Plantation Drive By PAU Scientists Atarboretum Of Rare Trees

Ludhiana, February 29, 2016: To save rare and sacred species, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice Chancellor PAU, along with the eminent Agricultural Scientists planted trees under extinction category in the newly developed ‘arboretum’ of Botanical Garden of the university during the two day Alumni meet of College of Agriculture. Dr Gurdev Singh Khush, World Renowned Rice Breeder, planted Gaub, Dr GS Kalkat, former Vice Chancellor, and Dr SS Johl, Chancellor of Central University, planted Molsari, Dr BS Dhillon and Dr HS Dhaliwal, planted Sita Asoka, Dr BS Athwal planted Reetha, Dr Gurbachan Singh planted Gaub, Dr D S Dev planted Jhar Phanoos and Dr PK Agarwal planted Harar. PAU students dedicated a brinjal tree to Dr. Dev Raj Bhumbla, (Chief Guest of Alumni meet) , Australian Wattle to Dr Khem Singh Gill and China Golden Rain tree to Dr MS Kang, former Vice Chancellors of PAU. These trees will be used for research on anatomical and biochemical basis of air pollution control by the ornamental trees for urban horticulture.

The agricultural scientists were glad to establish long lasting relationship with their mother institution by tree plantation. They lauded the initiative taken for the first time during the Alumni meet of the college and desired to see them growing whenever they would visit the university. “Such plantation efforts would help to enrich biodiversity of ornamental plants in PAU campus”, said one of the Alumnus.

The major attraction of the garden, established in the 1980’s as a tribute to Dr MS Randhawa asBougainvillea Garden, is the varieties of different colours of Bougainvillea named after famous personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Zakiriana (former President of India Zakir Hussain), Lady Mary Bearing, HB Singh, Dr Rao, Homi Bhabha, Mary Palmer, Meera, Jaya Laxmi, Louis Walthen, double flower Mohan and Mohan Dulah. The germplasm of rare and extinct trees of Punjab like Jand, Jamun, Jamoha, Bahera, Bael, Laharu, Lasoora, Arjun is being maintained in the garden for the research project for maintenance of Rare, Endangered and Threatened (RET) species submitted to Botanical Survey of India, Government of India.