State gets its own tree DNA bank

As per the study,which is nearing its completion,390 species,belonging to 227 genera and 69 families have been listed. They have been divided into three categories: those growing only in the wild (174 species); wild as well as cultivated (80 species); only cultivated (136 species). Multiple samples of these species have been preserved in NBRI’s herbarium from which a DNA bank,again containing multiple specimens,has also been established.

“As far as Uttar Pradesh is concerned,the state has not had any checklist of tree flora since the publication of Indian Trees by Dietrich Brandis (1906). The country too,still depends on this book written more than a hundred years ago. Although there is no doubt about the utility of the book,it has become substantially out dated,“ says Dr L B Chaudhary,the Principal Investigator of the project. Hence the study,which was undertaken by NBRI with funding from the Department of Science and Technology,New Delhi.

Over a period of three years,Dr Chaudhary,along with a small team of researchers,made numerous field visits throughout the state,collecting multiple specimens of the same species as “one plant is not a representation of a species”.

The team also visited various herbariums in the country,apart from accessing existing literature,to gather inputs for enlisting the species. “Many studies have been done at the local level by researchers in different parts of the state but the focus has been more on identification rather than conservation,hence the creation of a DNA bank now,” Dr Chaudhary said.