Advances in Ornamental Plant Micropropagation: Prospects for Floriculture Diversification in Bihar, India

Abstract

Ornamental horticulture is a technology-oriented aspect of high-value agriculture. However, in Bihar, its development is limited by low crop diversification, the use of poor-quality planting material, and deficiencies in production, post-harvest, and marketing infrastructure. This review examines the current state of ornamental horticulture worldwide and its future potential in Bihar, with a particular focus on micropropagation and new biotechnological methods to achieve diversification and commercial intensification. While conventional micropropagation allows rapid clonal multiplication, it faces challenges such as genotype dependence, contamination, hyperhydricity, somaclonal variation, labour requirements, and high costs. More advanced culture systems, particularly TIS, improve nutrient delivery and aeration control and offer greater scope for automation and scale-up. Molecular-marker-based evaluations provide an important quality-control method for checking the genetic fidelity of micropropagated plants. At the same time, genetic engineering and CRISPR/Cas genome editing open the possibility of altering characteristics such as flower colour, plant architecture, flowering behaviour, and stress responses. The review identifies the need to integrate advanced propagation technologies with systems for quality planting material, protected cultivation, post-harvest management, organised markets, farmer training, and biotechnology-driven crop improvement as an essential priority. Such an integrated approach could help accelerate the transition of Bihar's floriculture sector from its current mainly marigold-based system to a more diversified, technology-intensive, and economically competitive ornamental horticulture industry.