The discipline is engaged in selection, improvement and agrotechnology development of non traditional oil bearing deserter economic (Jojoba & Jatropha) and halophytic (Salicornia & Salvadora) plant species with a view to develop under utilized non saline and saline wastelands. The work involves improvement of species through forced selection, breeding and also through biotechnological approaches for cost-effective and sustainable production. | ||||||||||
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Jojoba plantation on Coastal Sand dunes at Zanjmer, Bhavnagar | ||||||||||
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Jatropha curcas has been considered as one of the most important non-traditional oil yielding plant species, which is being used for the production of biodiesel. The discipline is extensively working on identification of elite clones from different parts of the country, nursery raising and development of agrotechnology. Work is also in progress for perfecting micro propagation protocols to facilitate large plantations on wastelands with the elite plant material. To perfect the agrotechnology in different agro climatic conditions, plantations were established using cuttings and seedling of selected plants in about 15 ha. each in Gujarat (Semi-arid conditions) and Orissa (Sub-humid condition) with different agro-techniques to optimize the seed yield | ||||||||||
Plantation raised through cuttings of elite plants at Mohuda,Orissa (2 yrs old) | ||||||||||
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For utilization of costal saline soils, agrotechnology of Salicornia brachiata was perfected and in the process, germplasm was also improved for higher yield with recurrent selection. To make Salicornia cultivation economically viable, besides oil and vegetable tips, a process to produce vegetable salt from the waste biomass after removing the seeds for oil was developed. The vegetable salt contains several important nutrients besides sodium chloride not normally found in sea salt. Due to presence of low sodium it is considered to be beneficial for heart patients. The technology of vegetable salt preparation was transferred to a local entrepreneur Ms/ Nisha pharma and Commercial Production | ||||||||||
Salicornia cultivation on highly saline soils at Hathab, Bhavnagar Edible Oil rich in Linoleic Acid Vegetable Salt with micronutrients | ||||||||||
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Salvadora persica | ||||||||||
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To understand the mechanism of salt tolerance, identification of genes involved in salt tolerance and their over expression to improve the salt tolerance of plant species is in progress. | ||||||||||
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For utilization of non-saline wastelands, the discipline has introduced Jojoba (Simmondisia chinenses) a desert plant from American desert and the species was domesticated. Selections were made both for male and female plants and agrotechnology was established. To optimize the male-female ratio in the plantation with selected plants, tissue culture protocol was perfected for large-scale production of elite plants.
CSMCRI has produced the EN14214 standard Biodiesel and tested in both mobile (Mercedes Benz as well as other vehicles) and stationary engines without modification. Looking at the merits of bio-diesel prepared by CSMCRI, European Govt. has conferred upon us the environmental leadership award for the year 2005. The project is being undertaken in collaboration with Daimler Chrysler, Germany, NIMITLI (CSIR, New Delhi), and Industries Commissionarate, Gandhinagar (Govt. of Gujarat, India).
Agrotechnology also has been developed for cultivation of Salvadora persica on highly saline soils with saline water irrigation. The oil contains high amount of Myristic and Lauric acids which is used as substitute to Coconut oil for soap and detergent industries.
