The Division of Plant Physiology at IARI was established on 14th November, 1966. Prior to its establishment as an independent Division, discipline of Plant Physiology existed as a section in erstwhile Division of Botany, IARI. Dr. J.J. Chinoy initiated physiological research at IARI way back in the year 1941. In the early fifties and sixties the research was oriented towards problems related with environmental stresses and plant nutrition. Dr. R. D. Asana became the first Head of the Division. The strong foundation for crop physiological research was laid during his tenure, and these studies are of practical relevance even in this era of “omics” research. Dr. G.S. Sirohi realized the importance of basic research in crop improvement and as a result an Advance Center of Plant Physiology was established in the year 1980 under United Nation Development Program. Initiation of Indo-US project under PL-480 scheme on ‘Photosynthesis and Crop Productivity’ from 1983 to 1993 was another effort towards strengthening the Division of Plant Physiology.

The Division of Plant Physiology at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) was established on 14th November 1966, with a legacy that traces back to 1941, when Dr. J.J. Chinoy initiated physiological research at the Institute. Dr. R.D. Asana, the first Head of the Division, laid a strong foundation for crop physiological studies. Later, in 1980, Dr. G.S. Sirohi established the Advanced Centre for Plant Physiology under the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), further strengthening the Division’s research capabilities.

Today, the Division comprises a dedicated team of 16 scientists, 11 technical staff, 4 multi-tasking staff, and 3 administrative personnel. It serves as a premier research and training hub, focusing on the physiological, biochemical, and molecular aspects of plant function. The Division is committed to enhancing climate resilience, nutrient use efficiency, and improving yield and quality in crop plants through the application of cutting-edge technologies.

Heads of the Division: Dr. R.D. Asana (1966-1970), Dr. G.S. Sirohi (1970-1988), Dr. Y.P. Abrol (1988-1994), Dr. S.C. Bhargava (1994-1996), Dr. G.C. Srivastava (1996-2005), Dr. P.S. Deshmukh (2005-2008), Dr. R.K. Sairam (2008-2012), Dr. Viswanathan Chinnusamy (2013 – 2022), Dr. Renu Pandey (2022-till date).

Mandate

• Enhancing the physiological efficiencies for improving crop productivity
• To conduct basic and strategic research to understand the processes and mechanisms associated with crop responses to abiotic stresses
• To train graduate students leading to M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees
• Capacity building in physiological and molecular tools to researchers and scientists of SAUs/ICAR/other organizations.