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PIONEERING A NEW FUTURE 17
The G&PB group has developed crop varieties with improved productivity and profitability without sacrificing ecological and economic sustainability. The institute is one of the leading centres for improving crops such as wheat, soybean, and grapes under the All-India Co-ordinated Research Projects funded by ICAR. Its work focuses on identifying
and utilizing genetic stock from various germplasm to enhance high-yielding drought-tolerant varieties using a combination of classical and molecular-driven breeding techniques. The group also maintains an experimental farm at Hol for breeding experiments and breeder seed programmes.
NANOBIOSCIENCE
The Nanobioscience group's research focusses on
(i) developing diagnostic kits and (ii) synthesis & characterization of nanomaterials for applications
in human health, agriculture, and the environment. The group has developed nanoparticle-based treatments for diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and breast cancer. The dedicated virology section focusses on understanding molecular mechanisms of
virus replication and pathogenesis of Chikungunya virus and Hepatitis E virus. Further, the group also microfabricates instruments such as rapid detection kits and on-chip Real-Time PCR devices.
Nano-crystalline Silver Gel: Broad-spectrum topical antimicrobial formulation developed by the institute helps manage acute and chronic wounds, first and second-degree burns, diabetic ulcers, and donor sites.
Lateral Flow Assay Kit: ARI scientists have developed LFA kit for rapid, on-site detection of the WSS Virus.
Breast Cancer: Dextran-coated lanthanum- strontium-magnesium oxide nanoparticles are potential bimodal therapeutic agents for cancer treatment.
NANO-AmB: ‘Nano-AmB’ is a nanoformulation that shows an effective antifungal activity with reduced toxicity. •
REPOSITORIES
Agharkar Herbarium at MACS: AHMA is an internationally recognized herbarium with more than 33,000 plant specimens from different parts of India. ARI houses >2,000 samples of authenticated crude drug materials, and >3000 diatom specimens.
Ajrekar Mycological Herbarium: Internationally recognized AMH houses more than 1,000 fungi and 40,000 lichens.
Crude Drugs Repository: ARI has established a repository of crude drug resources from Maharashtra's five agro- climatic zones.
Fossil Repository: This repository is the largest
in western India. It holds over 5,500 mega fossil- type specimens, over 2,700 microfossil-type specimens, and collections spanning from late Proterozoic (1,000 my) to Holocene (12,000 years).
FACILITIES
• National Fungal Culture Collection of India
• MACS Collection of Microorganisms
• Animal House
• Sophisticated
Analytical Instruments Facility