Scientist from Austria visits School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu under Indo-Austrian collaborative project on Saffron

Jammu, August 29: Dr. Micha Horacek, Scientist at Department of Lithospheric Research, Vienna University & AGES–Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Vienna Austria called upon Prof Umesh Rai Honorable Vice-Chancellor, Jammu. 

Dr. Horacek is collaborator in the DST-funded Indo-Austrian bilateral project In the Indo-Austrian collaborative project entitled “Stable isotope and endomicrobiome as a marker for origin of saffron in absence of genetic markers”, the geographical origin of saffron will be assess using stable isotops and microbiome associated with saffron plant. 

Dr. Horacek expertise lies in Geology particularly Geochemistry, Stable Isotope analysis, and Environmental Science and Prof. Vakhlu expertise lies in microbiomics, genomics, transcriptomics and plant microbe interactions. IndoAustrian collaboration has resulted in publication of two recent papers “Microbiome Fingerprint as Biomarker for Geographical Origin and Heredity in Crocus sativus: A Feasibility Study” and “Exploring the Potential of 87Sr/86Sr Isotope Ratio with Strontium and Rubidium Levels to Assess the Geographic Origin of Saffron” in a peer-reviewed journals in 2022-23. 

Dr. Horacek further wanted to assess the geographical origin of saffron using stable isotops in Jammu and Kashmir and had visited Spice Park, Pampore, Kashmir and Kishtwar for sample collection and interacting with farmers. Mr. Chuni Lal Bhat, former Agriculture Officer, Department of Agriculture Kashmir has organized the visit to Kashmir and interaction with the local farmers In addition. 

Prof Umesh Rai during interaction with Dr. Horacek expressed his keen interest in extending saffron cultivation and also developing GI tags to other products specific to the UT in addition to saffron. It is worth to mention here that University of Jammu as one of its commitment to transdiciplinary research for up-liftment of the farmers has funded a saffron extension project that has been initiated after successful trials of saffron cultivation in Byalla village of Poonch district.

(NOTE: PRESS RELEASE PUBLISHED AS RECEIVED)