February 17, 2010
Karachi
The International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Karachi University, has successfully produced foreign variety of tomatoes known as cherry tomatoes in its green houses on the large scale.
This was stated by the Director of ICCBS, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, here on Tuesday.
He stated that this is for the first time in the history of Pakistan that any institution is producing these types of tomatoes by using state-of-the-art plant technology.
Prof. Iqbal pointed out that the cherry tomatoes have been cultivated for last two years, while this time the cherry tomatoes have been produced on the large scale as compare to the last year.
He said that the biotechnology wing of HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, working under the umbrella of ICCBS, was working on this new front.
Prof. Iqbal stated that the seeds of cherry tomato were initially taken from Canada and germinated at the biotechnology wing. He said that for initial adaptation the plant has been grown in green houses where environmental conditions were comparatively controlled and insects free environment.
After first cultivation from seeds, disease-free and healthy plants were propagated at mass scale using plant tissue culture techniques and cutting techniques.
The newly propagated plants are allowed to grow for fruiting in such a system that they utilize the maximum light, humidity, nutrient sprayed. The Nation
