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HomePosts Tagged "ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute"
Agro Universities, India, R&D

Scientific team of Dr Ajit Arun Waman and Dr Pooja Bohra, Senior Scientists, ICAR-CIARI contributed to both inventions.

ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair got two of their inventions registered as Industrial Designs with the Patent Office. The first invention- cold water circulatory system is a laboratory aid useful for condensation operation during the process of extraction of phytochemicals from spices, medicinal & aromatic plants, fruits etc. Such extraction processes involve continuous use of running tap water for condensation, which results in considerable wastage of water, while the sophisticated recirculatory chillers are too costly for most of the small laboratories. The invention would not only be affordable but also water-saving solution for the researchers and academicians dealing with various aspects such as extraction of essential oils, fixed oils, refluxing of samples etc.

The second invention is cinnamon bark rubbing tool, which is a handy tool that facilitates extraction of inner bark of cinnamon from the harvested stems. Cinnamon is an ancient spice and country imports huge quantities of produce causing loss to the national exchequer. High labour requirement in various stages of harvesting is the main factor deterring cinnamon cultivation in the country. In order to facilitate the harvesting, availability of user-friendly tools is required and this invention is a timely attempt to meet this gap.

Scientific team for the above inventions includes Dr. Ajit Arun Waman and Dr. Pooja Bohra, Senior Scientists, ICAR-CIARI.

Scientific team of Dr Ajit Arun Waman

Agro Universities, Animal Health, India, R&D

 The novel method of blood collection will be helpful for research purposes.

ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been granted a patent for an invention entitled ‘A new and safe method of blood collection from farm Pigs’.

The invention describes an innovative technique of blood collection in which blood is collected from a different anatomical site of farm pigs which has not been described earlier in patented and non-patented literature. The invention does not require any premedication before the collection of blood and at least 20-30 ml of blood can be collected at a time from an animal. This technique is applicable to pigs of any age group and blood can be collected multiple times a day. In the present investigation, blood can be collected without any discomfort to the animals, does not require any special care after collection of blood and animals can be returned immediately to their respective pens.  Thus, the novel method of blood collection will be helpful for research purposes.

This technology was invented by a team of scientists comprising Dr. Arun Kumar De, Dr. Perumal P, Dr. Jai Sunder, Dr T. Sujatha, Dr. D. Bhattacharya, Dr. P.A. Bala and Dr. E.B. Chakurkar

 The novel method of blood collection will

Agri Genomics, Agro Universities, R&D

 DNA Barcoding revealed as new species for Indian flora. Considering its potential in island agriculture, it is being promoted as a novel spice crop from the islands.

Woody pepper is a perennial liana of the Piperaceae family, which is locally called Choi jhaal in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The species is unique as its stem segments are the edible part, unlike berries or leaves in other commercial Piper species such as black pepper and betel leaf. Stem pieces are used by some settler populations of these islands for flavoring vegetarian and non-vegetarian curries. Systematic research work has been taken up at ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair since 2016 to conserve it and understand the significance of this underutilized genetic resource. Studies at the institute suggested the spice to be a source of antioxidants including phenolics and piperine. Considering its potential in island agriculture, it is being promoted as a novel spice crop from these islands. The botanical identity of the species has remained debatable due to the complex nature of the genus.

Under the Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India funded a project at ICAR-CIARI, a DNA barcoding approach with two plastid barcode markers (ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large sub-unit-rbcL gene and psbA-trnH spacer region) was adopted to overcome this issue. This approach revealed that the correct botanical identity of the woody pepper is Piper pendulispicum C.DC. This species has not been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands or any parts of mainland India so far. As per the Plants of the World website, which is the repository of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, London, this species is believed to be native to Vietnam and it has been also found in parts of Thailand. These findings would aid in the conservation of this unique genetic resource found in the remotely located Indian islands apart from promoting its cultivation. The study was carried out by Dr. Ajit Arun Waman, Dr. Arun Kumar De, Dr. Pooja Bohra, Dr. Sneha Sawhney from ICAR-CIARI and Dr. Sanjay Mishra from Botanical Survey of India, Central Regional Centre, Allahabad under the overall guidance of Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI.

 DNA Barcoding revealed as new species for