

·   Collection, evaluation and maintenance of maintenance of indoor plants.

Post harvest management and value addition

· The division has standardized dry flower technology for rose, marigold and chrysanthemum. Several value added products have been developed such as greeting cards, paper weights, photo frame, bookmarks.

·    Profiling of pigments on flower crops viz. rose, marigold, bougainvillea and chrysanthemum was carried out in division.

·    Standardized the techniques for extraction of natural dyes from flower crops viz, Godetia, Dahlia, and rose was carried out in division.

·    Glycerization has been standardized for ferns and silver oak.

·     Herbal Gulal prepared from flowers like rose,dahlia ,corn flower, poppy, calendula and nasturtium.

·     Extraction of natural dye from rose flowers and its application on fabrics

Commercialization of technology