Plant Biotechnology

Primarily focused on molecular biology approaches for plant genetic resource conservation and improvement (hybridization) through standardization of various protocols of in vitro propagation (tissue culture). Tissue culture or micropropagation of banana, orchids, medicinal plants, mushrooms, and other rare and economically important species being undertaken for development of rapid multiplication techniques.

Thrust Area	Genetic improvement and conservation of Orchids; Lignocellulosic biofuel production
Scientist	Dr. Nihar Ranjan Nayak, Senior Scientist
Project Fellow	Akshaya Kumar sahoo Anita Pati Anuvab Sahoo Khirabdhi Tanaya Jena Madhumita Pal Manisha Jena Rabinarayan Sahu
Paper Publication	Dash, D., Mund, N.K., Nayak, S., Mishra, P. and Nayak, N.R., 2025. Efficient release of fermentable glucose from the Agave leaf biomass using phosphoric acid as the pretreating agent for bioethanol production. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, pp.1-13. Justine, A.K., Kaur, N., Dolker, D., Kaur, M., Saggu, S., Behera, S., Nayak, N.R. and Pati, P.K., 2025. Novel and cost-effective approach for long-term in vitro culture producing genetically stable G9 banana plants. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC), 160(1), pp.1-16. Biswal, D.P., Pradhan, B., Jena, S.S., Kumari, S., Rao, A.S., Nayak, N.R., Panigrahy, M. and Panigrahi, K.C., 2024. Root growth in Orchid Dendrobium cv. Sonia requires shade avoidance response of phytochromes along with regulation of auxin pathway genes. Plant Physiology Reports, 29(2), pp.395-407.
Book Publication	Basak U. C. , Kalidass C. , Nayak N R. , Mekro P. (2023). Initiatives on Re-introduction of some RET and Special Group of Plants. Published by Regional Plant Resource Centre, Bhubaneswar pp. 1-154.