Natural Resources Biotechnology Research Division
Objectives and Tasks
Currently, among the various possible strategies in the field of biotechnology research, four axes form the basis of this group’s actions and research:
Cytogenetic studies and determination of basic genetic information of important natural resource species
Establishment of seed gardens and production of certified seeds and seedlings
Utilization of genetic capabilities of natural resource plant species with the aim of improving their quantity and quality
Protection of important plant species, especially exclusive, rare and endangered ones, by cryopreservation and in vitro preservation (plantlets, organs, meristems, callus, pollen, ovules, protoplasm and DNA)
The first axis: Cytogenetic studies and determination of basic genetic information of important natural resource species
The National Forest and Rangeland Research Institute has always provided unique achievements such as the flora of Iran and the recognition of ecological regions at the national and regional levels by conducting basic studies. We are now trying to expand the determination of basic genetic information of important species of Iranian natural resources in the research programs of the Institute and the Biotechnology Research Group. With the formation of the Strategic Council and the Secretariat of the Iranian Flora Chromosomal Index with the presence of experts in this field at the Institute, this task of the group is being carried out more intensively and comprehensively than in the past. Among the objectives and applications of this set of researches, the following can be mentioned:
1- Evaluation of the number of chromosomes and their morphology in order to:1-1 Determine the kinship relationships between species
1-2 Use in crossbreeding and creating hybrids and producing varieties
1-3 Change in ploidy levels to improve economic characteristics, increase effective substances …
2- Determination of the genome size of species for cytotaxonomic studies and evaluation of the relationship between genome size and morphological, karyotypic, geographical and ecological characteristics of species
3- Identification of homoploid species and their hybrids
4- Prediction of phenotypic, physiological and ecological characteristics using genomic and chromosomal dataSecond axis: Formation of seed gardens and production of seeds and seedlings of the identity card of the establishment of seed gardens and mother gardens of forest tree species in the relevant provinces
Establishment of seed and mother bases with appropriate local adaptation
Seed production and Seedlings with desirable quality and quantity
The third axis: Using the genetic capabilities of plant species of natural resources with the aim of improving their quantity and quality
The harsh and stressful conditions prevailing on natural resources due to various reasons such as global warming, resource depletion, development and human interference, right and wrong, etc., require that new paths be identified and implemented to obtain efficient and resistant genotypes. On the other hand, achieving greater quantity and quality in products and products can be the basis for other goals for improving plants, especially pasture and medicinal plants, in order to reduce the amount of further damage to natural ecosystems. Some of these goals include: Producing interspecific and intraspecific hybrids of fast-growing plants such as different poplar clones (targeted crosses) in order to create varieties with high yield and wood production, resistance to drought and salinity, increasing ecological zones, stability in hot regions, etc.
Using appropriate breeding methods (such as changing the ploidy level, creating new crosses, etc.) in order to introduce suitable pasture-medicinal varieties
Establishing permanent research farms in different ecological regions and maintaining and restoring them to continue basic studies and applied research
Fourth axis: Protecting important plant species, especially exclusive, rare and endangered ones, by cryopreservation and in vitro preservation (plantlets, organs, meristems, calluses, pollen, ovules, protoplasm and DNA)
Plants are at high risk of destruction and extinction. The protection of these species and, in general, the plants of the natural resources areas is one of the important tasks of the National Forest and Rangeland Research Institute. This is being carried out in various ways and in the form of protection programs in the Botany Research Department and the Natural Resources Gene Bank Research Group. What is considered and researched in the Natural Resources Biotechnology Research Group will be plant species that are no longer suitable for their protection. The protection of these species, which are mostly trees and shrubs, is the focus of the group’s ultra-cold projects. Micropropagation and tissue culture In addition to the aforementioned axes, one of the important topics that has been formed in the group for a long time and has been advanced in a very specialized and precise manner in the field of natural resources has been the tissue culture of species from natural resources. About thirty years of experience and the acquisition of numerous protocols have been the fruits of tissue culture research. This effort continues, with an emphasis on tissue culture of species for which other propagation methods have reached a dead end or customer-oriented and requested species, and is still considered one of the important programs of the Natural Resources Biotechnology Research Group.
