About us
With the aim of expanding non-oil exports, in 1995 Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO) started to construct Flower and Ornamental Plants Research Station in Mahallat city. In 1996, the technical-scientific guidance and financial support of seven flower research stations in various cities were all assigned to Mahallat station as a headquarters. In 2014, the Ornamental Plants Research Station in Mahallat has been elevated to the Ornamental Plants Research Center (OPRC). Now, the OPRC is the only professional and academic institute of flower and ornamental plants in the region that attempts to provide the essential technical knowledge for development of floriculture industry through utilization of professional and academic experts and in collaboration with private sectors. The research Center has three research departments: 1) Department of Genetic and Breeding 2) Department of Technology and Production Management and 3) Department of Physiology and Postharvest Technology. Currently there are 15 researcher and scientific board members in different departments of OPRC.
The research institute's greenhouses cover an area of 5,600 m2, which 3,000 m2 are intended for research projects in various departments, and the rest is dedicated to commercial projects. For educational purposes, the ornamental plants collections have more than 2,000 species and cultivars of seasonal ornamental plants, ornamental-medicinal plants, ornamental trees and shrubs, cacti and succulents. Also, the collection of ornamental geophytes has been developed in this center with more than 150 species and cultivars.
Laboratories of plant pests and diseases, tissue culture, soil and water, molecular genetics, 3 units of growth chamber and also 4 units of force room are other research infrastructures of this research center. The main research activities of the institute are below:
- -Production and introduction new varieties of flowers by collecting, evaluating, modifying, genetic engineering and classical methods including Roses, Freesia, Gerbera, Gladiolus, Tuberose, Chrysanthemum, Iris, Zantadeschia, Petunia, Viola and Primrose.
- -Providing and maintain healthy and disease-free ornamental plants
- Mass production and commercialization of different ornamental plants.
- Propagation of commercial varieties of flowering bulbs as Lily, Tulip, Hyacinth and Gladiolus.
- Qualitative and quantitative Improvement in the production of flowers and ornamental plants by optimizing new horticultural methods.
- Introducing covering and landscaping plants suitable for Iran’s various climatic conditions with drought and salt tolerance priority.
- Determination of the best soil and soilless media in ornamental plants and their water requirements.
- Determination of fertilizer and nutritional requirements for ornamental plants
- and the effects of biological fertilizers and anti-stress materials on water, salinity and nutritional stresses of ornamental plants.
- Diagnosis of the most important pests and diseases, control methods, and natural enemies of ornamental plants in the region for biological control purposes.- Investigating methods to reduce the use of pesticides
- Investigating methods of integrated management of economic pests, diseases and permanen dangerous weeds
- Studying the modern methods of physiology, propagation, reducing losses and improving quality standards of ornamental plants
- Dormancy and forcing of bulbs
- Physiology and postharvest treatments of cut flowers and potted plants