Department of Science and Technology sanctions major research project to GITAM, Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: To develop a sustainable large-scale multiplication of red sanders plants through tissue culture, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has sanctioned a major research project to GITAM Deemed to be University. The University Biotechnology Department Associate Professor Dr. Nasim Akhtar will be the principle investigator of this research project.

While receiving the project sanction documents Dr. Nasm Akhtar said that there is severe shortage of the planting materials of red sandalwood with regards to its wide-ranging commercial preparations, environment-friendly, safe and effective medicinal and therapeutic products in the international market. Conventional propagation of red sandalwood through seeds has been difficult due to the hard seed coat coupled with low viability and seed dormancy owing to the presence of phenolic compounds, he added. He mentioned that the plant is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), because of overexploitation for its timber in South India.

The project has been sanctioned to develop a sustainable large scale multiplication of red sanders plants applying tissue culture techniques using immature cells, tissue and organs. Plants so produced will be provided through state forest department to the growers for cultivation and restoration of degraded forest lands, non-productive marginal or wastelands and coastal land through social forestry program by the tribal, villagers as well as coastal and marginalised population of Andhra Pradesh for their economic uplift. Hence, project would be a national asset and a social responsibility to fulfill for the State of Andhra Pradesh and the nation at large. GITAM Deemed to be University UGC Affairs & Research Activities Director Prof.Ch. Ramakrishna handed over the Research Project Sanction Order to Dr. Nasim Akhtar here on Thursday in the presence of GITAM Institute of Technology Principal Prof. K. Lakshmi Prasad and Biotechnology Department Head Prof. Shaik Khasim Beebi.