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Department of Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources Nauni,Solan (HP)

HON'BLE GOVERNOR
Hon'ble Governor HP

Sh. Kavinder Gupta

HON'BLE GOVERNOR HP

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HON'BLE CHIEF MINISTER
Hon'ble Chief Minister HP

Sh. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

HON'BLE CHIEF MINISTER HP

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VICE CHANCELLOR
Vice Chancellor

Dr. Harminder Singh Baweja

HON'BLE VICE CHANCELLOR

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Dr Jaipal Sharma Professor & Head

The Department of Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources has a fairly long history with its roots in the Research Division of the State Forest Department, which was transferred to the then Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla during December, 1971 so that the research work could be done in the academic environment. In December 1985, with the establishment of the Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan it became one of the departments of the College of Forestry to look after the teaching, research and extension activities on tree improvement and related aspects. The research funding is mainly through externally funded research projects on tree improvement through Government agencies, viz., DST, DRDA, PPVFRA, HP Government and G B pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED).

Department has published more than 110 research papers in last five years, 10 book chapters, 10 text books, 11 technical bulletins, 07 practical manuals in leading national and international journals, and about 20 extension publications for technology dissemination to farmers and entrepreneurs. Department in its journey of over 37 years has been able to generate useful human resources for the country in the form of 135 M.Sc. and 63 Ph.D. students.

Mandate

  • Introduction and evaluation of fast growing exotic forest tree species.
  • Genetic improvement of Himalayan hardwoods and softwoods and bamboos.
  • Develop suitable strains of agroforestry trees and promising clones/varieties of different tree species through molecular and traditional breeding.

Strengths

  • Modern laboratory facilities for genetic diversity analysis of different forest tree species through latest techniques based on molecular, laboratory analysis, etc.
  • Three DUS Centers in the Department on Poplar, Willow and Seabuckthorn for testing of farmers varieties under PPVFRA, New Delhi. DUS guidelines of these species have already been developed by the Department.
  • Field Infrastructure includes 2 glass houses, 1 polyhouse, 1 mistchamber, 1 shadenet covering approximately 2000 sq. feet area.

Academics

The Department offers degree programmes

  • MSc. (Forestry) Forest Biology and Tree Improvement
  • Ph.D. (Forestry) Forest Biology and Tree Improvement

Academics Achievements

  • Eight students (Mr. Sumit Nangla, Mr. Mast Ram Negi, Mr. Rajender Kumar, Ms. Gauri Rawale, Mr. Saurav Mahapatra, Anchal, Sugandhi, Kanchan) have qualified ICAR- NET Examination since 2019.
  • Three students (Mr. Sumit Nangla, Anchal and Rajender Kumar) has qualified UGC- NET Examination since 2019.
  • One student Ms Rizika Aukta has qualified Excise and Taxation officer Examination.
  • More than 90 percent of passed out students are serving in various capacities in National and International Research Institutions, Central and State universities, State Governments, Private Companies, National and Private banks etc. senior and middle level executive positions.
  • International Exposure of the Faculty:
    • Dr JaiPal Sharma has visited Asian Institute of technology, Bangkok, Thailand to attend seven days training on "Agriculture and Forestry Risk Mitigation Products" w.e.f 17-23 rd December 2023.
    • Dr Anita Kumari has visited Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal for presenting a paper in First Graduate Conference 2023 w.e.f. 23-25 November, 2023.

Click here for course details

Research

Thrust Areas

  • Development of promising clones/varieties of different tree species through molecular and traditional breeding methods (Selection, Hybridization, etc.).
  • Ecological status of threatened species is studied to find out their current regeneration status as well as associated species for making efficient conservation strategies.
  • To standardize the cultivation practices for different forest tree species viz. fodder, wild fruits, short rotation species, etc.
  • To study the floral biology of different tree species for better understanding of different breeding systems.
  • Development of Germplasm Bank and Seed Orchards of different tree species for future research purpose.
  • Establishment of Clonal Bank (Nursery) and Development of DUS specific Characterization of Willow Germplasm funded by Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmers' Rights Authority, New Delhi (Long term).
  • Establishment of Clonal Bank (Nursery) and Development of DUS specific Characterization of Poplar Germplasm funded by Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmers' Rights Authority, New Delhi (Long term).
  • Establishment of Gene Bank, Characterization and Validation of DUS Characteristics of Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides Linn.) in Cold Deserts of Himachal Pradesh funded by Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmers' Rights Authority, New Delhi (Long term).
  • Socio-economic upliftment of SC communities through scientific interventions in Forestry and Horticulture funded by Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SC-SP) of Agricultural Education Division, ICAR, New Delhi.
  • Niche Area Development and Skill upgradation through diversified agriculture for upliftment of SC communities in HP funded by Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SC-SP) of Agricultural Education Division, ICAR, New Delhi.
  • Production of good planting stock of Harar (Terminalia chebula), Baheda (Teminalia bellirica), Amla (Phyllanthus emblica) and Reetha (Sapindus mukorossi) for carrying out planting and transfer of technology to stakeholder funded by JICA, Department of State Forest, HP.
  • Nursery of the department has been accredited by the National Nursery Assessment and Accreditation Committee (NNAAC), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, (GOI) for supplying high-quality planting material to farmers and other stakeholders.
  • A promising willow clone registered as Dooder-I has been identified. The whole process of testing and evaluation was supported by the department and certified by PPVFRA, GoI.
  • Production Technologies have been standardized for different species like Willow, Poplar, Grewia, etc.
  • Germplasm Banks of important species like Willow, Poplar, Morus and Bamboo have been established.
  • Seed Orchards of different species are established in the Departmental fields such as Grewia optiva and Bauhinia variegata (Seedling as well as Clonal Seed Orchards).
  • High nutritive selections of fodder tree species such as Grewia optiva (19 selections), Bauhinia variegata (23 selections) and Morus spp. (21 selections).
  • Hybrids of commercially important tree species having high industrial value such as Poplars (Populus spp.), Willows (Salix spp.), Kachnar (Bauhinia variegata), Daru (Punica granatum), etc. have been developed and all hybrids are under testing in the Field Trials raised in Departmental Farms.
  • Department has recommended different clones/selections/hybrids of Populus ciliata, Populus deltoides, Salix spp., Grewia optiva and Bauhinia variegata with respect to the altitudinal ranges of Himachal Pradesh.
  • Production of quality planting material of different fodder species, wild fruits as well as other commercially important short rotation species such as Willows and Poplars in the departmental nursery for stakeholders of the state.
  • Three DUS Centers are established in the Department on Poplar, Willow and Seabuckthorn for testing of farmer's varieties for further registration. Department has already developed DUS guidelines of these three commercially important species of the state.
  • Ecological status of different species is regularly studied for threatened species to find out their current regeneration status as well as associated species. The species on which, the same work has been conducted includes Ulmus wallichiana, Acer oblongum, Pinus gerardiana, Ulmus villosa, Taxus wallichiana, Eleaegnus umbellate, Pinus roxburghii, Betula utilis, etc.

Extension Activities

To disseminate the technology to the users like State Forest Department, NGOs, farmers and other stakeholders through different communication means for better adoption in the field.
  • About seven hands-on-trainings have been organized for various Range Forest Officers of the State Forest Department, farmers, Nursery growers and other stakeholders.
  • Scientists have conducted more than 25 Exposure visits of UG Students of various Universities to the departmental nurseries.
  • Scientists have delivered more than 20 Radio/Television talks and lectures focusing on propagation and improvement techniques of different tree species grown by the farmers.
  • More than 20 extension publications have been published in last year for the dissemination of technology to the farmers.

Awards/Recognitions (last five years)

Faculty Awards:

  • Dr. H.P. Sankhyan awarded Certificate of Appreciation by Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, on its 34th Foundation day and was awarded Outstanding Achievement Award - 2019 by The Society of Tropical Agriculture, New Delhi, India in its 9th International Conference on Agriculture, Horticulture and Plant Science held in Dharamshala. Dr H.P Sankhyan has also been conferred the Prestigious "Adarsh Vidya Saraswati Rashtriya Puraskar" by Global Management Council, Glacier Journal Research Foundation on March 17, 2021 as National Award of Excellence 2021.
  • Dr Jai Pal Sharma, Associate Professor awarded with Certificate of Recognition for his contribution to Current World Environment Journal as ‘Reviewer for the year 2021’ by Enviro Research Publishers.
  • Dr. Shikha Thakur, Assistant Professor has been awarded First Best Poster Presentation Award for paper entitled "Genetic Diversity of Populus deltoides clones on the basis of morphological, wood traits and molecular markers" in the NAU-IES-IUFRO Conference on Tree Based Diversified Land-use System Augmenting Livelihood Security and Industrial Growth" organized by Navsari Agricultural University (NAU), Navsari, Gujarat in association with IUFRO, Vienna (Austria) at NAU, Navsari during February 15-17, 2023.
  • Dr Lalit Thakur received "Certification of Appreciation" for being First Position in the evaluation conducted at the end of training programme entitled ‘Advance in Statistical Techniques for Efficient Agricultural Experimentation’ from 24-31 July, 2023 under NAHEP IDP at YSP UHF Nauni, Solan HP, India.
  • Dr. Shikha Thakur, Assistant Professor has been awarded Award of Appreciation for acting as Rappoteur as well as conducting Technical Session in the National Seminar on "Precision Farming technologies for improving production and productivity of Horticultural and Forestry Crops" organized by Department of Soil Science and Water Management and ISTS on 23rd to 24th October, 2024 at Directorate of extension Education in Dr. YSPUHF, Nauni.

Students Awards:

  • Sumit Nangla got Best Paper / Poster Award for presentation of poster "Ideotype Breeding in Crops: Genetical Implications" in Ist Zonal Convention of Agrivision on "Natural Farming : A National Priority for Human Health and Ecological Restoration organized by Vidyarthi CEVA Educational Trust, Jammu (J&K) in collaboration with Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu during April 05-06, 2022.
  • Ms. Shreya Chauhan has been awarded with best oral presentation in the NAU-IESIUFRO Conference on "Tree Based Diversified Land-use System Augmenting Livelihood Security and Industrial Growth" organized by Navsari Agricultural University (NAU), Navsari, Gujarat in association with IUFRO, Vienna (Austria) at NAU, Navsari during February 15-17, 2023.
  • Mr Mohit Kundal awarded with third prize in the NAU-IES-IUFRO Conference on "Tree Based Diversified Land-use System Augmenting Livelihood Security and Industrial Growth" organized by Navsari Agricultural University (NAU), Navsari, Gujarat in association with IUFRO, Vienna (Austria) at NAU, Navsari during February 15-17, 2023.
  • Ms Shweta awarded with third prize in the NAU-IES-IUFRO Conference on "Tree Based Diversified Land-use System Augmenting Livelihood Security and Industrial Growth" organized by Navsari Agricultural University (NAU), Navsari, Gujarat in association with IUFRO, Vienna (Austria) at NAU, Navsari during February 15-17, 2023.
  • Ms Shreya Chauhan got best oral presentation award in International conference on "Transforming Agri-food system in the face of climate changes and energy transition" organized by Indian Ecological Society, PAU Ludhiana 12-15 Nov 2024.

Facilities

  • Infrastructural Facilities include following research and other facilities:
    • Research Laboratories including Molecular Genetics Lab, UG Lab and Forest Ecology lab
    • Computer Lab cum Library Room
    • Equipments/Instruments Facilities:
      • Gradient Thermal Cycler with PCR
      • Gel Documentation System
      • Gel Electrophoresis Unit
      • High Speed Refrigerator Centrifuge
      • Microwave
      • Autoclave Unit
      • Electronic Balances
      • Kjeldahl Unit
      • Binocular Microscopes
      • pH meter
      • Deep Freezer
  • Experimental Farm/research Area Facilities:
    • There are two glass houses, one polyhouse, one mist chamber and one shade net for conducting practical like seed sowing, cuttings and grafting experiments and progeny trials.
    • There is separate area under Clonal and Seedling Seed Orchards for seed collection as well as pollination studies.
    • Following experimental farms are there in the Department:
      • Naganji
      • Pandah
      • Majhgaon
      • Shilly
      • Mist Chamber
      • Khaltoo
      • Kuhat farm
      • Himlayan Arboretum

Department Facilities & Visits

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