The CSIR-NBRI Botanic Garden, located in Lucknow, India, is a historical botanical garden established in 1789. It was once a royal garden and has since evolved into a significant research institution. The garden houses over 6000 plant species and varieties, including medicinal plants, ornamental crops, and rare and endangered species. It plays a crucial role in plant conservation, research, and education, offering visitors a serene environment to explore the diverse plant world. The R&D activities of Botanic Garden are focused mainly on germplasm collection and conservation of rare, endangered, threatened and ornamental species; development of new varieties and cultivars of floricultural crops; organization and participation in Flower Shows and Exhibitions; and organization of training programmes on various aspects of gardening. Towards varietal improvement, plant propagules/ cuttings of several ornamental species are gamma-irradiated for mutation induction. Botanic Garden of CSIR-NBRI is DUS Test Centre of PPV&FRA for Bougainvillea, Canna and Gladiolus. We also organize Annual Chrysanthemum & Coleus and Rose & Gladiolus Flower Shows in December and January and Bougainvillea Festival in March each year. The training programmes on commercial floriculture, nursery management, dehydrated floral crafts, and home gardening are organized regularly. The Botanic Garden is visited by a large number of students and researchers.
The Banthra Research Station of CSIR-NBRI plays a pivotal role in advancing research on sodic soils and plant conservation. Located approximately 21 kilometers from the main campus, this field station offers a unique environment for studying plants in their natural habitats. The Banthra Research Station boasts a vast expanse of land, providing ample space for various research activities. Its diverse ecosystem, including fields, forests, and water bodies, serves as a natural laboratory for scientists to investigate plant-environment interactions, ecological processes, and biodiversity. The Plant Conservation & Agro-technologies group is mainly been involved in the development of agro-technologies for non-traditional economically important medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) by introduction, domestication, nutrient management, aiming at economic utilization of partially reclaimed sodic lands. The group also conducts field experiments for development of agro-techniques in different cropping systems including inter-cropping with trees and other economic crops. The outreach programmes are organized towards popularizing CSIR-NBRI Green Technologies for economic upliftment of rural population. The outreach programmes/ extension activities are organized in the areas of agronomic management of medicinal and aromatic plants under sodic wastelands and betelvine cultivation under rural development programme.
