Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute

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Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI) is an autonomous Institute established by the Government of Kerala on 17th November 1979 at Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala. It functions under the umbrella of the Science, Technology and Environment Department, Government of Kerala. The Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG), Kew played an exemplary and significant role in shaping and design of garden lay out of TBGRI in its formative stages.

The Institute does research in Biotechnology and Taxonomy ,which are the two subjects considered to have immediate relevance to the development of the garden. While taxonomists prepared a flora of the garden documenting the native plant wealth before mass introduction and face lift which subsequently followed, the bio-technologists mass multiplied plants of commercial importance, especially orchids for cultivation and distribution to the public.

TBGRI makes a comprehensive survey of the economic plant wealth of Kerala, to conserve, preserve and sustainably utilise the plant wealth. The institute carry out botanical, horticultural and chemical research for plant improvement and utilization; and offer facilities for the improvements of ornamental plants and to propagate them in the larger context of establishment of nursery and flower trade. The cultivation and culturing of plants of India/other countries with comparable climatic condition for the economic benefit of Kerala/India is also taken care. Activities to help botanical teaching and to create public understanding of the value of plant research is initiated by TBGRI. TBGRI gardens medicinal plants, ornamental plants and various introduced plants of economic or aesthetic value. TBGRI also seves as a source of supply of improved plants which are not readily available from other agencies.

Scientific researches on plant wealth are pursued through the following Divisions:

1. Horticulture & Garden Development

2. Plant Biotechnology

3. Bioinformatics & Evolutionary Science

4. Conservation biology

5. Phytochemistry

6. Ethnopharmacology & Ethnomedicine

7. Microbiology

8. Library & Information Services

[edit] The objectives of TBGRI

To carry out botanical, horticultural and chemical research for plant improvement and utilization.
To organize germplasm collections of economic plants of interest to the state in the case of those species for which separate centers are not already in existence.
To establish a model production center for translating the fruits of research to public advantage leading to plant-based industrial ventures.
To establish an arboretum in approximately half the area of the Garden, with representative specimens of trees of Kerala and India, and trees of economic value from other tropical areas of the world.
To prepare a flora of Kerala.
To establish tissue culture facility with special reference to the improvement of seeds/fruits/flowers and quick and easy propagation.
To be engaged in garden planning and research.
To do chemical screening of plants of potential medicinal importance.
To work in collaboration with similar institutes in India and outside
To promote and establish modern scientific research and development studies relating to plants of importance to India and to Kerala in particular.