Lucknow, Aug 19: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday launched and dedicated to the nation, the new variety genome sequenced “Lotus” flower developed by Lucknow Institute CSIR-NBRI (National Botanical Research Institute) that has 108 petals.
The lotus named ‘NBRI Namoh 108’ is developed by the CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), a premier plant-based, multidisciplinary, state-of-the-art National R&D center based in Lucknow.
Dedicating to the nation the Namoh108 lotus variety and its products at NBRI here, Dr Jitendra said, “Considering the religious importance of the ‘lotus flower’ and ‘the digit 108’, this combination gives an important identity to this variety.”
The Namoh 108 lotus variety flowers from March to December and is rich in nutrients. This is the first lotus variety whose genome is completely sequenced for its characteristics.
Dr Singh also released apparel made from lotus fibre and the perfume ‘Frotus’, extracted from lotus flowers and developed by the NBRI under the Lotus Research Programme in collaboration with FFDC, Kannauj.
Lauding the NBRI for naming the unique lotus variety as Namoh 108, he said it is a grand gift to the relentless zeal and innate beauty of Narendra Modi, coming as it does in the tenth year of his tenure as the Prime Minister.
Also launching the Lotus Mission on the occasion, Dr Jitendra said this project is being undertaken in Mission mode like the other priority schemes. “Under the guidance of PM Modi, the government has now initiated the Lotus Mission after the stupendous success of the Aroma Mission. PM Modi has reiterated that this government not only starts a scheme or project but also ensures that it is capped,” he said.
In another novel initiative at recycling, Dr Jitendra Singh also released herbal colours for various applications, extracted by NBRI from flower offerings made at temples. These herbal colours can also be used for dying silk and cotton cloths. The minister also released the new variety of Aloe vera named ‘NBRI-Nihar’, a clonal selection having approximately 2.5 times high gel yield in comparison to Aloe vera.
As per the field observations, ‘NBRI-Nihar’ is found least affected against bacterial and fungal diseases. Two herbal products namely ‘Herbal Cold Drops’ for curing common cough and cold & Herbal Anti Dandruff Hair Oil, made by Marc Laboratories, were also launched by the minister.
