India
The eighth international “Fascination of Plants Day” around 18 May 2026 will be launched by plant scientists across the world under the umbrella of the European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO).
The goal of this activity is to get as many people as possible around the world fascinated by plants and enthused about the importance of plant science for agriculture and sustainable production of nutritious food, as well as for horticulture, forestry and the production of plant-based non-food products such as paper, timber, chemicals, energy and pharmaceuticals. The role of plants in environmental conservation is also a key message.
The Botanical Society of Gargi College (GCBS–TARU) successfully hosted the session on International Fascination of Plants Day 2026, bringing a vibrant and meaningful close to a celebration dedicated to the wonders of plant science.
Centred around the theme “Cracking the Code: Using Functional Genomics to Understand How Plants Fight Back”, the session featured an engaging and insightful talk by Prof. Archana Singh (Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi, South Campus). Her thought-provoking address explored the remarkable strategies plants use to defend themselves and adapt to environmental challenges, offering a deeper understanding of their hidden resilience. The event was further graced by the esteemed presence of the principal of the College, whose encouraging words inspired students to pursue scientific curiosity with dedication and to contribute meaningfully towards environmental sustainability. Her address added warmth and motivation to the occasion.
The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from students and faculty, fostering an atmosphere filled with curiosity, interaction and a shared passion for plant science. It served as a platform for meaningful discussions, new perspectives and an enhanced appreciation for the green world around us.
As the celebrations concluded, the session left everyone inspired to continue exploring, learning and contributing towards a more sustainable future.
“Decoding Stress Resilience In Climate-Smart Plants” is proposed as a webinar series consisting of 3 speakers, with a total duration of 90 minutes and 30 minutes allotted to each speaker. a short Q&A session can be suffixed in case there are any questions form the audience. This webinar series is proposed by Dr Madhusmita Panigrahy, Assistant Professor, Siksha O Anusandhan deemed to be University, India. The speakers of the webinar are requested to deliver talk on their research or any general topic of interest for energizing plant research.
Title: Webinar on “The Botanical Internet: Deciphering the Underground Mycorrhizal Networks and Their Role in Ecosystem Resilience” to Staff of NITC on the occasion of The eighth international “Fascination of Plants Day”
This talk is a hotbed for current research, focusing on how plants “talk” to one another through fungal networks to share nutrients, signal pest attacks, and survive climate shifts.
CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, will celebrate Fascination of Plants Day (FoPD) 2026 on 18 May 2026. The event will feature an expert talk on plant sciences, offering insights into contemporary plant research, followed by guided visits for students to the Institute’s botanical garden and its state-of-the-art research facilities, including tissue culture labs, greenhouses, and analytical instrumentation. The celebration aims to inspire young minds and promote awareness about the importance of plant sciences.
“Traditional & Modern Knowledge on Plant Science” is proposed as a webinar series consisting of 2 sessions and 7 speakers from varied locations of India and Russia. The talks will energize plant research by emphasizing fundamental knowledge as well as the recent updates on several important topics in plant science. The 2 sessions on 22nd and 23rd of May 2026 is framed so for the audience’s comfortability to attend and participate. Participation in this webinar series is absolutely free of cost. The registered participants will get a participation certificate. Each talk is for 40 min. and a short Q&A session in case there are any questions from the audience. This webinar series is proposed by Dr. Madhusmita Panigrahy, Department of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Assistant Professor, Siksha O Anusandhan Deemed to be University, India.