IoT and GIS to revolutionize horticulture sector, says Vice-Chancellor

Hyderabad: Dr. D. Raji Reddy, Vice-Chancellor of Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University, highlighted the transformative role of technology in horticulture at the “International Workshop on GIS for Plant Biodiversity” held on December 25 at the university’s Mulugu campus. Dr. Reddy emphasized that the Internet of Things (IoT) will revolutionize horticulture by enabling the mapping of crops through remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS).

He also shared plans for DNA fingerprinting and genome sequencing of key vegetables, fruits, and medicinal plants, which will help in preserving and understanding plant biodiversity. The workshop explored the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning to develop specific plant models. Dr. Reddy stated that GIS and remote sensing will accelerate data collection, benefiting research and crop management.

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One of the sessions discussed using complete chloroplast and conserved nuclear genomes to study phylogenetic relationships in citrus plants, with insights from research on Japanese flora. Another session by Dr. Shyam Saran Shrestha, Program Coordinator at Shraddha Institute of Health Sciences and President of Himalayan Research and Development Center, Nepal, focused on “Bio-prospecting medicinal plants of Nepal, Italy, and Japan.”

The event brought together experts from India and abroad, fostering discussions on leveraging advanced technologies to explore and protect the world’s plant resources.