Biotechnology research department of natural resources
Goals and tasks
Currently, among the different and possible strategies in the field of biotechnology research, four axes form the basis of the actions and researches of this group:
Cytogenetic studies and determination of basic genetic information of important species of natural resources
Establishing a seed garden and producing certified seeds and seedlings
Using the genetic abilities of plant species of natural resources with the aim of their quantitative and qualitative improvement
Protection of important plant species, especially exclusive, rare and in danger of extinction with cryoperservation and in-vitro storage (plant, organ, meristem, callus, pollen, egg, protoplasm and DNA)
The first axis: cytogenetic studies and determination of basic genetic information of important species of natural resources
The Research Institute of Forests and Ranges of the country has always presented unique achievements such as the flora of Iran and the recognition of ecological regions at the national and regional levels by conducting basic studies. Now we are trying to determine the basic genetic information of the important species of Iran’s natural resources in the research programs of the Institute and Biotechnology Research Group. With the formation of the Strategic Council and the Secretariat of the Chromosomal Index of the Flora of Iran with the presence of experts in this matter in the institute, this task of the group is being performed more colorfully and comprehensively than in the past. Among the goals and applications of this collection of research, 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 creation of hybrids and variety production
3-1 Change in ploidy levels to improve economic characteristics, increase effective substances…
2- Determining the genome size of species for cytotaxonomic studies and evaluating the relationship between genome size and morphological, karyotypic, geographical and ecological characteristics of species
3- Identifying homoploid species and their hybrids
4- Prediction of phenotypic, physiological and ecological characteristics using genomic and chromosomal data. The second axis: formation of seed garden and production of seeds and seedlings. The seed garden establishment and nursery garden of forest tree species in the respective provinces.
Establishment of seed and mother bases with private adaptability suitable for the region
Production of seeds and seedlings with good quality and quantity
The third axis: using the genetic abilities of plant species of natural resources with the aim of their quantitative and qualitative improvement
The harsh and stressful conditions governing natural resources for various reasons, such as global warming, resource depletion, human development and right and wrong interventions, etc., require new ways to obtain effective and resistant genotypes to be identified and implemented. . On the other hand, achieving more quantity and quality in products and products can be the basis of other goals for the improvement of plants, especially pasture and medicinal plants, so as to reduce the amount of damage to natural ecosystems. Some of these goals include: production of inter- and intra-species hybrids of fast-growing plants such as different poplar colonies (targeted crossings) in order to create cultivars with high yield and wood production, resistance to drought and salinity, increasing the ecological zone , stability in hot areas and…
Using appropriate breeding methods (such as changing the ploidy level, creating new crosses, etc.) in order to introduce suitable pasture-medicinal cultivars
Establishing permanent research farms in different ecological areas and maintaining and restoring them for the continuation of fundamental studies and applied research
The fourth axis: Protection of important plant species, especially exclusive, rare and in danger of extinction, with cryoperservation and in vitro preservation (plant, organ, meristem, callus, pollen, egg, protoplasm and DNA) )
Plants are highly exposed to destruction and extinction. Protection of these species and in general the plants of natural resources fields is one of the important tasks of the Research Institute of Forests and Pastures of the country. This is important in different ways and in the form of conservation programs in the Department of Botanical Research and the Research Group of the Gene Bank of Natural Resources. What is considered and researched in the Biotechnology Research Group of Natural Resources will be species of plants that are not suitable for their protection. The protection of these species, which are mostly trees and shrubs, are the focus of this group’s ultra-cold projects. Micropropagation and tissue culture, in addition to the aforementioned axes, are one of the important topics that have been formed in the group for a long time and are very specialized and detailed in the field. Natural resources have advanced, tissue culture has been one of the natural resources. An experience of about thirty years and obtaining many protocols have been the fruits of tissue culture research. This effort continues to be one of the important programs of the Natural Resources Biotechnology Research Group, emphasizing the tissue culture of species for which other propagation methods have reached a dead end, or customer-oriented and requested species.
