ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

ATREE, Banglore is working on two critically
endangered plant species of Western Ghats
Dysoxylum malabaricum and Garcinia indica.
Protocols have been standardized for raising
number of seedling.
Mission Mode Programme on Bioenergy and
Biofuels
Biofuels
The mission programme initiated by the Department
th
during 10 Plan concentrated on perfecting
technologies for establishing bioenergy plantations
for different agro-climatic zones with the involvement
of local people; developing a cost effective
economically viable technology for production of
ethanol using alternate feed stock especially
lignocellulosic wastes and efficient high yielding
strains and recombinant strains of microorganisms;
increased biodiesel production through improved
planting material and improved transesterification
process and production of hydrogen from algae and
bacteria. Duriong the year activities continued inall
area. Some salient achievements are:
Bioenergy plantation
Under the demonstration plots established in
different agroclimatic zones for a number of energy
crops, a total of 22 ha has been covered for
sustainable utilization of the Bioenergy crops.
Necessary linkages at grass root level are being
fostered. Technologies for utilization of raw material
for energy production are being developed and
demonstrated. Main species are Jatropha curcas,
Exocecaria agallocha, Avicennia marina, Salicornia
brachiata, Cassia siamea, Albizzia lebbeck,
Hardwickia binata, Dalbergia sissoo, D. sericia,
Ficus glomerata, Leucaena leucocephala and
Acacia nilotica. Agrotechnology packages have
been developed for these species and are being
documented. Technologies for nursery raising and
harvesting are being transformed to the grass root.
Biodiesel
Micromission on “Production of Quality Planting en
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Material of Jatropha” has been launched with the
emphasis on collection and characterization of
Jatropha in demanstration plot
On farm trial Jatropha plantation; at farmers field
superior material from across the country based on
yield and oil content. 14 centres were supported
covering 12 states. Nearly 1000 accessions of
Jatropha have been collected and characterized for
oil quality and quantity. 8.02 lakhs plants of superior
material (>30% oil content and approximate 2t / ha
yield) have been produced, covering 300 ha.
Besides, experimental plots have been laid for
standardization of agrotechnology package, seed
collection time and seed storage conditions.
Research and Development