Lucknow: CSIR Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) bagged maximum prizes during the two-day annual rose and gladiolus show held at CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) which concluded on Sunday.A total of 73 exhibitors presented 510 entries. Sixteen trophies and 187 general prizes were awarded, including 60 first, 66 second and 61 third prizes. General prizes were decided on the basis of the highest number of first prizes, followed by second and third prizes.
CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow won the first general prize with the five first, nine second and five third prizes (total 19). Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Lucknow secured the second general prize with five first, four second and one third prize (total 10). Vedansh Agrawal of Mahanagar, Lucknow won the Third General Prize with four first, seven second and six third prizes (total 17).Among trophy winners, Vedansh Agrawal received the director general’s trophy for highest scorer of the show across Class A to Class H. HAL, Indira Nagar, Lucknow won the director’s trophy for class A, while Vedansh Agrawal won the director’s trophy for class B.CSIR-NBRI Director Ajit Kumar Shasany thanked participants and citizens for their participation.National Testing Agency chairperson Pradeep Kumar Joshi said CSIR-NBRI had evolved from a royal garden into a research institute and stressed the need for a sense of belongingness towards scientific institutions and society. He called for promoting gardening and green spaces in urban areas, citing the environmental impact of expanding concrete development, and highlighted the emotional and psychological benefits of flowers. He also urged scientists to develop strategies for selecting plant species suited to constrained urban spaces to help reduce pollution and mitigate global warming.Gladiolus variety ‘Pushpangadan’ launchedCSIR-NBRI released a new gladiolus variety ‘NBRI-Pushpangadan’, dedicated to late Dr Palpu Pushpangadan, former director of CSIR-NBRI. The variety was formally released by Prof Joshi at the prize distribution function. Developed through controlled hybridisation of ‘Neelima’ and ‘Yellowstone’, it flowers in 90–112 days and produces tall spikes with 12–19 reddish-purple florets with distinctive markings, aimed at commercial cut flower production.
