INSITITUTE OF HIMALAYAN BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
The Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology is located
inpicturesque town of Palampur (320N, 760 E, and 1300m above
msl)perched in the lap of majestic snow clad Dhauladhar
range of Himalayas in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India,
with an annual mean temperature of 190C and annual mean
rainfall over250 cm. The Institute is a constituent
laboratory of the Councilof Scientific and Industrial
Research (New Delhi), established in the year 1983 as CSIR
Complex Palampur and subsequently renamed as Institute of
Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT)in 1997.
Climatically, Palampur remains pleasant from March to April
(14-190C) and gradually becomes moderately hot during May-
June (24-250C). Monsoon arrives by mid July and usually
lasts upto september. Nearly 65% of the annual rainfall
(250 cm) occurs during these three months. October marks
the beginning of Autumn and weather remains sunny, cool and
fresh till November (15-190C). Winter sets in from December
and lasts upto February (10-120C).
HOW TO REACH
Palampur is well connected to Delhi, Chandigarh,
Amritsar, Jammu and Pathankot by road. Nearest main-line
railway station is at Pathankot (120 km) wherefrom train,
taxi and frequent bus services are available for Palampur.
Regular domestic flights can be availed upto Jammu, Bhuntar
(Kullu) and Amritsar. IHBT campus can be conveniently
reached from local railway station (5 km) and bus stand (3
km) by taxi or bus. Computerised railway reservation
facility is available at Palampur.
THRUST AREAS
Biodiversity conservation
Management of tea plantations and tea manufacture
Agrotechnologies for floriculture crops (such as gladiolus,
tulips, chrysanthemums, bird of paradise, lilium etc.)
Processing technologies for aromatics and herbals
Characterization, improvement and propagation of the
selected industrial crops through conventional methods &
Biotechnology Information, Training and Technology Transfer
INFRASTRUCTURE
The 227 acre campus encompasses the state of art
infrastructure for field and laboratory research in the
areas of Tea Husbandry and Manufacture,Floriculture , High
Value Essential oil bearing and Medicinal plants,
Bamboos, and other industrially important economic flora of
the region. The campus enfolds herbarium, biodiversity
garden , rose garden, tea garden, and a crop cafeteria.
IHBT is recognised as a leading Institute in this part of
the country for adopting a multidimensional approach to
promote growth, development and conservation of rich
biodiversity of hill region. R & D programmes of the
Institute include economically important plants like tea,
ornamentals,aromatic and medicinal plants.
The laboratory facilities for plant tissue culture,
molecular biology, chemical technology, pesticide residue
testing, virus testing, radioisotope work and quality
testing of made tea are equipped with sophisticated
instruments and backed up by modern greenhouses, polyhouses,
computer networking and library facilities. In addition to
the herbarium representing flora of the region , live
specimens of commercially important plants of Himalaya are
maintained in the herbal garden. Facilities for tea
manufacture and extraction of essential oil exist to process
the produce from tea and rose plantations of the Institute.
Tea
Efforts by the Institute doubled tea production of Kangra
valley from 0.6-1.8 million kg made tea within thirteen
years.
Introduced commercial floriculture in H.P. As a result of
trainings provided and technologies developed by the
Institute, the flower growers of the state are now
conducting business worth crores of rupees by supplying cut
owers to Delhi and other big markets.
Recognised as a national facility forvirus indexing of
ornamental plants.
Released six varieties of gladiolus.
Natural Products
Released two new varieties of Damask rose, viz., Jwala and
Himroz for opical northern plain and hilly areas, respectively
Developed standards of rose oil and Tagetes minuta oil for the
first time in the country
Designed mini distillation unit Biodiversity Developed
herbarium (c.3000) of the economic plant species of western
Himalayas
Technical bulletin on six varieties of gladiolus developed by
IHBT
Convergence of expertise from diverse disciplines like tea
husbandry, agronomy, breeding, entomology, plant
pathology, soil sciences, irrigation technology,
processing technology makes HATS a strong group working for
increasing tea productivity and quality.
MAJOR R&D ACTIVITIES
Improved manufacture techniques for quality improvement
Hastening of chemical wither and shortening time of black tea
manufacture
Tea diseases, mainly of fungal origin- Blister blight, rootrot,
charcoal stump, etc.
Molecular basis of disease susceptibility and resistance to tea
leaf fungal disease- blister blight
FLORICULTURE
Research on high value flowers,including
agrotechnologies under greenhouse and open field
conditions.phytosanitation programs for production of
disease free planting materials, pre- and post-harvest
managementof cut flowers, developing hybrids and
mutants through conventional and non-conventional
breeding programmes,indexing and characterisation of
viruses affecting ornamentals,production of virus
free plants for domestic market to improve the scenario of
Indian floriculture in international market
Engaged in research in three major areas, Plant Tissue
Culture, Plant Molecular Biology, and Plant Physiology and
Biochemistry. Plant tissue culture aims at micropropagation
of economically important plants like tea, bamboo,
rose, ornamentals, and medicinal plants. Plant molecular
biology focusses on DNA- fingerprinting, identifying cloning
of genes, developing transgenics, etc. Plant Physiology
emphasises basic aspects of plant adaptations at high
altitude, basis of dormancy, seed biology, and senescence
in tea and ornamentals.
Multidisciplinary group engaged in crucial task of
conserving rich bioresources in western Himalaya,
documenting ethnic knowledge base, & identification of
medicinal herbs using molecular tools.
NATURAL PLANT PRODUCTS
A multidisciplinary group involved in research
activities on plant science, phytochemistry, natural
colors and essential oil of plant origin and chemical
technology to develop bioactive molecules and their
synthesis. Chemical modification and formulation of
value added products from plant sources. Designing and
processing technology, agrotechnology and release of
complete production package for important medicinal and
aromatic plants for pharmaceutical and essential oil
industry
PATENTS PROCESSES PREPARATION OF NATURALLY FLAVOURED HERBAL
TOOTHPICKS WITH MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
HERBAL PAIN OINTMENT PREPARATION OF DIHYDROTAGETONE ALCOHOLS
PREPARATION OF A SUBSTITUTED NATURAL YELLOW DYE
A NOVEL METHOD FOR PREPARATION OF ANALOGUE OF NATURAL WHISKY
LACTONE AND COCONUT ALDEHYDE
TEA BEVERAGES AND BREWING PRODUCTS FROM TEA AND HIMALAYAN FLORA
AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURE OF TEA
A CONTINUOUS TYPE MULTIPURPOSE TEA SHOOT SORTER
AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TEA
PROPOGATION
SEQUENCE FOR IDENTIFICATION OF ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE AND THE
METHOD FOR ITS UTILIZATION IN DETECTION OF CASHEW HUSK IN MADE
TEA SAMPLE
BIOTECH AN AUTOCLAVABLE SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE CATALYZING
DISMUTATION OF SUPEROXIDE RADICAL FROM +80 0C TO SUB-ZERO
TEMPERATURE
CLONING OF NOVEL GENES FOR COLD TOLERANCE
CLONING OF NOVEL GENE SEQUENCES EXPRESSED AND REPRESSED DURING
WINTER DORMANCY
UNIVERSAL PLASMID VECTOR FOR TRANSFORMING CHLOROPLAST OF HIGHER PLANTS
AN EFFICIENT NEW METHOD OF PROTOPLAST CULTURE
AN IMPROVED ACCLIMATIZATION UNIT
Herbal (medicated) toothpicks prepared from naturally flavoured,
products with medicinal value. Advantages Have antifungal and
antidecaying properties with dental care and medicinal values
Shows antibacterial, germicidal, antifungal and anti-inflammatory
properties Have appealing aroma Herbal Pain Ointment
Advantages Spreads easily and evenly Has pain relieving, healing
and mosquitoes repellent properties Can be used in case of
muscular pains, arthritis and wounds
Preparation of Dihydrotagetone alcohols
A simple process for preparation of dihydrotagetone methyl
alcohol derivative - 99% yield with minty, spicy and fresh
fruity aroma note and benzyl alcohol -75% yield with sweet,
flowery aroma.
Advantages
The new aroma molecules prepared can be used in perfumery,
flavouring and pharmaceutical industry
Preparation of a substituted natural yellow dye
A simple and economical industrial process for the preparation
of substituted natural yellow dye in high yield. It convert
toxic compound into useful dye products and introduces a series
of yellow coloured dyes some of which are presently not
available on a commercial scale.
Advantages
The product can be widely used in flavour compositions as well
as some of them are known for their biological activities like
anti-cancer properties
A Novel Method for Preparation of Analogue of Natural Whisky
Lactone and Coconut Aldehyde
Developed a rapid and economical method for the preparation of
analogue of whisky lactone and coconut aldehyde
Advantages
Coconut flavour find applications in flavouring the food stuffs
including baked goods and confectionery.
Analogue of whisky lactone is found in high quality
alcoholic beverages such as whisky (Jamaica,cognac and
Napoleon whisky etc.).
Herbal (medicated) toothpicks prepared from naturally
flavoured,products with medicinal value. Advantages Have
antifungal and antidecaying properties with dental care and
medicinal values Shows antibacterial, germicidal, antifungal
and anti-inflammatory properties Have appealing aroma
Herbal Pain Ointment Advantages Spreads easily and evenly
Has pain relieving, healing and mosquitoes repellent
properties Can be used in case of muscular pains, arthritis
and wounds
BEVERAGES AND BREWING PRODUCTS FROM TEA AND HIMALAYAN FLORA
Standardised the process of converting many a useful yet
untapped Himalayan Bioresources into high value herbal
nutritive beverages.
Advantages
The full bodied herbal wines endow rich nutritive natural
health attributes and have excellent keeping qualities.
AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURE OF TEA
Advantages
Reduces the time of physical as well chemical withering
process from 16-22 hours to 4 -6 hours Better utilization of
factory space, machine and manpower Increase the processing
capacity of the factory
A CONTINUOUS TYPE MULTIPURPOSE TEA SHOOT SORTER
Advantages
Tea is the one of the most important commercial crops. In order
to improve productivity, there is always a great demand for improved
varieties.
Advantages
Present method uses tissue culture raised shoots of one clone
for grafting on decapitated tea seedlings of another clone
Reduction in time for field transfer of micropropagated shoots
(Early Introduction of new clones).
Provides simultaneous grafting and hardening of tea microshoots
on rootstocks Advantages of tap root system of the seedlings
Quicker assessment of scion stock compatibility
SEQUENCE FOR IDENTIFICATION OF ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE AND THE
METHOD FOR ITS UTILIZATION IN DETECTION OF CASHEW HUSK IN MADE TEA
SAMPLE
Increasing trends of tea consumption and adulteration of various
samples to tea, enforce the urgent need for development of
methods to check the adulteration in fermented black tea with
high accuracy and efficiency
Uses
A very sensitive, accurate and efficient method of
identification of Anacardium occidentale (Cashew) in tea
Method is designed to detect the presence of any part of cashew
plant in market samples of made tea.
Besides IHBT, several other academic Institutes/Organisations are also located in Palampur, viz.: