Science & Technology - Nagaland

"Understanding adaptive plant-pollinator networks among the understory perennial gingers (Zingiberaceae) using field and molecular ecology approach".

This projected is funded by DBT under twining progamme in collaboration with IISER Bhopal as a partner Institute. The main aim of the study is to have ginger repository and to understand plant-pollinator interactions under an evolutionary context using both ecological and molecular techniques. The overall objects are 1. To train scientists and students at NASTEC with methods in pollination ecology, modern plant taxonomy and population genetics using molecular markers, 2. Mapping phenology and pollination ecology of diurnal and nocturnal gingers in Nagaland. 3. Using molecular genetic approach understand the role of pollinators in population genetic structuring of gingers in the North East.

So far at least 11 species of Hedychium, and 20 species from allied families were collected during the fieldwork. Altogether seven genus belonging to Amomum, Cucurma, Elettaria, Globba, Hedychium, Cautleya and Zingiber were collected from Nagaland.

Collection of Tissues, Rhizomes, Herbarium and maintenance of the green House at NASTEC. The green house is maintained at NASTEC, where the collected rhizomes are planted and maintained. It will also serve for manipulative experiments which will involve capturing pollinators as a study of their behaviour towards native and introduced ginger species.