He classified the angiosperms based on the results of his studies. In the year 1931, he was awarded a D. Sc. Maheshwari s greatest contribution to botany was the invention of the technique of test tube fertilisation of angiosperms. Here, a specially prepared nutrient is solidified in a test tube, on which, under aseptic conditions, ovules and fresh pollen grains are sprinkled. The pollen grains germinate in due course and the pollen tubes begin growing towards the developed ovules.
Fertilisation soon takes place inside the tube.
Maheshwari s technique opened new vistas for plant breeders. Cross breeding, not possible naturally in certain species was now made possible. Scientists also found that fertilisation inside a test tube took place faster than when it happens naturally. The greatness of Maheshwari s contribution to botany may be gauged from the fact that some newly discovered species of plants were named after him. Two examples are Panchanania Jaipuriensis and Isoetes Panchananii .