Ever since 1976, the Tea Board started funding the time bound projects like “Chemistry of tea clones”. A Lion’s share of funds contributed by the Tea Board/Commerce Ministry as grant-in-aid besides UPASI TRF receives grant from various government agencies for time bound research projects. Government agencies which fund for research projects are the Tea Board, National Tea Research Foundation (NTRF), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Sulphate of Potash Information Board (SOPIB), Washington, Green Tea Research Association, Japan and O-Cha (Tea) Pioneer Academic Research Grant Programme, Japan. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research had also granted adhoc research projects. The status of the projects conducted by various divisions of UPASI is presented here under.

Project Sponsored agency Period Principal Investigator
AI Based Imaging Solution for Detection of Pest attack in Tea Leaves using Aerial Imaging. NTRF 2023 - 2026 Dr T. P. Rabeesh
Field evaluation of four bioproducts of green harvest India Biotech private Limited Green Harvest (India) Bio-Tech Private Limited. Green Harvest (India) Bio-Tech Private Limited 2022 - 2023 Dr T. P. Rabeesh
Package of Agronomic practices on Japanese model to suit mechanization in South India. NTRF 2020 - 2023 Dr R. Victor J Ilango
Evaluation of Glufosinate ammonium for the control of common weeds in tea fields. BASF 2021 - 2022 Dr R. Victor J Ilango
Germplasm characterization, genomics analysis and gene discovery for yield, metabolite and stress tolerance in tea. DBT 2022 - 2025 Dr R. Victor J Ilango
Nano Urea for the sustainable tea cultivation in southern India. IFFCO 2022 - 2023 Dr. T. Raj Kumar
Identify key gaps in tea leaf composition between machine pluck VS hand pluck and establish correlation between leaf composition and end cup quality. Potential recommendations on manufacturing hand pluck quality tea from machine pluck. HUL 2023-2024 Dr R. Victor J Ilango
Mapping of energy consumption during tea processing from plucking to made tea. Potential recommendations on mitigating energy intensive unit operations in tea manufacturing without affecting the tea quality. HUL 2023-2024 Dr. K. Poobathiraj
Black Tea: Potential Therapeutic Supplement for Breast Cancer. Effect of Black Tea Extracts on Breast Cancer Tumorigenesis through Modulation of Micro RNA and Cancer Gene Expression. NTRF 2016 - 2019 Dr P. Nepolean
Studies on agrochemical degrading soil microbes and bioremediation in tea ecosystem NTRF 2019 - 2021 Dr P. Nepolean
Development, characterization and evaluation of microbial agents and their novel bioactive metabolites for the management of pests and diseases in tea. NTRF 2020 – 2023 Dr P. Nepolean
Dr T. P. Rabeesh
Development of sustainable agriculture practices for biotic and abiotic stress management in conventional and organic tea plantations DBT - NER 2022 - 2025 Dr P. Nepolean
Identification and characterization of sequence based markers for genetic improvement of tea DBT, New Delhi Nov 2011- Dr. R. Raj Kumar
Analysis of Gene expression during phytopathogenic stress in tea using transcriptomic approach XI Five Year Plan Project, Tea Board, Kolkata Jul 2009-Mar 2012 Dr. R. Raj Kumar
Lectin: an alternative biotic stress management system in tea National Tea Research Foundation (NTRF), Kolkata Nov 2010-Oct 2013 Dr. S. Arvinth
Dr. R. Raj Kumar
Molecular markers and descriptor development in tea (Phase II) DBT, New Delhi Apr 2007-Jun 2010 Dr. N. Muraleedharan
Dr. R. Raj Kumar
Developments of production system for tea polyphenols and their condensed products CSIR, New Delhi Jan 2008-Mar 2010 Dr. Abul Kalam Azad Mandal
Characterization and improvement of tea through biotechnological tools(Phase I) DBT, New Delhi and Tea Board, Kolkata Apr 2002-Mar 2007 Dr. R. Raj Kumar
Functional genomics in plants niche pathway engineering in tea CSIR, New Delhi Apr 2001- Sep 2005 Dr. N. Muraleedharan
Physiological and biochemical basis of clonal selection in tea for high yield, quality and drought tolerance IX Five Year Plan Project, Tea Board, Kolkata Jan 1999-Mar 2004 Dr. R. Raj Kumar
Development of a protocol for efficient somaclonal plants using drought tolerant UPASI clones as source of explants National Tea Research Foundation (NTRF), Kolkata May 1997-Mar 2001 Dr. R. Raj Kumar
Photosynthesis, partitioning of assimilates in relation to productivity in tea First O-Cha (Tea) Pioneer Academic Research Grant, Japan 2000- 2001 Dr. R. Raj Kumar
Biotechnological and Biocontrol studies on tea blister blight pathogen X Five Year Plan Project, Tea Board, Kolkata 2003 – 2008 Dr. A. K. A. Mandal & Dr. R. Premkumar
Optimization of processing parameters to maximize the quality of south Indian black teas X Five Year Plan Project, Tea Board, Kolkata 2003 – 2008 Dr. N. Muraleedharan
Mr. G. Ramamoorthy
Dr. R. S. Senthil Kumar
Mr. M. G. Sathish
Establishment of a chain of tea quality control laboratories at the regional centres of UPASI & strengthening of existing analytical facilities at TRI X Five Year Plan Project, Tea Board, Kolkata 2003 – 2008 Dr. N. Muraleedharan
Dr. R. S. Senthil Kumar
Studies on pesticide residues in tea for setting MRL‟s-Phase II and Phase III NTRF, Kolkata 2004-08 Dr. N. Muraleedharan
Studies on the residues of insecticides, fungicides, weedicides and heavy metals in south Indian tea X Five year plan project, Tea Board, Kolkata 2003-08 Dr. N. Muraleedharan
Studies on the residues of pesticides & heavy metals in tea XI Five year plan project, Tea Board, Kolkata 2009-2012 DR. V. A. Shanmugaselvan
Studies on vermiculture & vermicomposting in tea growing areas NTRF, Kolkata 2006-2009 Dr. N. Muraleedharan
Dr. B. Radhakrishnan
Integrated nutrient management (INM) in tea using bioinoculants DBT, New Delhi 2008 – 2011 Dr. R. Premkumar
XI five year plan, Tea Board XI five year plan, Tea Board 2009 – 2012 Dr. R. Premkumar
Studies on different irrigation system and critical evaluation of secondary and micro nutrient status in tea soils of south India X five year plan project, Tea Board, Kolkata 2003 – 2008 Dr. N. Muraleedharan
Dr. V. K. Senthurpandian
Dr. S. Venkatesan
Application of Geographic Information System (GIS) to acidity and fertility management of tea soils of south India DST, New Delhi 2006 -2008 Dr. V. K. Senthurpandian
Dr. S. Srinivas
Influence of soil organic matter on productivity and measures to improve the soil health in tea soils of south India NTRF, Kolkata 2009-2012 Dr. P. Mohan Kumar
Mr. N. Palani
Production, Development and Trade of Organic tea (CFC organic tea project) The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) & CFC 2008 – 2011 Dr. N. Muraleedharan
Dr. P. Mohan Kumar
Dr. B. Radhakrishnan
Mr. J. Durairaj

Ongoing Research Projects

S.No Project
1 Nursery grafting of Darjeeling clones
2 Approach grafting technique for rapid multiplication of mother bushes
3 Evaluation of BSS-1 as root stock
4 Evaluation of carfentrazone ethyl for controlling mixed population of weeds in tea fields
5 Evaluation of ammonium salt of glyphosate (Excel Mera 71) for weed control in tea field
6 Establishment of a DUS Test Centre for PPV & FRA
7 Evaluation of alternate shade trees
8 Effect of advancing shear harvesting after pruning on productivity and bush health
9 New planting style to suit the blade length of the two men operated harvesters
10 Development of package of practices for the fields under shear/machine harvesting
11 Clonal selection in the old seedling populations
12 Clonal selection in the F1 progenies
13 Controlled hybridization
14 Back cross and test cross
15 Micro test seed bari establishment
16 Selection of Frost resistant clones from the Nilgiris
17 Evaluation of TRF-1, 2, 3 and BSA-13 under the Nilgiri conditions
18 Clonal selection from Kilkotagiri estate
19 Evaluation of ammonium salt of glyphosate for the control of Basella alba
20 Experiment on addition of maintenance foliage through extended rounds of shear harvesting: Koppa Estate
21 Evaluation of new scions and root stock clones for graft compatibility
22 Introduction of north Indian tea clones