Bambusetum

The bambusetum of the Centre had a rich collection of 62 species of bamboo and bambusoid grasses was devastated by the super cyclones of October, RPRC1999 and subsequent elephant menace and many species were damaged. The present bambusetum maintains a collection 34 species of bamboo, rheeds and bambusoid grasses. Of the introduced species, the giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus giganteus ), the black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra), the climbing bamboo (Dinochloa macllenlandii), Budhha’s belly bamboo (Bambusa ventricosa) are note worthy. Besides collection of living plants, propagation of selected promising species through conventional vegetative propagation method and tissue culture have also been standardised. Micro-propagation techniques standardized for the species like Dendrocalamus giganteus, Dendrocalamus strictus, Bambusa vulgaris and Oxytenanthera nigro-ciliata. Presently attempts are underway to enrich the bamboo collection at the Centre and undertake molecular characterization of some economically important taxa with support from Orissa State Bamboo Mission.