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Bryology |
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Dr. A. K. Asthana
Scientist C
| Phone no. 91-522-2205831-35 Ext. 842 | ak.asthana@nbri.res.in |
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Bryology laboratory at NBRI is the only centre of Bryological researches in India
among the CSIR Laboratories. It looks forward to train the postgraduate students,
researchers & young scientists from India and abroad in the field of Bryology.
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Group works on
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- Exploration of bryophytic wealth of India.
- Floristic, monographic and revisionary studies on Hepatics, Anthocerotes & Mosses.
- Ultrastructural studies of spores.
- Environmental studies of Bryophytes.
- Molecular biology of Bryophytes.
- Antimicrobial activities of Bryophytes.
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Objectives
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To assess the diversity of Indian Bryophytes and preparation of an account of Bryophyte
resources of India.
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To explore the economic & medicinal importance of Indian Bryophytes.
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To apply the methods of conservation of rare and threatened Bryophytes.
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Enrichment of Bryophyte Herbarium represented by plants from various Biogeographical
regions of
India .
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Achievements
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New species/reports: Frullania hattoriantha, Cephalozia magna, Phaeoceros udarii,
Frullania udarii and Orontobryum darjeelingensis have been discovered
as new to the science; Riccardia platyclada, Cephalozia siamensis, Frullania
iniflexa, Lopholejeunea recurvata and Frullania rotundistipula have
been reported for the first time from India. Besides, Brachythecium garovaglioides,
Anacolia menziesii, Anastrophyllum jorgensenii have been newly reported
from western Himalayas, Phaeoceros kashyapii
from eastern Himalayas while Heteroscyphus perfoleatus and Porella
hattorii have been newly added to the bryoflora of Meghalaya ( North-East
hills).
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Diversity and distributional studies have been carried out on the genus Frullania,
Phaeoceros and Folioceros of India. A rare Indian liverwort Anthoceros alpinus
has been rediscovered after more than a century from the same bryogeographical
region.
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Chemical screening of Indian liverworts e.g. Dumortiera hirsuta and Pallavicinia
lyellii have been carried out for the first time.
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Ultrastructural studies have been carried out on several rare and interesting Indian
liverworts like Petalophyllum indicum, Schiffneria hyalina, Sauteria spongiosa
and Cryptomitrium himalayense etc. for the first time. SEM studies have also
been carried out for the first time on the sporoderm pattern of ten Indian mosses
viz. Atrichum pallidum, A. flavisetum, Pogonatum himalayanum, Bartramia pomiformis,
Brachymenium indicum, Entodon rubicundus, Thuidium minusculum, Brachythecium buchananii
var. cuspediferum, Anoectangium strachyanum, Funaria hygrometrica.
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Detailed morphotaxonomical account of scantly known rare Indian liverwort Schiffneria
hyalina, has been provided for the first time.
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The illustrated floristic account of liverworts (Hepaticae) of Khasi & Jaintia
hills: Meghalaya(North Eastern hills) has been prepared.
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The effect of environmental pollution on some selected Bryophytes of Mussoorie has
been studied.
- Genomic variations in the populations of Plagiochasma appendiculatum growing
at different bryogeographical regions and habitats has been studied.
- Scientific validation of wound healing property of P. appendiculatum has
been done with the help of Laboratory experiments.
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Project Completed
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Department of Science & Technology sponsored Project "Diversity and Distribution
of Hepaticae and Anthocerotae (Bryophyta)" in N.E. hills in Meghalaya.
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Council of Science & Technology, U.P. sponsored Project "Ecological and Floristic
studies on liverworts (Bryophyta)" of Garhwal hills, U.P.
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Council of Science & Technology, U.P, sponsored project "Floristic survey and
assessment of Biodiversity (Flora) of the Corbett Tiger Reserve".
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Ongoing Sponsored Project
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Department of Biotechnology sponsored Project "Biosystematic and conservation studies
on a potential liverwort: Plagiochasma appendiculatum L.
et L."
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Ministry of Environment & Forest sponsored Project "Studies on the biological
resource & documentation of traditional knowledge on Amarkantak biosphere reserve,
Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh".
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New Sponsored Project
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- Department of Science & Technology sponsored Project entitled "Scientific validation
of some bryophytes used in different folklore as antimicrobial agent".
- Ministry of Environment & Forest sponsored project entitled "Studies on the
bryophyte diversity in Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve and their conservation strategies.
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On going In House Project
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- Studies on bryoflora of Darjeeling and its neighbouring areas.
- CSIR Network Programme on Pollution monitoring mitigation systems and devices: Pollutant(metal)specific
bioindicators (plants)
- Assessment monitoring and conservation of Cryptogams (Algae, Lichen, Bryophytes
and Pteridophytes) in Dudhwa National Park (U.P)
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