Cacti (Cactaceae) are among the most familiar succulent plants and an easy favourite with collectors for their general ease of growth and showy flowers. The cacti are of special interest to botanists for the combination of the primitive, specialized flowers with highly advanced vegetative organs; to the ecologist for its survival under adverse conditions and drought; and to the evolutionist for its parallel life-forms to other unrelated xerophytes. As per a recent study, there are about 2,500 species of cacti belonging to 93 genera distributed in different parts of the world. Although none of the cacti is native to India, few species of Opuntia and Cereus are found naturalized in many parts of the country.

With a collection of 1050 species/ varieties of cacti, the Regional Plant Resource Centre, Bhubaneswar has the largest collection of cacti in Asia. It has evolved about 200 varieties/ hybrids of cacti by breeding, mutagenesis and growth manipulation. Research work at the Centre relates to standardization of culture techniques, propagation methods, breeding, mutagenesis, cytogenetic and molecular characterization of principal cactus genera. Several publications have also been brought out by the Scientists of the Centre in international and national journals or repute. RPRC has developed a Cactus House in RPRC & Rastrapati Bhawan, New Delhi and one at Jeypore, Koraput.

 

 

LIST OF CACTUS SPECIES CULTIVATED AT REGIONAL PLANT RESOURCE CENTRE, BHUBANESWAR