Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, and Sh. Gul Sayed, Director Horticulture, Jammu Division, UT of Jammu & Kashmir, jointly conducted a comprehensive review of the Plant Tissue Culture, Virus Indexing, and Bio-Control Laboratories established at the Mega Fruit Plant Nursery, Chakroi, RS Pura, Jammu, here today.

These state-of-the-art laboratories have been strategically established under HADP of APD of Jammu & Kashmir Govt. with the objective of producing disease-free planting material through tissue culture-based mass multiplication of superior fruit varieties while maintaining genetic uniformity. The virus indexing laboratories are equipped with advanced equipment for comprehensive testing of plant material for the presence of viruses through ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and Real-Time PCR technologies. The bio-control laboratories are designed for the production of eco-friendly bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers, aimed at reducing reliance on chemical inputs and promoting sustainable, environmentally responsible farming practices in the region.

Dr. Zabeer Ahmed assured the Director Horticulture that CSIR-IIIM will continue to provide comprehensive technical support and all possible assistance for the successful operationalization and sustained functioning of these advanced laboratory facilities. This collaborative initiative represents a significant milestone in modernizing the region’s horticulture sector and promises to enhance the production of high-quality, disease-free planting material for the benefit of farmers and the agricultural economy of Jammu & Kashmir, he added.

Sh. Gul Sayed, while speaking on the occasion, appreciated the full technical support extended by the CSIR-IIIM in setting up of these laboratories. He further offered to work in close collaboration with CSIR-IIIM for large scale production of bio-control agents and bio-fertilizers, at the state-of-art pilot scale fermentation facility.

Earlier, CSIR-IIIM Scientists Dr. Sumit G. Gandhi and Dr. Srinivas Kota had arranged comprehensive hands-on training programs at CSIR-IIIM for officials of the Horticulture Department in plant tissue culture and virus indexing techniques. These specialized training sessions were designed to familiarize the Officers and Technicians of the department,  with advanced procedures and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), enabling them to effectively operationalize the laboratories established at the mega fruit plant nursery.

During the meeting the modalities for future research collaboration on prioritized areas, and to make these laboratories fully functional were discussed and finalized. The meeting was attended by Sh. Virinder Kumar, Sh. Parminder Singh, Sh. Sunil Mehnoori, Sh. Abhinav Gupta, Sh. Zia-ur-Rashid, Sh. Sunil Gupta, Sh. Pardeep Dhingra from the horticulture department and Dr. Sumit G. Gandhi & Dr. Srinivas Kota from CSIR-IIIM.