Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

MKU gets Rs.65 lakh to study genetic diversity

MADURAI: The genetic diversity of rare and endangered tree species of 3,500-km Agasthiarmalai Biosphere Reserve bordering Tamil Nadu and Kerala would be studied through a project sanctioned for Madurai Kamaraj University here.

The reserve covers Tirunelveli/ Kanyakumari districts in Tamil Nadu and Thiruvananthapuram, Quilon and Pathanamthitta districts in Kerala. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, had recently sanctioned Rs.65 lakh as grant to the Centre for Biodiversity and Forest Studies, MKU, to carry out the studies.

K. Muthuchelian, Centre Director, told The Hindu on Sunday that the study of tree species in Agasthiarmalai Biosphere Reserve would be taken up immediately after obtaining ‘work permission’ from the Forests Department.

“The reserve is one of the 25 biodiversity hot spots in the country. Our team of researchers would conduct study under both laboratory and conventional propagations,” he said. Studies would account for vegetative character, flowering, reproductive biology and other aspects.

The reserve had around 100 varieties of tree species, which were rare and categorised as endangered. “They have medicinal value and hence a thorough research study is essential,” Dr. Muthuchelian said, who is also a member of International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Switzerland.

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