CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, celebrated its 67^th Annual Day on 27 October 2020 through online mode. Prof. J.P. Khurana, INSA Vice-President (International Affairs) & Former Head, Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi, South Campuswas the Chief Guest of the function and delivered the Annual Day Lecture. DrShekhar C. Mande, DG, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR, Government of India, presided over the function.

On this occasion, the institute’s Annual Report 2019-20 was released by the dignitaries. Director Prof. Barik presented the annual progress report andbriefed about some of the major achievements made by the institute during the reporting period. A few of them are as follows:

• Discovery of six new species to science and 21 species as new geographic records to India; important antagonistic bacterial endophytes against Fusarium oxysporum for tomato wilt disease management; a yeast strain Debaryomyces hansenii for the amelioration of arsenic stress in rice.
• Institute has taken an initiative for the development of improved Cannabis lines for medicinal and industrial use.
• Two new mutant varieties of Chrysanthemum morifolium viz. ‘NBRI- Pukhraj’ and ‘NBRI-Shekhar’ were developed and released.
• Institute has also taken up Cotton Mission for development of improved and better cotton lines.
• Simple and facile Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles (BSNP) were developed for wound healing acceleration and suppression of wound infections.

On the occasion, know-how technology of the newly developed herbal product NBRI-Uro-05 was transferred to M/s Marc Laboratories, Lucknow, for commercial production. NBRI-Uro-05 developed by the CSIR-NBRI is a synergistic herbal combination for mitigating the conditions of urolithiasis, nephrolithiasis and also in post lithotripsy conditions.

The ingredients of this herbal product are limited to five herbs which are easily available across the country. The product is cost-effective and showed 80% decrease in levels of stone crystals in renal cortex in a rat model with 70% reduction in several stones. This product will work effectively in reduced dosage as compared to existing brands. It is also effective in prophylaxis and prevention of recurrence.

The inventor team of the product includes Prof. S.K.Barik, Director, DrSharad K. Srivastava and Dr Ankita Misra from CSIR-NBRI, Dr Vikas Srivastava, Dr Dhirendra Singh and Mr Hafizurrahman Khan from CSIR-IITR and Dr S.N. Sankhwar, Dr Salil Tandon, from KGMU, Lucknow. Mr Prem Kishore, CMD, M/s Marc Laboratories, Lucknow, said that the product will be available in the market very soon.

Under the public-private partnership, a new research project ‘Development of High CBD and low psychotropic compounds containing Cannabis lines for different agro conditions in Manipur and its utilisation for the development of pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical products’ was launched with the industry partner M/s Indica Nutraceutical LLP, New Delhi.

Chief Guest of the function, Prof. J.P. Khurana in his Annual Day lecture titled 'Molecular insight into Plant Vision' discussed the importance of light in the life of plants and its role in regulating various developmental phases of plants. He elucidated the role of sensory photoreceptors in the complex molecular framework involved in light-regulated plant development.

In his presidential address, Dr Shekhar C. Mande congratulated the staff of CSIR-NBRI on the Annual Day and appreciated the recent research and development activities of the CSIR-NBRI with particular emphasis on the development of new interesting varieties. He mentioned that CSIR-NBRI has a remarkable history and a special place in plant-based research. He praised the work carried out during the year and congratulated scientists for the translational research.

In the end, Dr P.A. Shirke, Chief Scientist, proposed the vote of thanks.

Contributed by Dr Pramod A. Shirke, Chief Scientist
CSIR-NBRI, Lucknow