Proceedings of the 29th Institute Research Committee (IRC ......PROCEEDINGS OF THE 29TH INSTITUTE...

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 29TH INSTITUTE RESEARCH

COMMITTEE (IRC) MEETING August 08-10, 2018

ICAR-NATIONAL BUREAU OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES PUSA CAMPUS, NEW DELHI 110 012

Proceedings of the 29th Institute Research Committee (IRC) meeting of ICAR-NBPGR held from 08-10 August, 2018

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Table of Contents

S. No. Division/ Unit/ Regional Station Page No.

01 Division of Plant Exploration and Germplasm Collection (DPEGC)

03

02 Division of Plant Quarantine (DPQ) 10

03 Division of Genomic Resources (DGR) 17

04 Division of Germplasm Evaluation (DGE) 19

05 Division of Germplasm Conservation (DGC) 28

06 Tissue Culture & Cryopreservation Unit (TCCU) 34

07 Germplasm Exchange & Policy Planning Unit (GEPPU) 36

08 Agricultural Knowledge Management Unit (AKMU) 38

09 ICAR-Regional Station, Akola 22

10 ICAR-Regional Station, Bhowali 30

11 ICAR-Regional Station, Cuttack 05

12 ICAR-Regional Station, Hyderabad 14

13 ICAR-Regional Station, Jodhpur 32

14 ICAR-Regional Station, Ranchi 06

15 ICAR-Regional Station, Shimla 24

16 ICAR-Regional Station, Shillong 07

17 ICAR-Regional Station, Srinagar 09

18 ICAR-Regional Station, Thrissur 26

19 All India Research Network on Potential Crops (AIRNPC) 39

20 Recommendations: General 40

21 Recommendations: Division-specific 41

22 Annexure: IRC members: new/ transferred/ retired/ deceased 47


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Proceedings of the 29th Institute Research Committee (IRC) Meeting of

ICAR-NBPGR held during August 08-10, 2018

The meeting was chaired by Dr. Kuldeep Singh, Director, ICAR-NBPGR and was

attended by all the scientists from the headquarters and the regional stations including

technical officers of the institute who are associated in the institutional projects.

At the outset, the Member Secretary, Dr. Mukesh Kumar Rana welcomed all the

members to three-day deliberations of various institutional projects. He acknowledged the

contributions of all the existing members of the IRC who had contributed for shaping and re-

orienting the research under the institutional projects over the years. The new members,

who had joined the Bureau since the last IRC, were introduced to the IRC.

The Chairman in his inaugural remarks urged the scientists to do the critical analysis

and meaningfulness of the research work being carried out and stressing on the point that

every Division has some responsibility of rendering service which needs to be carried out

efficiently and timely. He further emphasized on the need of technological interventions,

particularly artificial intelligence and robotics to reduce the labor in plant genetic resource

management cost for in vitro cultures, genebank management and quarantine activities. He

recapitulated the achievements of each Division and Regional Station of the Bureau and

emphasized that all Regional Stations should strive to bring more visibility at national and

international levels in terms of the importance of the work they undertake. He desired that

at the end of the three- day long discussions of the IRC, scientists should put their heads

together and look for opportunities to move forward on lines in sync with top global

institutions.

Chairman’s remarks were followed by presentation of Action Taken Report (ATR) on

general recommendations by the Member Secretary. Principal Investigators of all the

projects from different divisions and Regional Stations then made their respective

presentations. During the presentation and discussion of individual projects by IRC

members, the information on division-wise progress, general recommendations and

division-wise recommendations for 2017-18 are compiled and listed below.


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DIVISION OF PLANT EXPLORATION AND GERMPLASM COLLECTION (DPEGC)

Programme/ Projects PI (in bold)/ CoPIs/ Associates (in italics)

IRC Project Code

Programme: Exploration for Collection of Germplasm of Agri-horticultural Crops, Maintenance of Herbarium and Biosystematic and Ethno-botanical Studies

SP Ahlawat PGR/DPEGC-BUR-DEL-01.00

Project 1: Exploration for collection of genetic resources of agricultural crops and their wild relatives

SP Ahlawat, KC Bhatt, Anjula Pandey, DP Semwal, RS Rathi, Soyimchiten, PK Malav, NS Panwar and OP Dhariwal

PGR/ DPEGC -BUR-DEL-01.01

Project 2: Exploration for collection of genetic resources of horticultural crop species and their wild relatives

KC Bhatt, SK Malik (till 31 July 2017), K Pradheep, RS Rathi, DP Semwal, Soyimchiten, S Nivedhitha NS Panwar and OP Dhariwal

PGR/ DPEGC -BUR-01.02

Project 3: National Herbarium of Cultivated Plants (NHCP): establishment, maintenance, build-up and taxonomic studies on Indian crop plants

Anjula Pandey, K Pradheep, S. Nivedhitha and Rita Gupta


Project 4: Systematic studies of native crop taxa

K Pradheep, Anjula Pandey, KC Bhatt, AB Gaikwad, S. Nivedhitha, and Rita Gupta


Project 5: Geo-informatics for assessment of diversity distribution in agri-horticultural crops

DP Semwal, Anjula Pandey, KC Bhatt, PK Malav, Soyimchiten, N Sivaraj (w.e.f. 23-07-2017), and NS Panwar


Project 6: Survey, collection and assessment of in-situ on-farm crop diversity in the Indian Himalayan Region

RS Rathi, KC Bhatt, Anjula Pandey (w.e.f. April 1, 2018), SK Malik (till July 31, 2017), DP Semwal, PK Malav, NS Panwar and PS Mehta

PGR/PGC-BUR-DEL-01.06


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Research achievements of DPEGC • Twenty-eight explorations were undertaken in different diversity-rich/ remote/

tribal inhabited and disturbed areas namely Sukma, Gadchiroli, Kalahandi, Nicobar island (A&N), Gurez valley (J&K), 24-Pargana, Sundarban, Anjaw & Anini (Arunachal Pradesh), Kiphire (Nagaland), Saiha & Lunglei (Mizoram) and Cachar (Assam) for collection of unique landraces, crop wild relatives, vegetables and trait specific germplasm.

• A total of 2,102 acc. (1511 cultivated & 591 crop wild relatives) of different agri-horticultural crops were collected involving Regional Stations of NBPGR and 15 ICAR crop based Institutes/SAUs. Maximum collections were made in horticultural crops (918) followed by cereals (394) and pulses (212).

• Out of 2,102 collected acc., 1427 have been conserved in genebank (LTS & TCCU). Among the remaining accessions, 380 were sent for characterization /multiplication/ maintenance at Regional Stations/Base Centres and to collaborating institutes/ centres/SAUs, while 295 accessions maintained in the FGB at Regional Stations/Base Centres. Achievements of Division at NBPGR (HQs) New Delhi

• The Division has collected 964 acc. in 14 explorations, involving six ICAR crop-based Institutes/ Centres/SAUs as collaborators. Of these, 810 accessions of cultivated and 154 of wild species (wild Cucumis, Trichosanthes, Corchorus spp.), paddy, maize landraces, terminal heat tolerant rice, chironji, makhana, leafy vegetables, etc. were collected.

• 592 herbarium specimens, 11 seed samples and 10 economic products were added to the herbarium, this brings total holdings to 23,158 specimens, 3,090 seed samples and 696 economic products of NHCP. Additionally, digital images (1081) were added to the virtual herbarium. This account also includes addition of 74 new taxa, not earlier represented as herbarium specimens in the NHCP.

• Based on field, herbarium and experimental studies, field diagnostic keys for identifying various taxa in Trichosanthes and leafy amaranth was developed, besides critical taxonomic studies in Amaranthus tricolor and Allium tuberosum groups, new distribution records for six taxa to Indian states was reported.

• Geo-referencing and mapping of passport data of collected accessions of foxtail millet (5,891) and finger millet (12,451) was done. Gaps for future collection were identified in different states/parts of country. In addition, passport data of tomato germplasm (1,415 acc.) was screened and geo-referenced for mapping.

• Baseline survey conducted for recording data from 18 identified villages in Juansar-Bawar (Dehradun), Rawain (Uttarkashi) and Jaunpur (Tehri) areas of Uttarakhand. Seeds of six crop landraces discontinued in the area distributed among the farmers for on-farm conservation and to strengthen local seed chain system. A PGR awareness as well as workshop cum diversity fair was also organized in Chakrata, Dehradun.

• Eight research articles, 8 manual/book chapters, one brochure, one e-publication, one popular article, one germplasm reporter were published.

• A training-cum-workshop on Baseline Survey and Impact assessment under UNEP-GEF project was conducted


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ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station, Cuttack


IRC Project Code

Programme: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation, documentation and distribution of genetic resources of Odisha and adjoining regions

DR Pani PGR/ DPEGC -BUR-CUT-01.00

Project 1: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation and documentation of genetic resources of agricultural and horticultural crops in Odisha and adjoining regions

DR Pani and RC Misra

PGR/ DPEGC -BUR-CUT-01.01

Project 2: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation and documentation of genetic resources of medicinal & aromatic plants, wild economically useful and rare and endangered plants of Odisha and adjoining regions

RC Misra and DR Pani

PGR/ DPEGC -BUR-CUT-01.02

Research achievements of RS, Cuttack

• Three explorations were conducted and 207 accessions comprising cultivated rice, wild rice, cotton, wild relatives of Abelmoschus and Cucumis were collected from Karnataka, West Bengal and Odisha. The significant germplasm collections include salt tolerant rice, salt/waterlogged tolerant and perennial types of cotton, wild relatives of okra, Cucumis and high valued medicinal plants viz, Ocimum kilimandscharicum, Mucuna pruriens var. utilis and Hedychium coronarium. Occurrence of Abelmoschus angulosus var. mahendragiriensis.

• A set of 326 accessions comprising cultivated rice (162), wild Oryza spp. (95), Ocimum spp. (43), Mucuna pruriens (8), Hibiscus sabdariffa (18) were characterized/evaluated and promising accessions viz. cultivated rice: IC-618918 and 618927 for submergence tolerance; Ocimum spp.: IC-589184, 599368, 599337, 599362, 599299 and 599357 for high herbage yield and essential oil content; Mucuna


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pruriens: IC-599290 for high L-dopa content (7.09%); Hibiscus sabdariffa: IC-610799, 614084 and 610747 for higher protein, fiber and iron content were identified.

• A total of 3381 acc comprising cultivated rice (3039), wild Oryza spp. (169), wild cucurbits (43), Ocimum spp. (43), Mucuna pruriens (8), Hibiscus sabdariffa (18), Dioscorea spp. (21), Abelmoschus spp. (15), Hibiscus spp (3), Cucumis spp. (14), Costus spp. (5), others (3) were regenerated/ vegetatively propagated for seed multiplication, characterization and evaluation. A set of 1505 acc was deposited for LTS in NGB, NBPGR, New Delhi. In addition, 75 processed herbarium specimens including two type specimens of Abelmoschus angulosus var. mahendragiriensis, a new taxonomic variety, collected from the Eastern Ghats of Odisha were conserved at the NHCP, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi.

• A total of 587 accessions under 222 species comprising M&AP (257), horticultural crops (6), tuber/aroid crops (45), Ocimum spp. (43), Mucuna spp. (8), H. sabdariffa (18), wild Oryza spp. (169), wild crop relatives such as wild Abelmoschus (15), Hibiscus spp. (3), Cucumis spp. (14), Solanum spp. (2), Costus speciosus (5), Hedychium coronarium (1), Nicandra physalodes (1) were maintained in the FGB/experimental plots of the centre. A total of 134 acc comprising cultivated rice (38), wild rice (37), Gossypium hirsutum (32), G. barbadense (9), Mucuna spp. (6) and Dioscorea spp. (12) were supplied to three different ICAR institutes and 2475 accessions of cultivated rice were received from ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi.

• Organized two plant genetic resources awareness programmes, two exhibition stalls, one orientation-cum-field level training and collected detailed household information of 50 farmers, distributed four rice varieties (among 10 farmers), imparted one day training on use of RICE EXPERT APPS (35 farmers), attended exposure visit of 22 farmers to ICAR-NRRI and ICAR-NBPGR Base Centre, Cuttack under MGMG programme and published five research papers in national/ international journals.

ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station, Ranchi


IRC Project Code

Programme: Augmentation, Characterization, Evaluation, Maintenance, Regeneration, Conservation, Documentation and Distribution of Genetic Resources in Bihar, Jharkhand and adjoining Areas

SK Bishnoi PGR/ DPEGC -BUR-RAN-01.00

Project 1: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration,

SK Bishnoi, SB Choudhary (w.e.f.

PGR/ DPEGC -BUR-RAN-01.01


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conservation and documentation of genetic resources of agricultural crops, their wild relatives and economic species including medicinal plants

10-07-2017) and AK Gupta

Project 2: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation, documentation of genetic resources of horticultural crops and perennial medicinal plants

SB Choudhary (w.e.f. 10-07-2017), SK Bishnoi and AK Gupta

PGR/ DPEGC -BUR-RAN-01.02

Research achievements of RS, Ranchi

• A total of 83 diverse accessions belonging to Maize (43), Chilli (17), Brinjal (3) and wild Solanum sp. (20) were collected from Chhattisgarh. While, 26 accessions of Jamun and its wild relatives, 20 accessions of monkey-jack and 9 accessions of Saraca asoca were collected from Jharkhand.

ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station, Shillong


IRC Project Code

Programme: Augmentation, Characterization, Evaluation, Maintenance, Regeneration, Conservation, Documentation and Distribution of Plant Genetic Resources in North-Eastern India

AK Misra PGR/ DPEGC-BUR-SHL-01.00

Project 1: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation and documentation of genetic resources of agricultural crops (paddy-low land/upland, maize, and mustard) and their wild relatives

AK Misra, Harish GD and Subarna Hajong

PGR/ DPEGC-BUR-SHL-01.01

Project 2: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation and documentation of genetic resources of horticultural crops (chilli, ginger,

AK Misra, Harish GD, Subarna Hajong



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• Among field crops 71 accessions of rice, 29 accessions of finger millet were evaluated for yield attributing traits.

• A total of 134 accessions of bael, 39 accessions of jamun and 168 accessions of jackfruit were characterized for agro-morphological traits using standard descriptors.

• A total of 52 jamun accessions, 162 bael, 246 jackfruit,19 Aonla,34 banana, 14 barhal, 25 mehandi, 14 drumstick, 51 tamarind accessions have been maintaining in Field Gene Bank at the station.

Research achievements of RS, Ranchi • Four exploration trips were undertaken during the period–

1. An exploration was undertaken in collaboration with IISR, Kozhikode to collect Zingiber and Curcuma species from Karbi-Anglong and Dima Hasao Districts of Assam during November 14 to 24, 2017. A total of 71 germplasm accessions were collected covering eight species of Curcuma and Zingiber genera.

2. Exploration was undertaken during November 15 to 20, 2017 in collaboration with NBPGR Headquarters and ICAR RC for NEHR, Umiam, in the soh-phlang (Flemingia procumbens) growing districts of Meghalaya viz. East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, Jaintia hills and Ri-bhoi. In total 27 variable germplasm of soh-phlang were collected from these districts.

3. A collection tour in collaboration with NBPGR, Headquarters was undertaken during October 25 to November 4, 2017 to collect Landraces of Native Crops from Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh. A total of 140 accessions were collected.

4. An exploration was under taken covering three districts of Meghalaya i.e. East Khasi Hills, East Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills from March 16 to 20, 2018 in collaboration with ICAR-Complex for NEH Region. A total of fifteen diverse wild Musa germplasm was collected belonging to the species Musa acuminata (11) and Musa balbisiana (4).

• A total of 20 accessions of maize, 40 ginger accessions, 150 turmeric accessions conserved in Field gene bank and 04 germplasm, one each of Cymbopogon khasianus (lemon grass), Kaempheria galangal, Pongostemon cablin (patchouli) and Curcuma caesia (kali haldi) from CSIR –NEISI, Jorhat were characterized.

• A total of 607 accessions of maize and 420 accessions of rice including lowland rice (70), upland rice (350) are being maintained. Underutilized crops Coix (60) and

turmeric, yams, taros, Citrus, banana and other horticultural crops) and their wild relatives

Project 3: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation and documentation of genetic resources of potential crops (rice bean, Coix, Perilla and buck wheat) and their wild relatives

Harish GD, AK Misra and Subarna Hajong



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buckwheat (60) are also maintained. In addition to these crops, in field gene bank (FGB) banana (45), Colocasia (72), Dioscorea (30) Chilli (70) and fruit crops like Citrus (10), guava (7) as well as M&APs are also being maintained.

• A total of 163 accessions of rice (93), maize (24), rice-bean (45) and Kaempferia galanga (1) were supplied to indenters as per MTA.

• Publications: Research paper: 05; Popular/technical article: 01; Proceedings: 06; Presentation in seminars/symposia: 04

ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station, Srinagar


IRC Project Code

Project 1: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation, documentation and distribution of genetic resources from Jammu and Kashmir region

Sheikh M Sultan and Susheel Kumar Raina

PGR/ DPEGC -BUR-SRI-01.00

Research achievements of RS, Srinagar

• During the period under report one multicrop germplasm exploration and collection programme from remote areas including extreme border locations in Tulail area (Gurez valley) of Bandipur district and in Machil area of Kupwara district of Kashmir not covered earlier by the Bureau was conducted in collaboration with the HQ. 131 valuable germplasm accessions of cultivated crops (56) and crop wild relatives (75), belonging to 36 taxa and 53 species including unique and first time collected germplasm were collected during this programme. The collected germplasm included that of cereals, pseudocereals, millets, grain legumes, vegetables, fruits, minor fruits, oil seeds, medicinal and aromatic plants, spices and condiments and forages. Some interesting and unique germplasm accessions collected include naked barley with reddish tinge from Tulail area (SHEIKH/KP-706); sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. turkestanica) with slightly bigger and heavier fruits from Sheikhpora Tulail (SHEIKH/KP-703); climbing type soybean with variegated seeds from Budgam area (SHEIKH/KP/SR-674) and Crataegus pseudoheterophylla - spineless hawthorn species with deep cleft leaves bearing single seeded bigger red fruits collected from Kupwara area (SHEIKH/KP-746). Besides the germplasm thus collected, more than 80 herbarium specimens of cultivated plants/wild relatives/minor economic plants were collected along with field notes and ethnobotanical information. These herbarium specimens included that of Rubus armeniacus collected from outskirts of Sopore town in Baramulla district. The species


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was not reported from India so far. All the specimens have been deposited at NHCP, ICAR-NBPGR New Delhi.

• A total of 366 accessions comprising of wheat (202), barley (107), pea (38) and garlic (19) were characterized for their agro-morphological traits as per the minimal descriptors during rabi 2016-17 under rain fed conditions and based on different traits superior/promising genotypes were identified in each of these crops. Eleven accessions of maize germplasm have also been evaluated for their protein, oil and fatty acid contents during the period under report. Protein content in these genotypes varied from 10.7 % (IC-0617884) to 18.7 % (IC-0617877), while oil content ranged from 2.26% (IC-0617874) to 4.80 % (IC-0617881).

• Besides 83 out of 131 multi-crop germplasm accessions collected during exploration programme in 2017, 25 accessions of common beans, fenugreek, coriander and oat were multiplied and conserved in NGB. 65 germplasm accessions of Allium cepa var. proliferum (pran) (09), Allium sativum (18), Allium ampeloprasum (02), strawberry (03), mint (01), Iris (1), Dioscorea deltoidea (25) and Bunium persicum (6) are being maintained in the experimental field.

• 297 germplasm accessions of different crops were supplied to different indenters for research purpose. The germplasm included fenugreek (5) supplied to Department of Vegetable Sciences, College of Horticulture, Halladkari, Bidar Karnataka; wheat (99) and barley (100) to SKUAST (K) Zanaskar Kargil station; Dioscorea deltoidea (25) and Alliums (13) to Tissue Culture & Cryopreservation Unit, ICAR-NBPGR New Delhi; rapeseed mustard (31), pea (12) and wild chickpea (1) to Division of Plant Breeding & Genetics, SKUAST (K) Wadoora Campus and garlic (11) to School of Biotechnology, SKUAST (J) Jammu. Eight (08) quintals of Oat seed produced at the Farm have been supplied to SKUAST (K) for distribution among the farmers.

• A revenue of Rs.96, 120/- was generated. • Publications: 2

DIVISION OF PLANT QUARANTINE (DPQ)


IRC Project Code

Programme: Quarantine Processing of Plant Germplasm under Exchange and Supportive Research

SC Dubey PGR/DPQ-BUR-DEL-01.00

Project 1: Detection and identification of fungi and bacteria in quarantine and supportive research

Baleshwar Singh, SC Dubey, J Akhtar, Pardeep Kumar, Raj Kiran and AK Maurya

PGR/ DPQ-BUR-DEL-01.01


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Project 2: Detection and identification of viruses in quarantine and supportive research

V Celia Chalam, DB Parakh (till May 31, 2018), Pooja Kumari and AK Maurya

PGR/ DPQ -BUR-DEL-01.02

Project 3: Detection and identification of insect and mite pests in quarantine and supportive research

Kavita Gupta, Shashi Bhalla (till Jan 31, 2018), SP Singh, T. Boopathi (w.e.f. 11 August 2018) and DS Meena


Project 4: Detection and identification of nematode pests in quarantine and supportive research

Z Khan and BH Gawade PGR/ DPQ -BUR-DEL-01.04

Project 5: Detection and identification of intercepted weeds in quarantine and supportive research

Mool Chand Singh, Madhu Bala Priyadarshi (on study leave w.e.f. 28-07-2017) and DS Meena


Project 6: Quarantine treatments for disinfestation/ disinfection of germplasm under exchange against different pests and supportive research

SP Singh, Baleshwar Singh, Shashi Bhalla (till Jan 31, 2018), Kavita Gupta, J Akhtar, BH Gawade, Pardeep Kumar (w.e.f. 11 August 2018), Raj Kiran (w.e.f. 11 August 2018), Pooja Kumari (w.e.f. 11 August 2018), T. Boopathi (w.e.f. 11 August 2018) AK Maurya and DS Meena


Project 7: Quarantine processing of imported transgenic germplasm and supportive research

Baleshwar Singh (w.e.f. Feb, 2018), Shashi Bhalla (till Jan 31, 2018), V Celia Chalam, Kavita Gupta (w.e.f. Feb, 2018), J Akhtar (w.e.f. Feb, 2018), Z Khan, DS Meena and AK Maurya


Project 8: Seed health testing for conservation of indigenous germplasm including in-vitro cultures free from pests

J Akhtar, SC Dubey, Baleshwar Singh, Shashi Bhalla (till Jan 31, 2018), DB Parakh (till May 31,



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2018), V Celia Chalam, Kavita Gupta, Mool Chand Singh, Z Khan, SP Singh, T. Bhoopathi (w.e.f. 11 August 2018), BH Gawade, Pardeep Kumar, Raj Kiran, Pooja Kumari, Veena Gupta, Sushil Pandey, Sandhya Gupta AK Maurya, DS Meena and Smita Lenka Jain

Project 9*: Detection of viruses in in vitro cultures of germplasm meant for conservation

DB Parakh (till May 31, 2018), V Celia Chalam, Pooja Kumari, Sandhya Gupta and AK Maurya


Project 10*: Molecular based detection, identification and characterization of fungi and bacteria infecting plant genetic resources in quarantine

Pardeep Kumar, SC Dubey, J Akhtar, BH Gawade and Raj Kiran


*projects merged with other projects now. Division will have eight projects only.

Research achievements of DPQ

• A total 1,00,566 samples (Import: 99,010 and export: 1,556) comprising germplasm accessions, nurseries/trial, breeding material of various crops including both true seed and vegetative propagules were processed for the detection of associated pests. A total of 1,629 samples were infested/ infected with various pests (insects/ mites- 316 including 249 with hidden infestation, nematodes- 281, fungi/ bacteria- 893, viruses- 31, weeds- 108). Of the total infected samples, 332 were rejected while 1,297 samples were salvaged before release. The interceptions include several pests of which one insect, 5 viruses and 8 weeds are quarantine pests and not yet reported from India.

• Of the 4,474 imported samples exposed to X-ray radiography for detection of hidden infestation, 249 samples were infested. A total of 1,297 samples were salvaged by various physical and chemical treatments. The insect infested samples (316) were salvaged by- X-ray radiography (249), fumigation (47), cold treatment (12) and mechanical cleaning (8). Of the 893 fungal infected samples, 614 were salvaged while 279 were rejected. All the nematode infested (281) and weed contaminated (77) samples were salvaged.

• Prophylactic treatments include fumigation to 7,636 seed samples, pesticidal dip/spray treatment to 619 vegetative propagules, hot water treatment to 3161 paddy samples, ethyl alcohol wash to 305 samples and 10% tri-sodium orthophosphate treatment to 796 samples.


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• A total 1,556 indigenous samples of various crops were exported to various countries like UK, Taiwan, Philippines, USA, Bangladesh, Bolivia and Tanzania. A total 9 phytosanitary certificates were issued.

• A total of 1221 samples of exotic germplasm comprising Glycine max (246), Phaseolus vulgaris (632), Pisum sativum (17), Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (8), Vigna mungo (8), Vigna radiata (15), V. radiata var. radiata (268), V. trilobata (2), V. umbellata (25) were grown in PEQ greenhouses at Headquarters. A total of 14 post-entry quarantine inspections were carried out at various indenters’ sites during April 2017 to March 2018 in which 19,667 samples of various crops were inspected for presence of exotic pests.

• A total of 20,575 germplasm samples of various crops, received through Division of Germplasm Conservation and 162 samples from TCCU, were processed for seed health testing before conservation in National Genebank and Cry Bank, respectively. Of the total 1,891 infected/ infested samples, 998 samples were infested by insect-pests; 486 infected with fungal pathogens; 310 samples infected with nematodes and 97 samples contaminated with 23 types of weeds seeds. Out of total 1,891 infested samples, 1,790 were salvaged by various methods: X-ray radiography (21), cold treatment (1718) and mechanical (51) while 101 samples could not be salvaged, hence, rejected.

Supportive Research • Information on pests of tropical and sub-tropical fruits was compiled on the

parameters viz., scientific name of the pest/ synonym(s), order/ family, pathway of introduction, host range, geographical distribution, economic losses/ physiological variation and phytosanitary risk and published as an edited volume.

• Supportive research was undertaken on detection of Phomopsis helianthi from safflower, genetic diversity analysis of Curvularia lunata and Colletotrichum spp., development of multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of Alternaria brassicicola and Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, phylogenetic analysis of Bipolaris and Curvularia species infecting seeds, diagnostics for plant viruses and development of thermal disinfestation treatments for insect pests.

• Also, undertook supportive research under three externally funded projects currently operational in the Division.

• The publication summary includes- research papers (22), authored book (1), edited book (1), book chapters (13), technical bulletins (3), chapters in training manuals (4), technical/popular articles (1), report (1), abstract book (1), e-publications (14), Guidelines (1) and CDs (5).


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ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station, Hyderabad


IRC Project Code

Programme 1: Quarantine Processing of Plant Germplasm under Exchange and Supportive Research

B Sarath Babu

PGR/DPQ-BUR-HYD-01.00

Project 1.1: Detection, identification and control of pests associated with import and export of seed/ plant material

K Anitha, B Sarath Babu, SK Chakrabarty, N Sivaraj, Prasanna Holajjer (w.e.f. Apr 15, 2017) and Babu Abraham


Project 1.2: Post-entry quarantine processing of imported germplasm

SK Chakrabarty, B Sarath Babu, K Anitha, Prasanna Holajjer (w.e.f. Apr 15, 2017) and Babu Abraham


Programme 2: Augmentation, Characterization, Evaluation, Maintenance, Regeneration, Conservation, Documentation and Distribution of Genetic Resources of South East Coastal Zone

B Sarath Babu


Project 2.1: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation, documentation and distribution of genetic resources of agricultural crops (cereals, millets, pulses, oilseeds etc.) and their wild relatives

V Kamala, SR Pandravada, N Sivaraj, P Pranusha and Babu Abraham

PGR/ DPQ -BUR-HYD-02.01

Project 2.2: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation, documentation and distribution of genetic resources of horticultural crops (vegetables, fruits, spices, medicinal and

SR Pandravada, V Kamala, N Sivaraj, P Pranusha, Prasanna Holajjer (w.e.f. Apr 15, 2017) and Babu Abraham

PGR/ DPQ -BUR-HYD-02.02


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aromatic plants etc.) and their wild relatives

Research achievements of RS, Hyderabad Programme 1: Quarantine Processing of Plant Germplasm Under Exchange and Supportive Research

• Crop germplasm (49,047 samples+ 355 Svalbard samples) consisting of imports (30,503) and exports (18,544 + 355 Svalbard samples) was examined for quarantine clearance. In all, 81 Phytosanitary certificates were issued to the crop samples meant for export.

• During processing important fungal interceptions on different crop germplasm were Maize: Pestalotia macrotricha from Mexico and Zimbabwe and Lasiodiplodia theobromae from Thailand; Sorghum: Colletotrichum dematium from Argentina; Colletotrichum graminicola, Choanephora sp. and Phaeotrichoconis sp. from Mali; Stemphylium sp. from Egypt; Chickpea: Botrytis cinerea from Australia; Bittergourd: Colletotrichum dematium, Lasiodiplodia sp., Pestalotia macrotricha and Diplocladiella scaroides from Thailand; Chilli: Drechslera setariae, Phoma sp., Curvularia lunata from Taiwan; Brinjal: Phoma sp on from Taiwan; Pumpkin: Colletotrichum acutatum and Choanephora sp. from Vietnam Okra: Ascochyta sp. and Choanephora sp. from USA. Insect pests: Sitophilus granarius on maize from Thailand and Mexico.

• Of the 25,672 imported samples released, 7,002 infected samples were found and 6994 were salvaged using the specific treatments before release. The unsalvaged samples (08) consisting of one accession of chickpea from Australia due to Botrytis cinerea and one accession of soybean from Canada due to downy mildew pathogen, Peronospora manshurica and 06 accessions of maize from South Africa due to mold fungi were rejected. In all, 22,648 samples were given different prophylactic mandatory treatments to safeguard them against seedborne pathogens.

• PEQ inspections were conducted on crop germplasm (8,038 samples) (Private companies- 3173; ICRISAT-4207 (field), ICRISAT glass house 606 and NBPGR Greenhouse-52 samples). Maize accessions from South Africa infected with downy mildew (Sclerophthora sp) and southern corn leaf blight (Drechslera maydis) incidence; Cauliflower accessions infected with black rot disease (Xanthomonas campestris pv campestris) from France and Netherlands; bacterial wilt, Ralstonia solanacearum on groundnut from Niger, Cercospora abelmoschi and Okra yellow vein mosaic virus on okra from USA were the major interceptions in post-entry quarantine isolation area.

• Quarantine processing of exotic consignments of crop germplasm resulted in the resource generation of Rs. 22, 64, 105/-.


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Programme 2: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, screening, regeneration, conservation and distribution of genetic resources of South East Coastal Zone

• One collaborative (ICAR-IIMR, Hyderabad) exploration undertaken, for collection

of Sorghum landraces, wild legumes and cucurbits from parts of Prakasam,

Krishna and Guntur districts of Andhra Pradesh. 150 collections made. Important

landraces collected: sorghum – chitta jonna, erra jonna, gaddi jonna, pachcha jonna,

tellajonna; bitter gourd – chitti kakara, potti kakara; bottle gourd – peta sorakaya;

sesame – nallanuvvulu, tellanuvvulu. Also associated in ICAR-IIHR exploration for

Tamarind in Mahaboobnagar and Adilabad districts of Telangana in which 48

accessions (pods and scions) were sampled.

• 1,150 accs. of various agri-horticultural crops were characterized/ evaluated/

multiplied including linseed (100), amaranths (126) and pillipesara bean (30)

during Rabi 2016-17; browntop millet (37), Italian millet (78), maize (86), sesame

(308), brinjal (112), pillipesara bean (30) and chillies (165) during Kharif 2017; and

field bean (48) and dolichos bean (30) during Rabi 2017-18. Also 107 collections of

various crops were multiplied for long-term conservation in NGB. Field Day for

Sesame Germplasm organized in collaboration with ICAR-Indian Institute of

Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad.

• Varieties Released/Recommended from Stations' germplasm: Coriander variety

‘Susthira’ (SH-3517 (LCC-219/ NIC-18280/ IC-623167) by Dr.YSR Horticultural

University. ‘Mithra’ Yardlong bean variety (KV/TSA -27 / IC 582850) by KAU.

• Germplasm Conserved and Distributed: 420 accessions (paddy (13), pigeon pea

mini-core (139), chillies (93), green gram (25) and millets (150) sent for LTS in NGB.

150 accs including sorghum, cucurbits and wild species were sent to GHU for MTS

and allotment of IC numbers. 69 accessions of various millets germplasm were

shared with ICAR-IIMR, Hyderabad as NAGS. 544 accs (voucher samples from

exploration (150), multiplied germplasm (394 accessions) were added to MTM at RS

Hyderabad. Also conserved 300 samples of millets, pulses and oilseeds received

under the RKVY Project. Germination and seedling vigour were tested in 1,000

accessions comprising of black gram, green gram and chillies stored in the MTM for

over 10 years. 1,187 accessions of various crops and wild relatives including 12 crops

and 5 wild species were supplied to 30 organizations including ICAR institutes and

SAUs against 33 indents.

• Publications-46 (Research papers- 30/ Symposia papers- 3/ Book Chapters- 1/

Technical Flyers/ Popular articles- 12).


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DIVISION OF GENOMIC RESOURCES (DGR)


IRC Project Code

Programme: Development of Genomic Tools for Identification, Protection and Enhanced Utilization of PGRs

Gurinderjit Randhawa PGR/DGR-BUR-DEL-01.00

Project 1: Development of genomic tools for discovery and validation of genes of economic importance for enhancing the use of plant genetic resources of pulses and oilseed crops

Rajesh Kumar, KV Bhat (till 30 Nov, 2017), S Marla, J Radhamani, JK Yasin, DP Wankhede, Rashmi Yadav, S Rajkumar, R. Parimalan, Amit Kumar Singh (w.e.f. 11 August 2018), Vikender Kaur (w.e.f. 23 August, 2018) and SK Singh (w.e.f. 11 August 2018)

PGR/ DGR-BUR-DEL-01.01

Project 2: Development of genomic tools for enhanced utilization of cereals

Rakesh Singh, MC Yadav, Sundeep Kumar, AK Singh, R Parimalan and Sheel Yadav


Project 3: Development of genomic tools for enhanced utilization of millets

Lalit Arya, Monika Singh, Mamta Singh (w.e.f. 20 Sept 2017) and Sapna (w.e.f. 29 June 2018)


Project 4: Development of genomic tools for enhanced utilization of horticultural crops

AB Gaikwad, M Verma, S Archak, K Joseph John and Diksha Gautam


Project 5: Development of genomic tools for species delineation and genetic erosion studies in selected crops.

MC Yadav, S Rajkumar, S Marla, J Radha Mani, DR Pani, N Dixit (till 30 June 2018) and M Latha


Project 6: Establishment and maintenance of national genomic

S Marla, KV Bhat (till 30 Nov, 2017), MC Yadav, MK Rana, Lalit Arya, M Verma, TK Mondal,



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resources repository and bioinformatics facility

Sundeep Kumar, S Raj Kumar, Rajesh Kumar, AK Singh, JK Yasin, R Parimalan, Sheel Yadav (on study leave w.e.f. 28 July 2018), DP Wankhede, Monica Singh, Rekha Chaudhury and SK Singh

Project 7: Development of DNA based diagnostics for transgene detection and impact analyses of GM crops on plant biodiversity

GJ Randhawa and Monika Singh


Project 8: Development of unique identity system for cultivars and genetic stocks for IPR protection

MK Rana, KV Bhat (till 30 Nov, 2017), AB Gaikwad, Rakesh Singh, Lalit Arya, Manjusha Verma, Sundeep Kumar, Rajesh Kumar, S Rajkumar, R Parimalan, AK Singh, Sheel Yadav (on study leave w.e.f. 28 July 2018), DP Wankhede, Yasin YK and SK Singh


Research achievements of DGR • DNA fingerprinting for 261 samples (22 crops) from public and private sector

organization for varietal confirmation, seed purity, hybrid testing and genetic

diversity analysis was done.

• A total of 500 genomic resources (23 crops) was augmented in the National Genomics

Resources Repository resulting in a total holding of 5816 accessions (44 crops).

• Genetic diversity analysis was carried out in rice, millets, bottle gourd, barley and

Luffa of more than 250 accessions

• A rice diversity database with 729 cultivars using 35 SNPs and 36 SSRs has been

developed for similarity identification of unknown rice variety / germplasm using

SNP/SSR profiles.

• InDel based STS marker developed to differentiate traditional Basmati from non-

Basmati.

• Marker development (SNPs and SSRs) was done in several crops, viz., pepper, pigeon

pea and millets.


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• A popular diploid black pepper landrace ‘Thottumuriyan’ of Kerala-Karnataka region

(2n=26, estimated genome size of 530Mb) has been sequenced at 80X coverage

using PacBio, Illumina and IRYS platforms.

• Putative orthologs of regulators of Kranz anatomy in maize (cytoskeleton related

protein, kinases and TFs) were compared to distinguish between C3 and C4

(Poaceae) at the amino acid level.

• An efficient and rapid LAMP screening method was developed targeting rice actin

promoter (P-ract) and nos promoter (P-nos) and Globally approved GM cotton events

(35) were used to construct a GMO matrix with 24 genetic elements for a decision

support system.

• GM Detection Research Facility has been accredited as per International standards

ISO: IEC 17025:2005 by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration

Laboratories (NABL) a constituent Board of Quality Council of India.

• GM Detection Research Facility is designated as National Referral Laboratory to

detect the presence or absence of LMOs and GMOs under sub-section (1) of Section 4

of the Seeds Act, 1966 in the Gazette of India Notification (DAC&FW, MoA&FW, Govt.

of India) dated 15 November 2017.

DIVISION OF GERMPLASM EVALUATION (DGE)


IRC Project Code

Programme: Characterization, Evaluation and Documentation of Genetic Resources of Agri-horticultural Crops

Ashok Kumar (w.e.f. 01Sept 2017), JC Rana (till 31August 2017)

PGR/ DGE -BUR-DEL-01.00

Project 1: Characterization, evaluation and documentation of wheat, barley and triticale germplasm

Jyoti Kumari, Sandeep Kumar, Sundeep Kumar, Vikender Kaur, Ruchi Bansal, SK Kaushik and Pardeep Kumar (w.e.f. 11 August 2018) and YS Rathi


Project 2: Characterization, evaluation and

Ashok Kumar, Jyoti Kumari, Ishwar Singh, Sapna (w.e.f. 29 June 2018) and RK Sharma



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documentation of maize germplasm

Project 3: Characterization, evaluation and documentation of pulses germplasm

Gayacharan (w.e.f. 1 May 2018), NK Gautam (till 30 April 2018), Rakesh Bhardwaj, Ruchi Bansal, Soma Marla, Jameel Akhtar, Kuldeep Tirpathi, Kumari Shubha (till July 2018), Z. Khan (w.e.f. 11 August 2018), Nand Lal Meena (w.e.f. 2 July 2018), T Bhupathi (w.e.f. 11 August 2018), Mamta Singh (w.e.f. 20 August 2017) and Babu Ram


Project 4: Characterization, evaluation and documentation of oil seeds germplasm

Rashmi Yadav, Sandeep Kumar, Vijay Singh Meena, Vikender Kaur, Mamta Singh (w.e.f. 20 August 2017), Jameel Akhtar (w.e.f. 11 August 2018), Sapna (w.e.f. 29 June 2018) and BL Meena


Project 5: Characterization, evaluation and documentation of vegetable, fruits and ornamental crops germplasm

KK Gangopadhyay, Rakesh Srivastava, Vijay Singh Meena, SK Yadav, Vinod Kumar, Pragya, Pooja Kumari, Bharat Gawade, Bharat Bhushan, Kumari Shubha (till 13 July 2018), Rajkiran (w.e.f. 23 June 2018), T Boopathi (w.e.f. 07 August 2018) and Nand Lal Meena (w.e.f. 02 July 2018),


Project 6: Biochemical evaluation of field and vegetable crops germplasm

Rakesh Bhardwaj, Sandeep Kumar, Manjusha Verma, Bharat Bhushan (till 07 July 2018)), Vijay Singh Meena (w.e.f. 31 March 2017), Sapna (w.e.f. 29 June 2018), Nand Lal Meena (w.e.f. 02 July 2018) and Poonam Suneja


Project 7: Characterization and evaluation of medicinal and aromatic plants germplasm

Archana P Raina, Ashok Kumar, Ishwar Singh, Rakesh Singh and BS Panwar



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Project 8: Evaluation for biotic stress tolerance in field and vegetable crops

TV Prasad (06-07-2017), Z Khan, Rakesh Bhardwaj, KK Gangopadhyay Rakesh Srivastava, Reetu (from 16-08-2017 to 05-07-2017) and Kumari Shubha (proposed to be closed and PI will submit RPP-III)


Project 9: Evaluation for abiotic stress tolerance in field crops germplasm

Ruchi Bansal, Vikender Kaur, Rashmi Yadav, Jyoti Kumari, Gayacharan, Kuldeep Tripathi, MC Yadav, Mamta Singh (w.e.f. 20 August 2017) and Nand Lal Meena (w.e.f. 02 July 2018)


Project 10: Characterization of wild species and pre-breeding in selected crops

Vinod Kumar, JC Rana (till 31 August 2017), Gayacharan, KK Gangopadhyay, NK Gautam (till 30 April 2018), Mohar Singh, MK Rana, Kuldeep Tripathi, M Latha and R Gowthami (w.e.f. 11 August 2018)


Project 11: Characterization, evaluation and documentation of potential crops germplasm

SK Kaushik, BS Phogat, SK Yadav, Hanuman Lal, Archana P. Raina and Rakesh Srivastava


Project 12: Application of statistical techniques in management of information on plant genetic resources

HL Raiger

PGR/ DGE-BUR-DEL-01.12

Research achievements of DGE • A total of 12,529 accessions comprising wheat (1,858), barley (5000), maize (800),

lentil (1020), pea (320), mungbean (1231), urdbean (851), cowpea (525), oilseeds (1217), tomato (550), bottle gourd (55), amaranth (20), faba bean (51) and chenopodium (13), Ocimum (84) and Andrographis (42) were characterized for agro-morphological traits. Also, inter-specific F9 derivatives (228) developed using Lens ervoides (ILWL30) and L. orientalis (ILWL62) with L. culinaris (cultivated) were evaluated and promising recombinant inbred lines were identified for various agronomic traits.

• Under biotic stresses, mungbean (770 acc.), urdbean (771 acc.), brinjal wild species Solanum incanum (55 acc.), okra wild species (269 acc.) were raised for preliminary


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screening and in advanced screening a total of 86 accessions of okra wild species Abelmoschus moschatus were evaluated for okra yellow vein mosaic (OYVMD) and okra enation leaf curl (OELCD) diseases. In addition, 285 accessions of various crops were evaluated for their host status to root-knot nematode. Three accessions of cowpea (EC528330, EC528410 and EC528425) were found resistant against Callosobruchus maculatus (Bruchid) under artificial seed infestation. Wild species of okra (Abelmoschus caillei, A tetraphyllus, A tuberculatus, A moschatus) accessions (269) were evaluated for yellow vein mosaic and Enation leaf curl disease and A. moschatus showed resistance.

• Under abiotic stresses, a total of 571 accessions comprising of wheat minicore (228 acc.) rice (84 acc.) and maize (109 acc.) were evaluated against drought stress and promising accessions were identified. In addition, 150 urdbean accessions were evaluated under water logging and two accessions (IC530491, IC530489) were found tolerant.

• Quality parameters for 2,504 accessions comprising different crops viz., wheat (174), rapeseed-mustard (600), linseed (200), and potential crops (830) were studied. A total of 174 samples of medicinal and aromatic plants were evaluated for various phyto-chemical constituents. The value rich accessions namely IC262137 (43.88%), IC491430 (42.70%), IC394357 (42.70%), IC342991 (42.66%), IC281700 (42.51%), IC312545 (42.28%), IC341108 (42.08%) were found in Indian mustard.

• Under CRP on Agro-biodiversity-PGR (Component-II-Evaluation for Use), 4,463 accessions comprising of rice (1,000), wheat (541), rapeseed-mustard (841), chickpea (262) and okra (560), were evaluated at AICRP centres/ hotspots for biotic and abiotic stresses.

• For enhanced utilization of germplasm, five germplasm field days on maize (1), Kharif pulses and oilseeds (1), rabi pulses (1), wheat & barley (1) and Rabi oilseeds (1) were organized. More than 150 scientists from ICAR institutes and SAUs attended and selected germplasm of their choice. A total of 9,256 accessions of various crops were supplied to 69 indenters belonging to different ICAR institutes, SAUs and other research institutes for their use in crop improvement.

ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station, Akola


IRC Project Code

Programme: Augmentation, Characterization, Evaluation, Maintenance, Regeneration, Conservation and Documentation of

Dinesh Chand (w.e.f. 01 July 2018), N Dikshit (till 30 June 2018)

PGR/DGE-BUR-AKO-01.00


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Genetic Resources in the Central Indian Plains

Project 1: Augmentation,

characterization, evaluation,

maintenance, regeneration,

conservation, documentation and

distribution of genetic resources of

Cereals, pulses (pigeon pea and

chickpea), vegetables (okra) and under-

utilized crops (winged bean and

amaranth).

Dinesh Chand, N.

Dikshit (till 30 June

2018) and Sunil S.

Gomashe

PGR/ DGE-BUR-

AKO-01.01

Project 2: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation, documentation and distribution of genetic resources of oil seeds (sesame, niger, castor, ground nut, safflower, soybean and linseed), millets and minor millets.

Sunil S. Gomashe (w.e.f. 1 July 2018), N. Dikshit (till 30 June 2018), and Dinesh Chand

PGR/ DGE-BUR-

AKO-01.02

Research achievements of RS, Akola

• Explorations and collections: Two explorations were conducted during the period under report and a total of 112 accessions were collected. A total of 85 accessions comprising Corchorus, Hibiscus, Aloe vera were collected from Maharashtra. Madhunashni (Gymnema sylvestre) and other medicinal plants were collected from four districts of Madhya Pradesh.

• Characterization and Evaluation: During the reported period a total of 485 accessions were characterized during Kharif 2017 and Rabi 2017-18.

• Germplasm Regeneration: A total of 1567 accessions were grown for regeneration and multiplication. This includes, green gram (200), horse gram (110), Grain Amaranth (1080) and Chickpea (177 accessions).

• Germplasm supply and receipt: Supplied 880 accessions of germplasm of various crops/species to user agencies within India for their research purposes under Material Transfer Agreements. Which comprised of foxtail millet (109), sesame (112), okra (332), finger millet (165), winged bean (60), rice (32) and horse gram (70) accessions. Received 40 accessions/varieties of germplasm comprising horse gram (6), green

gram (3), black gram (2), pigeon pea (2), cow pea (2), winged bean (2) and one

accession of barnyard millet (1), grain Amaranth (20) and soybean (2).

• Conservation of germplasm: 16 accessions of Chickpea mini –core sent for long term conservation to the Head, Germplasm Conservation Division, ICAR-NBPGR.


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• Publications: with NAAS rating:11, without NAAS rating: 03, e-publications: 06,

Monitoring under AICRN on Potential crops & CRP on Agro-biodiversity: 02

ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station, Shimla


IRC Project Code

Programme: Augmentation, Characterization, Evaluation, Maintenance, Regeneration, Conservation, Documentation and Distribution of Genetic Resources in North-Western Indian Himalayan Region

Mohar Singh PGR/DGE-BUR-SHM-01.00

Project 1: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation, documentation and distribution of genetic resources of pseudo cereals and pulses and other lesser known hill crops

Mohar Singh, Badal Singh and Rahul and Narender Negi (w.e.f. 1 April 2017)

PGR/ DGE-BUR-SHM-01.01

Project 2: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation, documentation and distribution of genetic resources of temperate fruits, vegetables and medicinal & aromatic plants

Mohar Singh, Narender Negi (w.e.f. 1 April 2017), Badal Singh and Rahul

PGR/ DGE-BUR-SHM-01.02

Research achievements of RS, Shimla • One exploration trip was conducted in Lahaul region of Himachal Pradesh and

explored 78 collections of various crop species, which includes Allium carolinianum (3), Amaranthus caudatus (1), Amaranthus hypochondriacus (3), Amaranthus retroflexus (4), Avena sativa (1), Bunium cylindricum (5), Bunium persicum (11), Chenopodium album (1), Cicer microphyllum (3), Elymus nutans (16), Hordeum vulgare (7), Linum perenne (3), Medicago falcata (9), Pisum sativum (1), Pisum sp. (1), and Prunus aramaniaca (9). Besides, a total of 271 accessions of sixteen chenopod species were introduced from the genebank of USDA-ARS, North Central Regional


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Plant Introduction Station, Ames, USA. In rice bean, total 198 accessions were introduced from Genetic Resource centre NAFRO Japan.

• In pulses, a total of 576 accessions comprising kidney bean (201), adzuki bean (77),

rice bean (232) and cowpea (66) were characterized and some genotypes were

reported as most promising including JCR/JV-2 and EC894829 in kidney bean (high

pods), EC340248 and EC290652 in adzukibean (high pods and clusters). Besides,

total 60 accessions of kidney bean were screened against Uromyces appendiculatus

var. appendiculatus under 4 different locations viz. Bangalore (Karnataka), Jhansi

(UP), Shimla (HP) and Baru Sahib (HP) using controlled screening conditions. Out of

which, two accessions viz. EC500308 and IC361884 were found resistant across all

locations.

• In pseudocereals, a total of 691 accessions comprising of grain amaranth (273),

buckwheat (243) and chenopod (175) were characterized and evaluated for various

agro-morphological traits. The most promising accessions were identified such as,

IC396963 in grain amaranth (seed yield/plant), IC026583 in buckwheat (high

seeds/infl.) and IC258382 in chenopod (high seed yield/plant). Likewise, in grain

amaranth, total 228 F4 derivatives of cross VL44 x PLP-1 were also assessed for

important agronomic traits.

• In horticultural crops, total 121 accessions were characterized and evaluated for

various pomological traits. Some genotypes viz, EC513655 in apple (high TSS & early

maturity), EC126286 in pear (fruit weight and early maturity), IC555355 in plum

(fruit weight and fruit pressure). However, for biochemical estimation, total 16 peach

accessions were evaluated and accession EC468324 found higher TSS, total sugar and

non- reducing sugar. Likewise, in walnut accession EC35719 was observed with

cluster bearing habit and number of nuts/bunches ranged from 7 to 11. Furthermore,

to understand that status of field gene bank health, total 31 pear accessions were

screened for Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) and Apple stem grooving virus

(ASGV) using DAS-ELISA and RT-PCR techniques and four accessions were detective

positive for ACLSV and ASGV viruses i.e., there is need to stop the supply of plants or

bud wood to the researchers and farmers from these infected accessions.

• In capacity building, the station has organized biodiversity day in collaboration with

GSSS, Phagli Shimla to enhance the importance of biodiversity among school children,

four seed demonstration cum exhibition on PGR awareness on the occasion of World

environment day, Himachal Pradesh Science Congress, National Conference on

Alternate Farming, one day farmers interactive meet was conducted in collaboration

with ICAR-IARI, Regional Station Shimla in Chaili Village, Block Mashobra under

MGMG and PGR awareness programme under TSP was organized in Nichar block of

Kinnaur.


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• Successfully attended a specialized training course on “Ensuring the continuum

between conservation and utilization through strengthening pre-breeding activities”

17-27 April 2017 at Rabat Morocco. During the period under report, three articles

were published in PLoS ONE and Plant Breeding journals.

ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station, Thrissur


IRC Project Code

Programme: Augmentation, Characterisation, Evaluation, Maintenance, Regeneration, Conservation, Documentation and Distribution of Plant Genetic Resources in Southern India including Goa and Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Joseph John K. PGR/ DGE -BUR-THR-01.00

Project 1: Augmentation, characterisation, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation, documentation and distribution of genetic resources of field crops and their wild relatives

M Latha, M Abdul Nizar, A Suma, S Mani and A Indira Devi

PGR/ DGE -BUR-THR-01.01

Project 2: Augmentation, characterisation, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation, documentation and distribution of genetic resources of vegetables, tropical tubers, fruit crops and their wild relatives

Joseph John K, M Latha, M Abdul Nizar, Suma A, S Mani, R Ashokan Nair and A Indira Devi


Project 3: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation, documentation and distribution of genetic resources of spices and their wild relatives, medicinal and other economic plants

M Abdul Nizar, Suma A, Joseph John K., M. Latha, S. Mani, R Asokan Nair and A Indira Devi



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Research achievements of RS, Thrissur

• During the period under report three explorations were conducted; the first to eight districts of Kerala, the second to Chitradurga and Davangere districts of Karnataka and the third to Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve in A&N collecting a total of 277 samples comprising mainly of drumstick, vegetables and crop wild relatives. Unique samples collected were 12 named rice landraces namely Kirvan, Inden, Olesal, Hankal, Hamsan, Sannabatha, Gopika, Ambimohari, Sinduram madhusali, Chakavoporiyetan, Kumbalarusali and Adanur sane, vegetable landraces like Rampur local and Manjarikotta local (brinjal), Dharwad melon (salad melon), Nattavarai, chapravarai, chigatti (field bean), JPJ/18-060, a primitive brinjal, JPJ/18 -058 aromatic Alpinia conchigera (used as spice by Nicobaris), JPJ/18-72 Dioscorea piscatorum and JPJ/18-66 Gossypium barbadens.

• 192 of rice, 34 of wild and weedy Oryza species, 11 of oriental pickling melon, 70 of yard long bean and nine of Trichosanthes cucumerina were characterised/evaluated. Superior accessions include - Rice: A landrace namely ‘Krishnakamodhi’ (N/2017-01) collected from Thiruvananthapuram but of Gujarat origin was found to be unique with dark purple husk and bran, black kernel and aroma. Four accessions IC086257, IC086301, IC086302 and IC623323 were found early maturing with 75 days duration. Yard long bean: IC626172 was found to be unique with attractive purplish rose pods which are less or non-fibrous, making it easy to chop. Accessions IC622586, IC622862 and IC622563 were adjudged the best for taste, retention of green color after cooking and general appearance. Black gram: Three black gram collections (LM/14-19, LRM/13-05 and LRM/13-07) were primitive cultivar types and were highly tolerant to YMV disease under field conditions. In green gram LRM/13-13 and LRM/13-18 were found to be field tolerant to YMV disease and high yielding with 60-70 gram seed yield/plant compared to other collections. Malabar tamarind: Two accessions (IC244113-1 & IC550570-1) were found to be early in flowering and fruit maturity (April-May) making easy for processing the rind in contrast to other accessions which mature during monsoon season making the processing difficult.

• Two field days one for okra and Abelmoschus spp. and the other for upland rice and a Farmers meet for vegetables were organized to showcase the variability among 1400 accessions of okra, 200 of rice and the indented germplasm were supplied.

• A total of 8858 accessions comprising 7202 accessions of different crop/plant groups of this station and 1656 accessions received from RARS, Pilicode and IARI, Wellington were maintained in MTS facility and a total of 1898 accessions in 281 species belonging to 195 genera are maintained in field and pots under the shade, net, mist and poly houses. Multiplied and deposited seeds of 840 accessions in 76 crops/species for LTS at NGB. A total of 981 accessions in various crops and wild related species were supplied to 28 user agencies.

• Participation in exhibitions and depicting diversity in NBPGR pavilion: Participated in three exhibitions; (i) National Exhibition on Agriculture, Industry and Culture conducted in connection with the “Thrissur Pooram” Festival at the Vadakkunnathan Temple Ground for 45 days; (ii) Mathrubhoomi Agri-Horti


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Exhibition at Vaikom, Kerala; and (iii) National Science Exhibition in connection with 30th Kerala Science Congress held at Govt. Brennen College, Thalassery, Kannur, Kerala

• Published research papers: 7, Popular articles: 2 and Seminar papers: 4 • Revenue generated: Rs. 1, 26,678/-

DIVISION OF GERMPLASM CONSERVATION (DGC)


IRC Project Code

Programme: Ex Situ Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops using Conventional Methods

Veena Gupta (w.e.f. 28 Oct 2017), RK Tyagi (till 11 August 2017)

PGR/DGC-BUR-DEL-01.00

Project 1: Management of information and national germplasm conservation network and associated research

Anjali Kak, S Archak, J Aravind, BP Dahiya (till 31 March 2018), Rajiv Gambhir, Nirmala Dabral, Rajvir Singh, Satya Prakash and Smita Lenka Jain

PGR/DGC-BUR-DEL-01.01

Project 2: Conservation of grain legume germplasm using conventional seed storage methods and associated research

Neeta Singh, Chitra Devi Pandey, Sherry Rachel Jacob and Padmavati Ganpat Gore (w.e.f. 16 Nov 2017)

PGR/ DGC-BUR-DEL-01.02

Project 3: Conservation of paddy germplasm using conventional seed storage methods and associated research

S Vimala Devi S, Sherry Rachel Jacob, J Aravind, and AD Sharma


Project 4: Conservation of oilseed germplasm using conventional seed storage methods and associated research

J Radhamani, Neeta Singh, Sherry Rachel Jacob (w.e.f. 1 June 2018) and J Aravind



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Project 5: Conservation of germplasm of cereals, other than paddy using conventional seed storage methods and associated research

Sherry Rachel Jacob, Kalyani Srinivasan (till 31 May 2018), J Radhamani and Padmavati Ganpat Gore (w.e.f. 16 Nov 2017)


Project 6: Conservation of germplasm of pseudo-cereals, medicinal and aromatic, narcotics and spices using conventional seed storage methods and associated research

Veena Gupta, Anjali Kak, and Padmavati Ganpat Gore (w.e.f. 16 Nov 2017)


Project 7: Conservation of millets germplasm using conventional seed storage methods and associated research

Sushil Pandey, Chitra Devi Pandey and S Vimala Devi


Project 8: Conservation of fibre and forage germplasm using conventional seed storage methods and associated research

Anjali Kak and Veena Gupta


Project 9: Conservation of vegetable germplasm using conventional seed storage methods and associated research

Chitra Devi Pandey, Neeta Singh and Sushil Pandey


Research achievements of DGC • A total of 25281 accessions (5321 new germplasm and 19960 regenerated

accessions) were conserved in National Genebank during 2017-18, raising the

number of National Genebank holdings to a total of 4,36,779 accessions.

• 64 unique accessions belonging to 11 different crop groups were approved for the

registration, increasing the total registered germplasm to 1,377 belonging to 215

species.

• 13,503 representative accessions of various crops were monitored for their seed

viability, seed quantity and seed health. Of these 862 accessions were identified for

regeneration due to less viability or less seed quantity as per genebank standards.

• A total of 65,652 accessions of different crops were distributed for multiplication,

regeneration, characterization and research purposes (includes CRP AB supplied

germplasm also).

• Three add-on packages were developed in R statistical programming language-

Germinationmetrics, Viabilitymetrics and AugmentedRCBD.


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• Dormancy breaking protocols were standardized in seven wild species of medicinal

plants.

ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station, Bhowali


IRC Project Code

Programme: Augmentation, Characterization, Evaluation, Maintenance, Regeneration, Conservation and Documentation of Genetic Resources of the Northern Himalayas and Adjoining Plains

Mamta Arya (w.e.f. 01 July 2018), IS Bisht (till 30 June 2018)

PGR/DGC-BUR-BH0-01.00

Project 1: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation and documentation of genetic resources of field crops with emphasis on ethno-botanical aspects

Mamta Arya (w.e.f. 07 July 2017), IS Bisht (till 30 June 2018), PS Mehta and Ramit Joshi

PGR/ DGC-BUR-BH0-01.01

Project 2: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation and documentation of genetic resources of temperate horticultural crops

KM Rai (w.e.f. 29 June 2017), IS Bisht (till 30 June 2018) and Ramit Joshi

PGR/ DGC -BUR-BH0-01.02

Project 3: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation and documentation of genetic resources of medicinal and aromatic, wild economically useful, rare and endangered species

KM Rai (w.e.f. 29 June 2017), IS Bisht (till 30 June 2018), Archana P Raina, Mamta Arya (w.e.f. 07 July 2017) and PS Mehta


Project 4: Strengthening benefit enhancing options of native crop diversity for sustainable food, nutrition and livelihood security of farmer households: a case study from Uttarakhand Himalaya

IS Bisht and PS Mehta (August 2015 to June 2018; RPP-III to be submitted)



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Research achievements of RS, Bhowali A total of 1887 accessions were characterized/evaluated for morpho-agronomic traits, and 12517 acc. were conserved (11266 in MTS facility and 1251 in the Field Gene Bank). A total of 1666 accessions were supplied to scientists/other indenters across the country for research use. Elite rooted planting materials (11653 nos.) of horticultural crops, M&AP and WEUP were supplied to different farmers/indenters. Besides, various community level activities were undertaken on aspects related to native food culture, indigenous food sovereignty, food-based approaches to community nutrition and health. A total of Rs 75,335/- was generated from the sale of planting material and farm produce. Germplasm collection and exploration: During reporting period, three explorations were undertaken and a total of 212 accessions comprising agri-horticultural crops and medicinal plants were collected Germplasm characterization/regeneration and evaluation: A total of 1332 accessions including lentil (982 accs.), Triticum spp. (101), Avena spp. (27 accs.), Aegilops spp. (87 accs.), mustard (27 accs.) and others (108 accs.) during Rabi 2016-17; and a total of 804 accessions including amaranths (520), rice (61), minor millets (10), soybean and other legumes (145), Ocimum spp. (58) during Kharif 2017 were grown for characterization/evaluation and seed regeneration. Germplasm conservation in MTS and FGB: A total of 11,266 accessions including cereals (3345), pseudocereals (568), millets (552), legumes (3782), oilseeds (540), vegetables (1563), spices and condiments (716), medicinal and aromatic plants (180) and ornamentals (20) were maintained in MTS module of the station. A total of 1251 accessions of different crops viz. fruit crops (314), flowering perennials (109), Allium spp. (156), arborescent plant species (178), M&AP (445), bamboosetum (38), temperate forage grasses (10) and Hordeum bulbosum (1) are being maintained in field gene bank (FGB) of the station. Germplasm supply: A total of 1666 germplasm accessions including horsegram (251), lentil (988), chilies (50), soybean (80), chamomile (1), cucumber (15), pea (10), wheat (84) and barley (187) were supplied to different indenters. A total of 10,635 live rooted planting materials of M&AP including rosemary (10,565), lavender (60), geranium (5) and brahmi (5), and a total of 1018 live rooted plants of horticultural crops including kiwi (297), passion fruit (8), apricot (2), kagzi lime (298), hill lemon (41), malta (231), strawberry (115), gladiolus (25) and bamboos (1) were supplied to farmers/other indenters. Phytochemicals from threatened medicinal plants: For the production of phytochemicals from threatened medicinal plants viz., Coleus spp., (15 acc.) and Gloriosa superba (12 acc.) are being maintained and conserved in field gene bank and in pots under green house / nethouse conditions.

Anti-oxidant activity from Ocimum spp.: Anti-oxidant activity in leaves of O. b. var pilosum, O.b. var basilicum, O.b. var glabratum, O.b. var difforme, O.b. var purpurascens, O.b. var thyrsiflora, O. viride, O. gratissimum, O. tenuiflorum (green type), O. tenuiflorum (purple


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type), O. kilimandascharium and O. citriodorum were measured using FRAP, DPPH and ABTS assay

Exploration for Hemidesmus indicus and Costus speciosus: For chemotyping and molecular profiling of H. indicus and C. speciosus adapted to different phytogeographical zones; an exploration for collection of C. speciosus was done from different agro-ecologies of Kumaun and Garhwal region of Uttarakhand and 11 populations of C. speciosus were collected. The collected material were planted at RS, Bhowali and part of the samples were dried and preserved for phyto-chemical analysis at CSIR-NBRI, Lucknow.

Mainstreaming farmers’ varieties in Himachal and Uttarakhand: A total of 133 farmers’ varieties “(FV) were collected from farm households of three tribal belts of parts of Uttarakhand, Jaunsar (Dehradun), Jaunpur (Tehri) and Purola valley (Uttarkashi). The unique features of FV are being validated through on-station trials. Indigenous land and food systems in Uttarakhand: A case study on traditional knowledge on use of wild foods in agricultural system in Indian Himalayan region was conducted. Local farming communities gather and consume many edible wild plant resources, forming an important component of their dietary diversity. This study documents a total of about 335 plant species, harvested from wild, as leaves, fruits, flowers, tubers, seeds, twigs, etc. under different farming agro-ecologies that form minor but important food components of the rural communities. The study clearly demonstrated that we need a policy support to combine and enhance the efforts to conserving biodiversity and preserving traditional food systems and farming practices.

ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station, Jodhpur


IRC Project Code

Programme: Augmentation, Characterization, Evaluation, Maintenance, Regeneration, Conservation, Documentation and Distribution of Genetic Resources in Arid and Semi-arid Regions

Om Vir Singh

PGR/DGC-BUR-JOD-01.00

Project 1: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation, documentation and distribution of genetic resources of field crops in arid and semi-arid regions

Om Vir Singh, Neelam Shekhawat and Kartar Singh



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Project 2: Augmentation, characterization, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation, documentation and distribution of genetic resources of horticultural crops in arid and semi-arid regions.

Om Vir Singh, Kartar Singh and Neelam Shekhawat


Research achievements of RS, Jodhpur • Fifty-one accessions of Sorghum (21), Mungbean (11), Urdbean (01), Mothbean (5),

Maize (3), Ragi (3), Little millets (3), Abelmoschus (1 wild), Rice (2 red rice) and

Cowpea (1) were collected from Surat, Badoradar, Bharuch, Chhota Udaipur and Tapi

districts of Gujarat.

• Three accessions of methi i) early maturing (93 days), ii) having huge foliage and iii)

having small seed with high aroma, identified earlier, have been reconfirmed for the

traits.

• An accession of wheat, identified earlier, with large spike has been reconfirmed.

• The performance of guar accession IC 47564-P7 has been further verified that yielded

29.15 qtls/ha of grain in a large plot size of 16 m2 at line to line and plant to plant

distances of 20 and 10 cm., respectively. Another vegetable type guar accession IC

432117-P7 has also been verified that yielded 24% higher green pods yield than best

check Pusa Navbahar.

• Two accessions of moth bean IC36786 and IC 37822 have further been reconfirmed

for their inbuilt resistance to crinkle virus disease under field conditions.

• During Kharif 2017 the 550 accessions of different crops including cluster bean (156

acc.), Mung bean (120 acc.), Moth bean (170 acc.) and Cowpea (120 acc.) have been

evaluated. The grain yield of early maturing (50 days) bold seeded genotype IC

39289-P4 of mung bean has further been verified as 15.05 qtls/ha in first picking of

pods and 13.25 qtls/ha in second picking of pods. An early maturity (53 days) of moth

bean accession IC 120963-P2, identified earlier has also further been reconfirmed

this year. Accession of moth bean IC 16218 has further been verified for its genetic

resistance to cercospora disease. Cowpea accession IC 36522 has been re-verified for

its genetic resistance to yellow mosaic virus disease. Another accession of cowpea C-

720 also has been re-verified for possessing insect resistance.

• Two different accessions of ber i.e. stone less ber and another one for fruit fly

resistance identified earlier have been further reconfirmed.

• New accession of cowpea that matures in 45 days developed following single plant

selection has been verified.

• The 776 accessions of Germplasm of horticultural plants are being maintained as live

plants. The 38235 accessions of agri-horticultural crops are being conserved at the


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station either being maintained as live plants in the field gene bank or seeds being

conserved in the MTS facilities.

TISSUE CULTURE AND CRYOPRESERVATION UNIT (TCCU)


IRC Project Code

Programme 1: Ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources of vegetatively propagated crops using in vitro and cryopreservation techniques

Anuradha Agrawal (PI w.e.f. 12 August 2017), R.K. Tyagi (till 11 August 2017)

PGR/TCCU-BUR-DEL

Project 1: In vitro conservation of tuber crops with special reference to sweet potato, yams and taro

Sangita Bansal (PI w.e.f. 22 July 2017), Neelam Sharma (PI till 31 July 2018, CoPI w.e.f. 22 July 2017), Vartika Srivastava and DK Nerwal

PGR/TCCU-BUR-DEL 01.01

Project 2: In vitro conservation of spices, plantation and new industrial crops

Era V. Malhotra (PI w.e.f. 10 August 2018, CoPI w.e.f. 03 April 2017), Anuradha Agrawal (PI till 09 August 2018, CoPI w.e.f. 10 August 2018), DPS Meena


Project 3: In vitro conservation of bulbous and ornamental crops

Ruchira Pandey, Neelam Sharma and Gowthami R (w.e.f. 03 July 2017)


Project 4: In vitro conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants with special reference to rare and endangered species

Neelam Sharma, Ruchira Pandey and Gowthami R (w.e.f. 03 July 2017)


Project 5: In vitro conservation of tropical fruit crops species

Anuradha Agarwal, RK Tyagi (till 11 August 2018), Era V. Malhotra (w.e.f. 03 April 2017) and DPS Meena



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Project 6: In vitro conservation of temperate and minor tropical fruit crops.

Sandhya Gupta, JC Rana (till 22 July 2017), Nagendra Negi (w.e.f.22 July 2017) and DK Nerwal


Project 7: Studies on genetic integrity of conserved germplasm

Era V. Malhotra (PI w.e.f. 3 April 2017), RK Tyagi (PI till 11 August 2017), Sangita Bansal (w.e.f. 20 June 2017), Gowthami R (03 July 2017), J Arvind and S Vimala Devi


Programme 2: Ex situ Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops using Cryopreservation of Seeds, Dormant Buds and Pollen

Rekha Chaudhary PGR/ TCCU-BUR-DEL -02.00

Project 1: Cryopreservation of non-orthodox and orthodox seed species in various forms using standard protocols

Rekha Chaudhary, Sangita Bansal (w.e.f. 10 August 2018), SK Malik (PI till 31 August 2017) and AP Singh

PGR/ TCCU-BUR-DEL -02.01

Project 2: Investigating desiccation and freezing tolerance in non-orthodox seed species, dormant buds and pollen for cryopreservation

Vartika Srivastava (w.e.f. 10 August 2018), SK Malik (PI till 31 August 2018) Rekha Chaudhary

PGR/ TCCU-BUR-DEL -02.02

Research achievements of TCCU • A total of 1,850 accessions of the mandated crop groups of fruit, tuber, bulb, spices,

plantation, industrial crops, and medicinal, aromatic and rare/endangered plants were maintained in vitro, by periodic subculture in the form of 36,000 cultures and/or in vitro cryopreserved meristems/shoot tips in the In Vitro Active Genebank (IVAG)

or In Vitro Base Genebank (IVBG). In addition, 12,946 accessions of various agro-

horticultural crops were conserved in Cryogenebank in form of orthodox, recalcitrant and intermediate seeds, pollen grains, dormant buds and genomic resources.

• Twenty new accessions were added to the IVAG. These comprised a new genus Stevia rebaudiana (1) (sweet-leaf, natural sweetener, family Asteraceae), and two new species, Hedychium coccineum (1) and H. flavescens (1) (cream garland lily, wild ginger, family Zingiberaceae), besides, new accessions of Allium fasciculatum (1),


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Dioscorea deltoidea (2), Malus domestica (2), Musa sp. (4), Prunus sp. (3) and Pyrus sp. (5).

• A total of 616 accessions were cryostored as seeds (242), embryonic axes, pollen (10) and genomic resources (374) during this period at temperature between -160°C to -180°C in the cryobank. The cryostored accessions comprised fruits, industrial and underutilized crops, medicinal crops, including wild species and wild relatives of crop plants.

• A total of 164 germplasm accessions were augmented from indigenous and exotic sources for conducting experiments and/or conservation under IVAG/IVBG. In addition, a total of 660 accessions of diverse germplasm were received from NBPGR Headquarter and its Regional Stations, Shimla, Ranchi, Thrissur, besides CPCRI, Kasaragoad, NRC for Orchids, Darjeeling and IBSD, Imphal for cryobanking. Besides, a total of 114 accessions of various crops were supplied to indenters for research, field evaluation or virus indexing.

• Protocols were developed/ refined for in vitro multiplication of Humulus lupulus, establishment of aseptic C. esculenta cultures, in vitro rhizome induction for conservation of Kaempferia rotundata, in vitro conservation of Allium spp. and micropropagation using floral meristems in Musa etc. and cryopreservation of Humulus lupulus, Musa spp., Allium spp. and Malus spp. Further, genetic stability of cryopreserved and regenerated Musa AAB cv. Pisang Rajdah (EC653551) plantlets was tested using in silico developed EST-SSR markers.

• Studies on desiccation and freezing sensitivity were undertaken on seeds/embryo and embryonic axes of Aegle marmelos, Buchanania, Diospyros melanoxylon, Manilkara, Myrica esculenta, Rubus spp. and Zizyphus mauritiana. Studies on viability and moisture were undertaken in pollen of Cocos nucifera and five orchid species and samples were cryopreserved under the joint collaborative programme with CPCRI Kasaragod and NRC for Orchids, respectively. A total of 113 samples accepted for cryostorage and those retrieved from LN after various periods of storage were checked for pest-free status, in cooperation with DPQ, NBPGR.

GERMPLASM EXCHANGE & POLICY PLANNING UNIT (GEPPU)


IRC Project Code

Programme 1: Exchange of Plant Genetic Resources with Foreign Countries (Import/ Export) their National Supplies to the Scientists/Users in the Country along with related Information

Pratibha Brahmi PGR/GEPU-BUR-DEL-01.00


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and Documentation of these Activities in the form of Plant Genetic Reporter On-line Publication

Project 1: Import, export, inland supply and survey of literature for procurement of elite/ trait specific PGR in cereals, oilseeds, grain legumes, millets and sugar yielding crops and documentation

Vandana Tyagi, Pratibha Brahmi, SP Singh, Surender Singh and PC Binda

PGR/GEPU-BUR-DEL-01.01

Project 2: Import, export, inland supply and survey of literature for procurement of elite/ trait specific PGR in vegetable crops, potential crops, plantation crops, forages and Fibre crops and documentation

SK Yadav, Pragya, SP Singh, Surender Singh and PC Binda


Project 3: Import, export, inland supply and survey of literature for procurement of elite/ trait specific PGR in fruits, grain legumes, tubers, narcotics and beverages and documentation

Pragya, SK Yadav, SP Singh, Surender Singh and PC Binda


Programme 2: PGR Management Policy and Back-up Research

Pratibha Brahmi PGR/GEPU-BUR-DEL-02.00

Project 1: Analysis of emerging policy issues on agro-biodiversity management and preparation of technical inputs for use by policy makers/ Indian delegations at national and international meetings/ negotiations

Pratibha Brahmi, SC Dubey, JC Rana (till 31 August 2017),GJ Randhawa, Veena Gupta, Kavita Gupta, Vandana Tyagi, SK Yadav (till 31 Mar 2018), Sunil Archak, K Pradheep, Pragya (w.e.f. 23 July 2017), Ruchi Bansal (w.e.f. 01 Sept 2017) and Rajeev Gambhir


Project 2: Policy issues related to biosecurity

SC Dubey, Kavita Gupta, Pratibha Brahmi and GJ Randhawa



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Research achievements of GEPU

• During the period under report a total of 35725 accessions (38892 samples) were imported as germplasm and 16959 entries (105166 samples) were imported as CGIAR trials/ nurseries from 45 countries. A total of 641 Import Permits were issued including Public sector (319) and private seed companies (322).

• A total of 20037 samples were supplied at national level to plant breeders/ researchers/ students in ICAR and SAU’s/other universities and 52544 samples were supplied for characterization/ multiplication /regeneration/ taxonomic identification/ DNA fingerprinting

• During the period resource generation of Rs. 54,98,170 /- was made through Issuance of Import Permits, PQ Fee consignment handling charges.

• Analysed the agenda items and prepared for India’s position for the seventh meeting

of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group to Enhance the Functioning of the

Multilateral System, 7th GB Meeting; Inputs provided for the preparation of the third

report on the state of the world’s plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

• Information for 2015 to 2017on the second GPA was submitted to FAO for inclusion

in the WIEWS Reporting System.

AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT UNIT (AKMU)


IRC Project Code

Programme: Genetic Resources Information Programme

Sunil Archak (w.e.f. 19 Jan 2018), Shashi Bhalla (till 18 Jan 2018)

PGR/AKMU-BUR-DEL-01.00

Project 1: PGR informatics

S Archak, S Bhalla (till 18 Jan 2018), J Radhamani, DP Semwal, MC Singh, Rekha Chaudhary, Anuradha Agrawal (w.e.f. 01 Sept 2018), Pragya (w.e.f. 01 Sept 2018), Madhu Bala Priyadarshi (on study leave w.e.f. 28-07-2017), Kuldeep Tripathi (w.e.f. 1 Sept 2018), Rajeev Gambhir, Anang Pal (w.e.f 01-08-2017) and Nirmala Dabral (w.e.f 01-08-2017)


Project 2: Development of ICAR-NBPGR information dissemination system

Madhu Bala Priyadarshi (on study

leave w.e.f. 28-07-2017), Veena Gupta, Shashi Bhalla (till 18 Jan 2018) and Rajeev Gambhir. (PI is requested to submit RPP-III)



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Research achievements of AKMU • Characterization database developed; >31K data points ported.

• Cryobank database developed; 6K data ported.

• PGR Databases updated: information on 110K accessions added; 64741 accessions

curated; quarantine data of 96450 samples appended.

• In ICAR National Fellow Project developed (i) Novel Algorithm to connect germplasm

and genomic data; (ii) Cryobank application and dashboard developed; (iii)

Germplasm Registration Information System inaugurated and functioning; (iv) PGR

Apps updated and maintained.

AICR NETWORK ON POTENTIAL CROPS


IRC Project Code

All India Coordinated Research Network on on Potential Crops

BS Phogat, SK Yadav, SK Kaushik, MC Singh, SP Singh, Sandeep Kumar and HL Raiger

---

Research achievements of AICR Network on Potential Crops • A total of 170 trials were conducted on germplasm evaluation (38), crop

improvement (105), quality (7), crop production (11) & protection (9) during Rabi

2016-17 and Kharif 2017.

• Seven varieties, three on grain amaranth (KBGA-4, Suvadra and Chhattisgarh Rajgira-

1), two of winged bean (Chhattisgarh Chaudhari Sem-2, Indira Winged Bean-2) and

one each of Kalingada (CAZRI Kalingada-1) and Kankoda (Indira Kankoda-2) were

identified/released at centre/state level.

• Adaptability/palatability studies were initiated in Chia (Salvia hispanica)

• Initial varietal trials were initiated in Chenopodium quinoa in the plain’s region.

• Two new centres, namely, CAU Pasighat and ICAR NEH RC Shillong were approved

during the current plan (2017-20).

*****


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Recommendations of 29th IRC Meeting of ICAR-NBPGR held from 08-10 August, 2018

S. No. Recommendation Action

A. General recommendations

01/18 ICAR-NBPGR will follow standard terminology of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) w.r.t. a) in-situ conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and, b) on-farm management of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. On-farm management comes under the purview of ICAR-NBPGR wherein ICAR-NBPGR can develop procedures/ models but execution rests with other institutions such as Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmers Rights Authority, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.

All concerned

02/18 Mechanism needs to be developed for acquiring information on all plant genetic resources from the stakeholders under National Agricultural Research System (NARS) including other organizations such as CSIR, DRDO etc.

GEPPU

03/18 Perennial crops in the field genebank at headquarters and regional stations should be maintained following FAO standards. Efforts to be made to ensure all perennials have at least three plants per accession and are allotted national identification (IC) numbers, which are to be subsequently prominently displayed in the field genebank.

DGE and all Regional Stations

04/18 While identifying promising germplasm from field evaluation trials, minimum values for coefficient of variation (CV) needs to be defined crop-wise. Experiments having higher than expected CV values need not be used for this purpose.

DGE and all Regional Stations

05/18 Modalities for artificial intelligence and robotic systems to reduce cost for plant genetic resource management need to be looked into for in vitro cultures, genebank management and quarantine activities.

DGC, DPQ and TCCU

06/18 As per the directives of the Council institutional projects which are 87 in number at ICAR-NBPGR need to be further reduced after having a meeting of HoDs.

PME cell

07/18 Repatriating the citrus germplasm to its original habitats in North Eastern region from cryo-storage to be expedited for generating a success story.

OIC, TCCU and HoD DPEGC, RS-Shillong and Dr. Rekha Choudhury


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08/18 In order to have uniformity in the titles of research projects from all the regional stations, titles should start with “Management of PGR …” and this needs to be implemented from 2019-2020.

PME Cell and all Regional Stations

09/18 Crop groups formulated should be circulated to the HoDs/ OICs of regional stations for addition or deletion of names of staff and needs to be finalized by 30th August 2018.

DGE

10/18 Manuscripts for e-publications should not be published directly and need to be routed through PME Cell only after getting recommendation of concerned HoD/ OIC.

HoDs and OICs

11/18 Wherever and whenever needed, logos of ICAR and NBPGR available on the webpage of NBPGR should only be used.

All concerned

12/18 Documentation of germplasm from the Bureau utilized by other stakeholders for varietal development should form a regular activity every year. Crop-based groups already formulated should own the responsibility for which they can look into the pedigree data of varieties available with DAC and other sources.

DGE and DGC

B. Division-/ Station-specific recommendations

Division of Plant Exploration and Germplasm Collection (DPEGC)

13/18 Current status of genetic resource management of Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) to be brought out in the form of a publication from the Bureau.

DPEGC and DGC

14/18 National Herbarium of Cultivated Plants in the DPEGC is rendering services for identification of samples for which efforts can be made for charging and generating resources.

DPEGC

15/18 Wherever possible, explorers should decode the meaning of the names of collected landraces and that should form the part of passport data as well.

DPEGC

16/18 Baseline data regarding landraces cultivated in the past and present should be generated/ recorded for major crops during exploration undertaken in a particular region.

DPEGC

17/18 Experiment on vitamin C estimation in Chironji fruit pulp needs to be repeated, keeping in view the wide range of values obtained. If needed, focused collection of elite material from original site for this purpose may be resorted to.

DPEGC and DGE

18/18 Need-based validation of results of morphological traits/ findings on leafy amaranth systematics needs to be substantiated using molecular techniques to have a comprehensive knowledge on species relationships.

DPEGC


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19/18 Efforts should be made to ensure that all collected fruit crops

germplasm is established in the field genebank.

DPEGC

20/18 Taxonomists from DPEGC should visit field experiments frequently for taxonomical verification of different crop species during Field Days.

DPEGC

Germplasm Exchange and Policy Planning Unit (GEPPU)

21/18 List of Medium-Term Storage (MTS) holdings to be submitted to GEPP U by RS Akola and RS Jodhpur as per already submitted format for the same by AKMU.

RS-Jodhpur, RS-Akola, GEPPU

22/18 Details of recipient institutes to whom germplasm has been supplied from NAGS, LTS/ MTS to form a part of RAC presentation every year.

GEPPU

Division of Plant Quarantine (DPQ)

23/18 Proper destruction and record maintenance to be ensured for the exotic pest material being used for molecular analysis. A standard operating procedure to be developed and followed for the same.

DPQ

24/18 The experiment presented on thermal treatment on Callosobruchus chinensis adults to be repeated recording temperatures and durations accurately.

DPQ

25/18 Non-compliance reports to be sent to concerned agencies when exotic pests are intercepted repeatedly over the years taking data for the past 5- 10 years.

DPQ

26/18 Virology research in the Bureau needs to be strengthened and collaborations with Advanced Centre for Plant Virology, ICAR-IARI need to be developed in this regard. All scientists from various Divisions of the Bureau would route their requests for virology related work through Dr. V. Celia Chalam who would be the nodal person for the same.

DPQ

Division of Germplasm Evaluation (DGE)

27/18 Prepare a comprehensive plan for important crop diseases and devise standard operating procedure for screening against these diseases and other traits. Information for the last 10 years for the material resistant to biotic stresses needs to be fished out from the

DGE


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Annual Reports of the Bureau and the material found so further needs to be revalidated.

28/18 Efforts to be made to visit and coordinate with NIABSM, Baramati and Phenomics Facility at IARI to explore strategies for evaluation for abiotic stress tolerance.

DGE

29/18 The projects of the Division need to be based on the identified crop-groups. Scientists from Division of Plant Quarantine (DPQ) may also be associated in each crop-group.

DGE and DPQ

30/18 Latest checks may be used in the germplasm evaluation experiments in addition to long term checks for screening against abiotic stresses.

DGE and All Regional Stations

31/ 18 Issapur Farm to establish field gene bank of all the arid/ semi-arid fruit species and other economically important species.

Inchage, Issapur Farm and DGE

Division of Germplasm Conservation (DGC)

32/18 Wild species germplasm to be enriched in oilseed crops mainly from European countries, Canada and the Netherlands.

DGC

33/18 Efforts to be made to strengthen seed biology research in the Division especially in wild species.

DGC

34/18 Extra care needs to be taken while regenerating the voucher samples in the National Genebank. Instructions to this effect, particularly species-specific germination conditions can be sent along with samples for regeneration.

DGC

35/18 Long term seed viability experiments of 50 years need to be planned and set up in the Division.

DGC

36/18 The figures of genebank visitors need to prominently projected as an achievement in HRD in the RAC presentation.

DGC

37/18 Appropriate strategy to be devised for regeneration of those accessions which did not germinate or failed to establish in the field when sent for characterization and multiplication.

DGC

Division of Genomic Resources (DGR)

38/18 In consultation with HoD-DGE, OIC-DGR to prioritize 5-10 traits in few selected crops for identification of genes/QTLs. Already reported promising accessions for specific trait is to be used for the

DGR and DGE


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purpose, need to be revalidated first and crossing programmes needs to be initiated simultaneously.

39/18 Piecemeal studies on small set of accessions for diversity analysis to be avoided, giving more stress on larger collections and complete analysis in a single go.

DGR

40/18 DNA barcoding efforts to be focused on those crops only where taxonomic delineation of species is really a tough task and not worked out clearly. Help of Drs. AK Mishra, KC Bhatt, Joseph John and others can be sought to prioritize the same.

DGR

41/18 Assembly of pepper genome to be improved to the possible extent using the in-house algorithms developed by Dr. Soma Marla.

DGR

42/18 Rice varieties and landraces to be characterized using SNPs and funding for this work to be explored under Consortium Research Platform on Agro-Biodiversity.

DGR and Dr. Sushil Pandey

43/18 Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) to be looked from the biologist’s angle as well apart from the statistician’s viewpoint. Training opportunities on GWAS to be explored.

DGR

All India Co-ordinated Research Network on Potential Crops (AICRNPC)

44/18 There is rich diversity of faba bean germplasm particularly of vegetable type, from hill regions which must be collected under special drive.

AICRN-PC

45/18 Simarouba glauca (Paradise tree) may be popularized at farmers filed under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) programme.

AICRN-PC and RS-Akola

46/18 While targeting collections in the National Collection Plan, collection for potential crops should also be taken care as per the availability in the area targeted for exploration.

AICRN-PC

Regional Station, Akola

47/18 Most of the land at the station is underutilized. Field evaluation needs to be strengthened particularly for the identification of drought tolerant material.

RS-Akola

Regional Station, Bhowali

48/18 Wheat Mishri landrace accessions available in the station are pure and need to be multiplied. Efforts to improve these for

RS-Bhowali and DGR


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incorporation of Rht-8 gene can also be made. Detailed analysis of these for SNP analysis can be taken up by DGR.

49/18 Taxonomic identification of amaranth species to be correctly established at the station taking help of Drs. Mohar Singh and K. Pradheep.

RS-Bhowali

50/18 Priority to be given for putting the Allium species from the field genebank in the station into in vitro repository and ultimately into cryo-genebank to avoid their loss.

RS-Bhowali and TCCU

Regional Station, Cuttack

51/18 All submergence tolerant 20 accessions of rice to be undertaken for working out the genetics for allelic variation. Also, for working out genetics of palatability of the rice landrace ‘Salaplula’ mechanism needs to be worked out to record parameters for this trait.

RS-Cuttack

52/18 Rice accessions collected from Sundarbans need to be evaluated both at vegetative and reproductive stages for salt tolerance in collaboration with National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack or ICAR-CSSRI, Karnal.

RS-Cuttack

Regional Station, Hyderabad

53/18 For multi-location evaluation of previously identified fruit and shoot borer tolerant brinjal genotypes, standard operating procedures to be prepared and circulated with all the participating centers.

RS-Hyderabad

Regional Station, Jodhpur

54/18 Effort to be made to decipher the genetics of important genetic stocks for unique traits identified at the station such as insect resistance in cowpea, virus resistance in mungbean, borer resistance and stone lessness in ber.

RS-Jodhpur

55/18 Exotic ber germplasm, particularly from Thailand, needs to be imported and introduced in the field genebank at Jodhpur station.

RS-Jodhpur

Regional Station, Ranchi

56/18 Maize collection of 43 landraces from RS Ranchi to be tested for diversity using molecular markers.

RS-Ranchi and DGR


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57/18 In view of poor health of many aonla and bael germplasm maintained in the field genebank at Ranchi, efforts to be put for their multiplication in order to have a safety duplicate for conservation at appropriate National Active Germplasm Sites.

RS-Ranchi

58/18 Efforts should be made for management of stem borer and termite infestation in the field genebank at the Ranchi station.

RS-Ranchi

Regional Station, Shilllong

59/18 Letter to be communicated to volunteer centre of All India Research Network on Potential Crops at NEH to conduct agronomic trials for Momordica subangulata.

RS-Shillong and AICRNPC

60/18 Efforts to be made for unification/ systematization of turmeric and ginger collection at RS Shillong and the one available at CSIR-NEIST, Johrat. Links to be strengthened with Central Agricultural University, Imphal for molecular diversity of turmeric and ginger.

RS-Shillong

Regional Station, Shimla

61/18 Efforts to be made to introduce and establish available species of walnut, apricot, peach etc. in the field genebank in Srinagar. Also procure/ introduce others species of Juglans.

OIC, RS-Srinagar and OIC, RS-Shimla

Regional Station, Srinagar

62/18 Efforts to be made to develop field genebank of all mulberry accessions from Kashmir. The same to be maintained at Issapur farm as well at a later stage.

RS-Srinagar

Regional Station, Thrissur

63/18 Efforts to be made to supply sufficient seeds of Abelmoscus interspecific amphidiploids to the headquarters.

RS-Thrissur

In the concluding session, the Chairman, IRC, Dr. Kuldeep Singh expressed overall satisfaction on the progress of the research work being carried out under different projects. He placed on record his sincere gratitude to all the scientists, HoDs and OICs Units/ Regional Stations, who contributed significantly and expressed his desire that Bureau should continue to provide quality service to the nation in all PGR related activities with high professionalism. The Member secretary Dr Mukesh Kumar Rana thanked the Chairman IRC and others profusely for contributing significantly for the successful completion of the 29th IRC meeting and welcomed the new IRC Member Secretary Dr Sushil Pandey, Principal Scientist, Division of Germplasm Conservation. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the Chair. (M.K. Rana)

Member Secretary, IRC

(Kuldeep Singh)

Chairman, IRC


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Annexure: IRC members- new/ transferred/ retired/deceased

A. New IRC members of ICAR-NBPGR during 2017-18

S.No. Name of the Scientist Date of Joining Discipline

1. Ms. Sapna 29-06-2018 Biochemistry

2. DR. Vinay Mahajan 18-06-2018 Genetics & Plant Breeding

3. Sh. Nand Lal Meena 02-07-2018 Plant Biochemistry

4. Dr. T. Boopathi 16-07-2018 Agril. Entomology

5. Dr. Mamta Singh 20-09-2017 Plant Breeding

B. IRC members transferred during 2017-18

S.No. Name of the Scientist Date of

Transfer Transferred to

1. Sh. S.K. Bishnoi, Scientist 07-07-2018 IIWBR, Karnal

2. Dr. A.K. Misra, Principal Scientist

07-07-2018 International Relations Section, ICAR, New Delhi

3. Dr. Kumari Shubha, Scientist

13-07-2018 ICAR-RCER, Patna

4. Dr. Nilmani Dikshit, Principal Scientist

30-06-2018 IGFRI, Jhansi

5. DR. Bharat Bhushan, Scientist

07-07-2018 IIMR, Ludhiana

C. IRC members retired during 2017-18

S.No. Name of the Scientist Date of

Retirement 1. DR. K.V. Bhatt 30-11-2017

2. Dr. Shashi Bhalla 31-01-2018

3. Dr. N.K. Gautam 30-04-2018

4. Dr. Kalyani Srinivasan 31-05-2018

5. DR. I. S. Bisht 31-05-2018

6. Dr. D. B. Parakh 31-05-2018

*****

Proceedings of the 29th Institute Research Committee (IRC ......PROCEEDINGS OF THE 29TH INSTITUTE...

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