At the moment, among possible and different strategies in the field of biotechnology research, the basis of research activities in this department is four axes.

• Cytogenetic studies and determination of genetic basis information of important species of natural resources
• Formation of seed garden and seed production and pedigree seedlings
• Use of genetic capabilities of plant species of natural resources with the aim of quantitative and qualitative improvement
• Conservation of important plant species, especially exclusive, rare and endangered by cryopreservation and in vitro maintenance (Seedling, Organ, Meristem, Callus, Pollen, Ovule, Protoplasm and DNA)

First Program: cytogenetic studies and determination of genetic basis information of important species of natural resources

Institute of Forest and Rangeland Research always with do the basic studies, has provided the incredible achievements such as Flora of Iran and Understanding ecological areas at the national and regional levels. We are going now to determine the genetic basis of the important species of Iranian natural resources expand In the Institute's research programs and Biotechnology Research Department

Duty of the department is more intense and comprehensive than ever before in processing by forming a Strategic Council and Secretariat of the Iranian Flora Chromosome Index with the presence of specialists at the Institute. As the targets and applications of this research collection, can be mentioned to the following: 

• Evaluation of the number of chromosomes and their morphology for the purpose:
  • Determine Relationship Between Species
  • Use in hybridization and hybrid production and production of varieties
  • Changes in ploidy levels to improve economic characteristics, increase of active ingredients
• Determine the genome size of the species for cytotaxonomic studies and evaluating the relationship between genome size with morphological characteristics, karyotype, geographical and ecological species
• Distinction hemoploid species and their hybrid
• Predict phenotypic characteristics, Physiological and ecological Using genomic and chromosomic data

Second Program: Formation of Seed garden and seed production and pedigree seedlings

• Construction of a seed garden and Mother garden of forest tree species
• Establishment of seed and pedigree breeding grounds with appropriate local adaptation
• Seedlings and seed production with a good quality and quantity

Third Program: The use of genetic capacities of natural resources plant species with the aim of improving their quality and quantity

Fourth Program: Conservation of important plant species, especially exclusive, rare and endangered by Cryopreservation and in vitro maintenance (Seedling, Organ, Meristem, Callus, Pollen, Ovule, Protoplasm and DNA)

Plants are severely exposed to extinction and the danger of extinction. In general protecting these species and plants of natural resources are the important duty of the Institute for Research of Forests and Rangelands of the country. This principle ongoing in various forms and in the form of protective programs in the herbarium of Research and Natural Resources and Gene Bank Research Department. Whatever is considered and is researched in Natural Resources Biotechnology Research, there will be species of plants that other conditions will not be adequate to protect them. Protecting these species which are mostly trees and shrubs, this department are the focus of the Cryopreservation projects

Micropropagation and tissue culture

In addition to the aforementioned topics, one of the important issues that in the department formed from the old and in the form of very specialized and accurate has gone forward in the field of natural resources. It has been about thirty years of experience and has obtained many protocols from the results of tissue culture research. This effort is still one of the major programs of natural resources biotechnology research department have proliferative with emphasis on the tissue culture of species that the other proliferation ways for them has come to a halt, or customer-oriented and requested species.