Lucknow: CSIR–National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR–NBRI), Lucknow, today formally launched two new indigenous chrysanthemum varieties—‘NBRI-Madhukram’ and ‘NBRI-Shukra’—during the Annual Chrysanthemum & Coleus Show–2025, reaffirming the institute’s leadership in ornamental plant breeding and floriculture innovation. The varieties were unveiled by the dignitaries in the presence of scientists, growers, exhibitors, and the general public, marking an important milestone in CSIR–NBRI’s efforts to develop high-value, visually distinctive ornamental crops suited to Indian conditions.
‘NBRI-Madhukram’ (एन बी आर आई–मधुक्रम) is a new anemone-type chrysanthemum characterized by its unique honey-comb shaped hemispherical disc and attractive pinkish-purple flowers. Developed through spontaneous hybridization from the parent variety ‘White Anemone’, the compact and floriferous plant flowers during mid-December to mid-January, produces a large number of blooms per plant, and is ideally suited for pot culture and display purposes.
‘NBRI-Shukra’ (एन बी आर आई–शुक्र), also an anemone-type chrysanthemum derived from the parent ‘Dainty Maid’, was introduced for its large, attractive disc florets, elegant radial symmetry, and appealing pinkish-purple coloration. Flowering from December to early January, the variety bears larger blooms and taller plants, making it particularly suitable for exhibitions, landscaping, and ornamental use.
Launching the varieties, CSIR–NBRI scientists highlighted that ‘NBRI-Madhukram’ and ‘NBRI-Shukra’ have been developed to combine novelty, aesthetic appeal, and grower-friendly traits, offering new options to floriculturists, nurseries, hobby gardeners, and the ornamental plant industry. The release of these varieties underscores CSIR–NBRI’s continued commitment to translating scientific research into tangible societal and economic benefits, while enriching India’s floricultural diversity with home-grown innovations.
