Plant Genetic Resource

☑Conservation and enrichment of the genetic resources of medicinal and aromatic plants, bamboos, orchids, carnivorous plants etc through explorations/ exchange.
☑Maintaining the existing enormous germplasm resources and its proper display in the garden
☑Characterisation of selected species through taxonomic, biosystematic and phytochemical studies.
☑Breeding experiments to produce new hybrids
☑In-vitro and conventional propagation, multiplication as well as popularisation of potential species and extension/awareness activities
Dr. P. S Jothish
Head, Senior Principal Scientist

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Dr. Anurag Dhyani
Senior Scientist

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Dr. M. Abdul Jabbar
Technical Officer

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Dr. B. Gopakumar
Technical Officer

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R&D Projects Completed/Ongoing
  1. Characterization and identification of elite plants of Phyllanthus emblica of the Kerala part of the Western Ghats -PI – 2024 -2026 – Ongoing – Kerala Forest Department
  2. Triparty Action Plan on Reintroduction of RED plants of Kerala – PI – 2022 – 2026, Ongoing, Kerala Forest Department
  3. Germplasm Conservation, Enrichment, Maintenance and Sustainable Utilization of Medicinal, Orchids, Bamboo and Crop Related plants from Western Ghats (inhouse Project) – PI – 2023-2027 – Ongoing. KSCSTE;
  4. Micro and Macro propagation of elite Bamboo Taxa, including Hybrids for commercial Cultivation (PI) – 2025-2026, Ongoing, National and State Bamboo Mission
  5. Empowerment of the Rural Folk through Bamboo Product Preparation (PI) – 2025-2026, Ongoing, National and State Bamboo Mission
  6. In situ and Ex Situ conservation of Garcinia imberti, an endangered species of the southern Western Ghats, CoPI – 2013-2017 – Completed, KSCSTE
  7. Population biology of Humboldtia unijuga var. trijuga, an endemic and endangered tree species of the southern Western Ghats and its conservation -PI; 2019 -2022- Completed, SERB – DST
  8. Population dynamics and agroecology of Trichopus zeylanicus Gaertn. ssp. travancoricus (Bedd.) Burkill ex Narayanan “Arogyapacha” CoPi – 2020-2022 – Completed, Kerala Forest Department
  9. Population demography and Genetic structure of endemic trees of the southern Western Ghats – 2020-2023 – Completed, KSCSTE
  10. Establishing a biorepository for the plants of the Andaman Islands 2023-2024. completed, BGCI, UK
  11. Conserving the genomic diversity of Orchids in India’s biodiversity hotspot through biorepository, 2025-2026, Ongoing, BGCI, UK.
  12. Enhancement of Population structure and genetic variability of two mutually benefited endemic species: Macaca silenus (Lion-tailed Macaque) and Cullenia exarillata in the rain forest ecosystem of Kerala, Western Ghats, 2023-2027, Ongoing, Kerala Forest Department.
  13. Revival of Herbal Garden at Kerala Raj Bhavan – 2025-2026, Ongoing, Kerala Raj Bhavan

Recent Publications

  1. David, K. J., Hancock D L, Reshma E. A., Jothish P. S., Ningthoujam K., Niladri B. M., Abhishek V. and Noor Mahammed N R. (2025). Two new species of Euphranta Loew (Diptera, Tephritidae, Trypetinae, Adramini) from India. Dtsch. Entomol. Z. 72 (2) 2025, 367–375. DOI 10.3897/dez.72.165084
  2. Shintu, S. and Jothish. P S. (2025). Propagation through stem cutting and air layering of a Critically Endangered tree Humboldtia unijuga Bedd. var. trijuga J. Joseph & V. Chandras. (Magnoliopsida: Fabales: Fabaceae). Journal of Threatened Taxa 17(9): 27426–27432.
  3. Rahul Jose, Praveena S., Anilkumar C. and Jothish P. S. (2024). Edibility and Nutrient analysis of Diospyros cruenataThw. fruit: An additional fruit resource from the Western Ghats, India. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. DOI:10.1007/s10722-024-01947-y
  4. . Lathika, C.C.; Sujatha, G.B.; Thomas, G.; Johnson, A.J.; Viswanathan, G.; Varghese, T.S.; Mohamed, S.; Shereefa, L.A.; Baby, S. Bait, not reward: CO2‐enriched Nepenthes pitchers secrete toxic nectar. Plant Biol. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70033.
  5. Semwal, K.C., Bhatt, V.K. & Dhyani, A. (2025). Exploring the diversity and distribution of Boletoid fleshy pored mushrooms in Uttarakhand Himalaya, India: a comprehensive study (2007-2023). Acta Biologica Szegediensis.
  6. Cannon C, Dhyani A, Jin C, River M (2023). The Global Tree Assessment provides a multifaceted view on the future of tree diversity conservation. Plants People Planet. 5(4), 461-465. (IF: 5.695)
  7. Dhyani A, Bindu S, Abinlal KC, Anilkumar C (2023). Reintroduction of Buchanania barberi, a critically endangered tree endemic to the South Western Ghats of Kerala, India. Plants People Planet. 5(4), 502-507. DOI: 10.1002/ppp3.10334 (IF: 5.695)
  8. Dhyani A, Nautiyal BP, Yadav VK, Nautiyal MC (2023). Variation in morphological, biochemical and antioxidant properties of Lilium polyphyllum. Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics. 60,237- 245. (IF: 1.476)
  9. Dhyani A, Suresh S, Bindu S, Abinlal KC, Anilkumar C (2023). Empowering conservation of the Critically Endangered tree Buchanania barberi through an education campaign. Oryx. 57(6), 698 (IF: 2.957)
  10. Khoo E, Barstow M, Dhyani A (2023). The vanishing giants of the tropics: Dipterocarpaceae. Oryx. 57(4), 423 (IF: 2.957)
  11. Rivers M, Newton AC, Oldfield S, Dhyani A, Global Tree Assessment Contributors (2023). Scientists’ warning to humanity on tree extinctions. Plants People Planet. 5(4), 466-482. DOI: 10.1002. ppp 3.10314 (IF: 5.695)
  12. Arya M. R., Beevy S. S. and Dan M. 2024. Morphological and genetic diversity of Indian Clitoria ternatea L. (Faboideae, Fabaceae) morphotypes inferred from floral characters and SCoT markers. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter 1-18.
  13. Dhyani A, Bindu S, Anilkumar C, Joshi G, Phartyal SS. (2024). Polyembryony in Santalum album- a double-edged sword for plant regeneration. Biodiversity. 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1080/14888386.2024.2359381
  14. Dhyani A, Blanchflower P, Gratzfeld J. (2024). Seeds of collaboration for the Indian botanical gardens network. Oryx. 58(3), 286-287 (IF: 2.957)
  15. Nazeer, Jiyas & Sasidharan, Indu & Karthikeyan, Bindu & Gopakumar, Bhaskaran & Dan, Mathew. (2024). Harnessing the potential of Pseudoxytenanthera bamboo rhizome for enhanced high-friction assistive solutions. Journal of Cleaner Production.
  16. Yang J, Cai L, Feng S, Dhyani A, Sun W. (2024). First international training course on conservation of plant species with extremely small populations. Oryx. 58(1), 11 (IF: 2.957)
Current Research Scholars/Project Students
  1. Abinlal K C. Population Structure, Propagation and Conservation of Garcinia gamblei Shameer, T. Sabu & N. Mohanan, An Endemic Species of The Western Ghats’, from the University of Calicut, under the guidance of Dr. Anurag Dhyani.
  2. Jithin Raj M P. ‘ Studies on the Pteridophyte Flora of Idukki District, Kerala, India, from the University of Kerala, under the Guidance of Dr. Jothish P. S.
  3. Aleeshiya Thankam A. ‘Reproductive Biology and Conservation of Acrotrema agastyamalayanum ESS Kumar et al. (Dilleniaceae), an Endemic species of the western Ghats,’ from the university of Kerala, under the Guidance of Dr. Jothish P. S.
  4. Anjana Kartha A J. ‘Characterization of Natural populations of Phyllathus emblica L. (Amla) in the Southern Western Ghats’ from the University of Kerala, under the Guidance of Dr. Jothish. P. S.
  5. Reshma Elizabeth Alex. ‘Reproductive Biology and Conservation of Goniothalamus keralensis ESS Kumar et al. (Annonaceae), an Endemic Species of the Western Ghats’ from the University of Kerala, under the guidance of Dr. Jothish P S and Dr. Rajkumar G.
  6. Rahul Jose. ‘A study on ecology, conservation and utilization of Diospyros crumenata Thw. In Kerala- an endangered tree of Western Ghats’, from the University of Calicut, under the guidance of Dr. C Anilkumar and Dr. Jothish P. S.
  7. Shintu Scaria. ‘Population biology and conservation of Humboldtia unijuga var. trijuga, a critically endangered tree species of the Western Ghats’ from the University of Kerala under the guidance of Dr. Jothish P. S.
  8. Meghana Mohan. ‘Characterization and Conservation of Spondias pinnata (L.f.) Kurz. in The Southern Western Ghats’ from the University of Kerala, under the guidance of Dr. Jothish P.S.
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