Mandate

1. To select, document and maintain the plus trees.
2. To raise seedling and clonal seed orchards.
3. To conduct progeny trials.
4. To raise quality planting stock.
5. To maintain and enrich bamboosetum of SFRI

Tree improvement refers to the application of forest genetics principles within a given silvicultural system for the process of improving the genetic quality of the forest. Its goals are to improve the genetic value of the population. A tree improvement programme involves all practices designed to produce genetically more desirable trees.

Importance of tree improvement programmes:

• For improving the productivity
• For protecting against the adverse conditions
• To provide a reliable supply of seed.
• To develop disease/insect resistance tree species.

Tree improvement increases the value of a tree species by:

• Selection the most desirable trees from natural stands or plantations
• Breeding or mating these select trees.
• Testing the resulting progeny.

There are two main objectives of tree improvement :

[A] The genetic modification of trees to meet human needs- There are four main uses of the genetic modification of trees

• Development of an ideotype
• Finding superior phenotypes in natural stands and plantations
• Field testing through their progeny to identify superior genotypes (progeny testing)
• Producing large quantities of genetically superior seed (seed orchards)
• Selection and documentation of plus trees

[B] Plant breeding applied to tree - There are four main uses of vegetative propagation in a Tree Breeding Programme:

• The establishment of clonal seed orchards.
• The establishment of clonal banks.
• The propagation of special breeding material.
• Mass propagation of selected materials.

Institutional Staff

	Name Dr. Avdesh Sharma  Designation Senior Research Officer and Head Email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Contact No.    9926609152                                                                                                                             Experience 22 years   View More

Research

Regular Activities

1. Provenance trial of Litsea glutinosa.
2. Maintenance of clonal germplasm of Mahua (Madhuca latifolia)
3. Maintenance of Seedling Seed Orchards of Gmelina arborea.

Completed Projects 

COMPLETED PROJECTS {2016-17}

Selection of superior races of Khamer (Gmelina arborea) through clonal propagation

Objectives

• To Identify superior germplasm of Gmelina arborea form natural forest and plantations of M.P. and Chhattisgarh
• To prepare second generation of clonal plants of superior races
• To establish clonal plants in the field
• Maintenance of clonal plants
• Recording of growth data

Findings

• A total of 21 plus trees of khamer has identified from Raipur, Bilaspur, Korba, Rewa, Chhindwara and Jabalpur
• A total of 427 cuttings from 05 plus tree has been collected in Feb month and raised in nursery. The cuttings treated with 2000 ppm of IBA, responded very well in compare to others treatments i.e. 500 ppm, 1000 ppm, 1500 ppm and 2500 ppm of IBA hormone. Cuttings sprouted very well but sprouting failed after few weeks. Success of rooting percentage was very low.
• Cuttings treated with 2000 ppm of IBA were also tried in different months and response is awaited.

COMPLETED PROJECTS {Year 2014-15}

Science Plan for Utilization of Automatic Weather Station and Agro-Meteorological Station Data in Madhya Pradesh. India in Collaboration with MP Forest Department

Objectives

• To collect data on height and girth of forest trees in different forest types.
• To estimate the litter biomass in different forest types.
• To estimate the herbaceous biomass in different forest types.
• Soil analysis study in different forest areas.

Findings

• Height and GBH of trees in plots are recorded and given below:

• Soil samples were collected and analysed for pH, water holding capacity, EC, carbonic matter, soil moisture, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Patassium and Calcium.
• Average herbaceous biomass and litter biomass were estimated for all selected parks and given below:

• All the collected data sent to SAC, Ahemedabad and PCCF (Development), Bhopal

Establishment of Leaf Orchard of Tendu

Objectives

• To develop protocol for raising tendu leaf orchard.
• To develop tendu leaf resources near villages.
• To demonstrate and trained the tendu leaves pluckers.

Findings

• Six forest divisions are Identified as potential pockets of tendu leaves. These are Singroulli, Damoh, Weat Mandla, Balaghat, West Chhindwara and south Seoni.

• Polly-potted technique is the best propagation technique in open and shaded condition over other tried techniques i.e. naked seed, seedling, root-trainer, root-shoot and root-sucker.

Development of Suitable Nursery Techniques of Some Important Rare Species of Madhya Pradesh Forests

Objectives

• To collect germplasm of important rare and endangered tree species namely.
• To know the impact of wrowth hormone on seed dormancy.
• To standardize size of polythene bag for optimum growth in nursery.
• To standardize size of root trainer for optimum growth in nursery.
• To determine best potting mixture for better growth of targeted species in nursery.
• To develop a field manual on nursery techniques (protocol development) of targeted species.
• To supply quality plans of targeted species to forest department to strengthen the germplasm.

Findings

• Seed dormancy is recorded in Haldu & Kucla and was broken when seeds were treated with 40 ppm concentration of GA3 or 100 ppm concentration of IBA hormones.

• Warm water found the best seed pre-treatment for good germination of Haldu, Kardhai, Mundi & Kuchla, while cold water found the best for Garari, Dahiman, & Kullu. Extracted kernel, moist moss grass/coir pit and sowing of puncture seed are the best seed pre-treatment for good germination of Tinsa, Rakt Chandan & Ritha, respectively

• Big size of polythene (28x14 cm) found the best for better growth of seedlings of Haldu, Kardhai, Garari, Mundi, Tinsa, Rakt chandan & Ritha, while medium size of polythene (25x11 cm) found the best for Dahiman, Kullu & Kuchla.
• Large cup root-trainer (315 cu cm) found the best for better growth of seedlings of Haldu, Garari, Kardhai, Mundi, Tinsa, Rakt chandan & Ritha, while medium size of root-trainer (187 cu cm) found the best for Dahiman, Kullu & Kuchla.
• FYM with soil & sand in ratio of 1:1:1 found the best for growth of seedlings of Haldu, Dahiman, Mundi, Tinsa, Rakt chandan, Ritha, Kullu & Kuchla, while leaf-litter with soil & sand in ratio of 1:1:1 found the best for Haldu & Kardhai.

Achievements of the branch

• Development of nursery techniques of RET species

• Clonal Seed Orchard

• Teak Seed Orchard

• Seedling Seed Orchard

• Progeny trial : Teak

• Provenance trials: Litsea

• Plus tree identification

• Training provided to forest staff/students.

• Mahua clonal propagation techniques

• Germ-plasm collection of Bel and ber.

• Preparation of qualitative plants of different forest species

• Prepared manual on "Development of nursery techniques of RET species" and " The study on top drying of Khamer (Gmelina arborea) "

• Screening and Identification of pathogens in different forestry species

• Integrated management of disease

Notable research finding which you consider important for the point of view:

A. Scientific advancement

1. In high-tech plantation of teak,

• Spacing 2.6 m x 0.9 m found the best

• Irrigation 8 liter of water per day found better

• Combination of Azatobacter and PSB give best result

• Planting stock should be used from TSO seed

2. Establish CSO of Telvi variety of teak since to be better resistance against skeletnizer and defoliator.

3. In screening of plus tree of teak through progeny trial, the following family are best : KEKC-2 and BBC-15

4. The best seed bearer clones are PT-46, NRLC-13 and NRLC-6.

5. The best germplasm of Bael, Harra, Bahera, aonla, Mahua and kaitha established in the campus

6. Established demonstration plot of clonal plants of Mahua

7. Developed method to get early flowering in Mahua (1.5 year)

B. Practical field utility

• Design nut cutter to know the emptiness in stony fruits and facilitate for early and better germination
• Successful grafting in Chironji
• Successful grafting of Madhuca longifolia on Madhuca latifolia stock

Extension work:

• Raising High-tech plantation at Bilaspur.
• Raising CSO of Teak (Telvi variety) at Singrampur, Damoh District.
• Consultancy Provided to Power Grid Corporation Jabalpur for raising teak plantation (Tissue culture).
• Consultancy Provided to GCF Jabalpur for raising quality plantation of Bel, Harra, Baheda, Aonla, Achar and Kaitha.
• Raised germ-plasm bank of Bel, Harra, Baheda, Aonla, Chironji, Mahua and Keitha at SFRI campus.

Scientific achievement :

• Established C.S.O. of Disease Resistance of Teak.

• Successful grafting in Madhuca latifolia

• Germ-plasm collection of 5 Kg. Bel.

• Germ-plasm of Ziziphus jujuba (Ber).

• Breeding work in Tectona grandis

Practical field utility:

• Developed Parvez Nut Cutter for instance judging of seed lot and kernel extraction for fast germination.
• Multi Teak Seed Nut Cutter.
• Designed tendu bushes proonner.
• Designed bark sampler.

Services 

• Training on

  • Modern nursery development

  • Disease Management

• Isolation, identification and remedial measures of pathogens.

• Plant Sale.

Research Summaries

Tree improvement programs provide a known source of seed, seedlings or propagules for forest establishment. Main work of tree improvement branch are Selection and documentation of plus trees, raising of Seedling Seed Orchards (SSOs) & Clonal Seed Orchards (CSOs), progeny trials, tree breeding, superior germplasm selection, reproductive biology of important tree species, integrated disease management.

Publication of Books and Presentation of Research Papers/Articles by Scientists/Research Personnel of the Branch

List of Research Papers Published 

• Effect of various pretreatment of seed germination of some forests tree species. Vaniki Sandesh-(1982),Vol-16, No. I,pp.-6-8
• Effect of Gibberelic acid, Rell is tracel-I and Urea on the growth of Teak seedlings. Journal of Tropical Forestry, Vol-1 (IV) Oct. 1985
• Prospects of Cassia tora L. in rural economy. Vaniki Sandesh-(1985),Vol-19, No. IV,pp.-5-9
• Freak development of shoot on Guava fruit. . Journal of Tropical Forestry, Vol-3 (I)Oct. 1985
• Emptiness in teak fruits from different areas of Madhaya Pradesh. Journal of Tropical Forestry, Vol-2 (III)Oct. 1986, pp-207-212
• Observation on the seed viability of Sal (Shorea roubst) Ind for (1987),Vol-113,No.-2
• Grass production from man made forest, Vaniki Sandesh-(1987),Vol-2,pp. 1-2
• Forest Tree seed Testing., Vaniki Sandesh-(1988),Vol-12, No. II,pp.-31-36
• Effect of mechanical scarification and Indole Acetic Acid on the germination capacity of A. fraxinifolious . Vaniki Sandesh-(1989), No. II
• Emptiness in the seeds of C. swietenia a new record., Vaniki Sandesh-(1989),Vol-12,No. II
• Embryonal Cleavage in Jamun Seed: A natural beneficial phenomenon. Vaniki Sandesh-(1989),Vol-12, No. II,pp.-31-36
• Effect of various growing conditions on the germination capicity of seed of J. Curcas and further growth, Vaniki Sandesh-(1989),Vol-13, No. IV,pp.-1-4
• Growth performance of M. azaderach L. developed seeds of different origin. Vaniki Sandesh-(1989),Vol-13, No. II,pp.-1-4
• Provenance trial of Neem (Azadirachta indica) from different agroclimatic zones of M.P. Vaniki Sandesh-(1989),Vol-129, No. III,pp.-1-6
• Natural cleavage in the fruits of Urginea Indica. A veneficial penomenon. Vaniki Sandesh-(1989),Vol-15, No. III,pp.-7-10
• Effect of various growing conditions on the germation capacity of seed of Jatropha curcas and further growth, Vaniki Sandesh , Vol 13, (4) 1-4, 1989.
• Observation of seed germination of H. intergrifolia plant. Vaniki Sandesh-(1991),Vol-15, No. II, pp. 5-9
• Nursery and plantation technique of Adina cordifolia. Vaniki Sandesh-(1992),Vol-16, No. IV
• Growth performance and seed production of Teak (Tectona grandis) through tissue culture plants. Journal of tropical Forestry, Vol-16, No. I,pp1-7
• Some observation on germination of four use full but different forestry seeds. Journal of Tropical Forestry, Vol-4 (IV)Oct. pp. 392-395
• Grafting in Azadirachta indica (A. Juss.) and its early flowering responses. (Accepted) Indian Forester.
• Effect of storage containers on the viability of Tectona grandis seeds from different provenance of M.P. (Accepted) My Forester
• Observation on storage and germination of seed of L. parviflora. Vaniki Sandesh-(1996),Vol-3,pp. 12
• Germination improvement of some forest tree species by physical scarification and excised embryo through specially designed Nut-Cutter. Vaniki Sandesh- (2000),Vol-24, No. IV
• Mahua grafting. Vaniki Sandesh-(2001),Vol-25, No. IV,pp.-11-13
• Drying of Tectona grandis trees in (TSO) Jabalpur. TEAK NET April 2002
• Tree improvement work of teak in Madhya Pradesh (India). Vaniki Sandesh-(2003),Vol-27, No. II&III.
• Status of tree improvement work done in Gmelina arborea at SFRI, Jabalpur. Vaniki Sandesh-(2005),Vol-25, No. IV,pp.-11-13.
• Diseases of medicinal plant Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) L. in different seasons. Vaniki Sandesh-(2013),Vol-4(3), pp.-11-14.

Training Course Material/Training Manual Prepared/Published

• सागौन बीजोद्यान एवं बीज उत्पादन क्षेत्रों का रख-रखाव हेतु मार्गदर्शिका।

• मध्यप्रदेश के वनों में पायी जाने वाली महत्वपूर्ण दुर्लभ प्रजातियों की उपयुक्त रोपणी तकनीक का विकास - मार्गदर्शिका।

• खमेर शीर्ष सूखत रोग (Top Drying) एवं प्रबंधन तकनीक मार्गदर्शिका