Jalandhar, Sept. 1 -- Punjab horticulture minister Mohinder Bhagat on Monday inaugurated the region's first government-owned virus indexing laboratory at the Centre of Excellence for Potato in Jalandhar's Dhogri village. Established at a cost of nearly Rs.1 crore, the laboratory is equipped with advanced diagnostic techniques capable of detecting seed-borne viruses early. "By ensuring farmers refrain from planting infected seeds, the facility will prevent devastating disease outbreaks post-cultivation, saving both labour and significant financial resources," he said. He added that this laboratory will cater to potato growers across the entire state, besides playing a pivotal role in producing certified, top-quality, disease-free potato seeds, ultimately boosting overall crop yield and enhancing farmers' profit margins.HTC...