The National Conference of Plant Physiology – 2024 with the theme “Frontiers in Cell to Whole Plant Physiology: Bridging Science and Sustainability” was inaugurated on December 17, 2024 at ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod. This three day conference from 17-19 December, 2024 was jointly organised by the ICAR-CPCRI along with the Indian Society for Plant Physiology (ISPP), New Delhi.

Dr. R. Chandra Babu, Vice Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University and the President, ISPP briefed about the salient activities and the history of the ISPP. He called the young researchers for exchanging ideas and to take up collaborative initiatives to have a futuristic plan in Plant Physiology in crop plants.

Dr P.V. Varaprasad, Professor, Kansas State University, USA was the Chief Guest for the programme. He highlighted ten major innovations, viz., speed genomic level breeding, gene editing, stress tolerant crop varieties, nutritious and climate resilient plants, biofortified varieties, above and below ground intercropping, agroforestry, perennial grains (Kernza, sorghum), cross cutting-edge disciplines, that are fuelling sustainable intensification approaches for climate resilient agriculture. He spoke on global challenges of the relative yield gain decrease as an impediment for development.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. P.V. Varaprasad, KSU, USA, in which eight leading industries which provide various equipments and technologies participated.

Dr. K.B. Hebbar, Director, ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod during his presidential address highlighted the achievements of CPCRI and the importance of plantation crops in the economy of India. He urged the younger plant physiologists to take up active interdisciplinary research in plantation crops.

Dr. Brajesh Singh, Director, ICAR-CPRI, Shimla spoke about storage physiology and post-harvest handling of potatoes benefiting the world. He felicitated the successful events of the conference.

Dr. Jagdish Rane, Director, ICAR-CIAH urged the younger scientist to work for goal oriented research aimed at bringing out disruptive technologies for the benefit of the society. Dr Rane highlighted the importance of probability, possibility and reality converging at physiology. He indicated that physiology with which some products can be delivered to the society integrating with leading science disciplines, is the need of the hour.

During the programme, five National Fellows of the Indian Society for Plant Physiology were announced: Dr Sheshashayee, UAS, Bangalore, Dr Nataraj Karaba, UAS, Bangalore, Dr Jayakumar, TNAU, Coimbatore, Dr Mamata Madhusudhan, ICAR institute Wheat and Barley, Karnal, and Dr Kaushik Chakraborty, ICAR-NRRI, Cuttuck were the eminent scientists.

Various ISPP Awards were also announced: The winners were Dr Amarjit Singh - Dr RD Asana Gold Medal Award, Dr. Krishnapriya V., SBI, Coimbatore-RH Dastur Award, Dr. A. Ramachandra Reddy-Sirohy Lecture Award, Dr. K.B. Hebbar-SK Sinha Lecture Award, Dr. Nataraj Karaba-ISPP K.K Nanda Lecture Award and Dr. M. Ravindran- Lecture Award.

Two books were released during the programme

1. Souvenir and Book of Abstracts

2. Kalpa Newsletter of July-September, 2024

The pogramme was attended by more than 300 delegates from the national and international research organisations, agricultural and traditional universities as well as NGOs.

The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Murali Gopal, Head, Division of PB &PHT, ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod and Dr. S.V. Ramesh, Sr. Scientist, ICAR-CPCRI proposed the vote of thanks.