Greetings!

I am happy to share my thoughts with you through theedition of VSI Bulletin. This has been a tough year andwill go in the history of the mankind as an unprecedentedyear in which a pandemic brought the whole world to ahalt and changed the everyday life, work and activitiesof the communities. I wish that the coming year 2021comes with lots of opportunities, possibilities and hopesfor everyone.

The Indian sugar industry completed the sugar season2019-20 producing 27.5 MT of sugar as against 33.16MT produced in the year 2018-19. We might see a bumperproduction in the season 2020-21 to the tune of 32 MT ofsugar production because of favorable monsoon andincrease in sugarcane area in key sugar producing statesof Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Total 460 sugar mills were in operation in the countryand have produced 73.77 lac tons of sugar while inMaharashtra, 173 sugar mills are in operation and theyhave produced sugar 26.96 lac tons as on December 15,2020 as reported by ISMA.

In order to boost the ethanol blending programme andprovide relief to the sugar industry, the Govt. hiked theethanol procurement price for supply year 2020-21 from (RM Devarumath)

Editor

cane juice based ethanol to Rs.62.65, from B heavymolasses to Rs.57.61 and from C heavy molasses toRs.45.69 per liter. The remunerative prices willencourage the millers to enhance the ethanol supplyfor blending & thereby supporting their revenues/profitability. The Sugar commissioner’s data show thatin Maharashtra 41 sugar mills started producingethanol from B heavy molasses and are expected toproduce 39 crore lit. Similarly, nine mills are producing11.42 crore lit. from sugar syrup and 3 crore lit. ofethanol directly from cane juice. In this context VSIalong with commissior of sugar, GoM, MRSSKSL,Mumabi organized interactive meeting on 'To enhancefuel ethonal production by diveting sugarcane juice /syrup or B-heavy molasses or sugar' under thechairmship of Hon. President, VSI, Mr. Sharad Pawar.

In this quarter we conducted 2 Webinars, 2 physicaltraining programs etc. with other events with detailedupdate is given and some of the articles published inthe subsequent pages of this edition for the benefit ofthe readers.

Wish You Happy New Year, 2021

Mr. Jaiprakash Dandegaonkar was elected as the President of the NationalFederation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd., New Delhi. Mr. JaiprakashDandegaonkar is also the current Chairman of the Maharashtra State CooperativeSugar Factories Federation Ltd. Mumbai. He is also the founder Chairman of PurnaSahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd., Dist.-Hingoli, Maharashtra and a member of Boardof Trustee of Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune. Mr. Dandegaonkar a former StateMinister of Cooperation and Textile in the Govt. of Maharashtra & having put inmany years in public service. He has contributed significantly towards the growthand development of Indian Sugar sector.

CONGRATUATIONSCONGRATUATIONS

VSI COMMITTEE MEETINGSVSI COMMITTEE MEETINGSTechnical Committee Meeting

The Technical Committee meeting was held onNovember 19, 2020 for the review of research workduring 2019-20; ongoing technical performance ofeach experiment and future research program for2020-21 of each Department and Section. Themeeting was conducted under the chairmanship ofMr. Narendra Murkumbi, along with members of thecommittee viz., Mr. Vijaysinha Mohite-Patil, Dr. IndrajitMohite, Mr. Shivajirao Deshmukh, Director General,VSI and Mr. Vikas Deshmukh, Director, Agriculture

Sciences and Technology, VSI.

Mr. Shivajirao Deshmukh welcomed Chairman andMembers of the Technical Committee. In the meetingall the Departments/ Sectional heads presented theirresearch review. In the meeting issues were discussedand suggestions were given by the Committeemembers. Meeting concluded with vote of thanks. Thecoordination of the meeting done by Dr. RS Hapase,Head & Principal Scientist, Plant Breeding Section.

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Governing Council meeting was held on December 4,2020. In the GC meeting Hon. President Mr. SharadPawar, Mr. Dilip Walse-Patil, Vice-President, Mr. AjitPawar, Dy. Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. ShivajiraoDeshmukh, DG, Mr. Vikas Deshmukh, Director, AST and

Governing Council Meetingother GC members and Head Depts./sections of VSIwere present. Some members of the Governing Councilalso participated in the webinar. In the meetingdifferent issues were discussed. Later Mr. Sharad Pawarvisited to Vasantdada farm.

National Seed Day

To Enhance Fuel Ethanol Production by Diverting Sugarcane Juice/Syrup or B-heavy Molasses or Sugar

Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune organized NationalSeed Day on October 01, 2020. This program wassponsored by ICAR seed project. On this occasionShiwarpheri was organized at Lonarwadi & Naigaonseed production farm for cane grower farmers ofsugar mills and Agriculture Assistants.

During the Shiwarpheri at Lonarwadi, Dr. RS Hapase,Principal Scientist & Head of Plant Breeding Section,gave the talk on ‘Importance of released varieties &its identification’, Mr. SS Katake, Scientist & FarmManager, talked on ‘Sugar cane seed nursery & oneeye bud settlings production’ and Mr. RG Yadav,Scientist & Head of Section Entomology on ‘Sugarcaneplant protection and its control measures’.

EVENTSEVENTS

Dr. JM Repale, Senior Scientist, Plant Breeding sectiongave introduction on ‘Importance of releasedvarieties & its identification’, Mr. RN Gaikwad,Scientific Officer, Farm Section, briefed about‘Sugarcane seed nursery & one eye bud settlingsproduction’ and Dr. BH Pawar, Senior Scientist &Head of Plant Pathology Section, talked on‘Sugarcane plant protection and its controlmeasures at Naigaon farm’.

For this program total 40 participants of three sugarmills participated due to COVID19 pandemic disease,limited sugar mills was invited.

Interactive meeting and discussion on ‘To enhancefuel ethanol production by diverting sugarcanejuice/syrup or B-heavy molasses or sugar’ wasorganized by Commissioner of Sugar, Government ofMaharashtra and Maharashtra Rajya Sahakari SakharKarkhana Sangh Limited (MRSSKSL), Mumbai onOctober 02, 2020 at Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune.The meeting was chaired by Hon. President of VSIMr. Sharad Pawar, along with Mr. Ajitdada Pawar,Dy. Chief Minister, Government of Maharashtra,Mr. Jayant Patil, Minister of Water Resources andCommand Area Development, GoM, Mr. Dilip Walse-Patil, Minister of Labour and State Excise, GoM,Mr. Rajesh Tope, Minister of public Health and FamilyWelfare, GoM, Mr. Shamrao alias Balasaheb Patil,Minister of Co-operation & Marketing, GoM,Mr. Shambhuraj Desai, State Minister of Home (Rural),State Excise, Finance & Planing, Skill DevelopmentAnd Entrepreneurship and Marketing, GoM,Mr. Jayprakash Dandegaonkar, Chairman of MRSSKSL,Mr. Shriram Sahadu Shete, Vice Chairman of MRSSKSL,Mr. Harshavardhan Patil, Mr. Shekhar Gaikwad,

Commissioner of Sugar, Mr. Kantilal Umap,Commissioner of State Excise, Dr. Pramod Chaudhary,President, Praj Indisutries Ltd., Mr. BB Thombare,Chairman, WISMA, Mr. Rohit Pawar (MLA), ViceChairman, WISMA, Mr. Prakash Naiknaware,Managing Director, National Co-operative SugarFactories Federation, Mr. Sanjay Khatal, ManagingDirector, MRSSKL, Mr. Shivajirao Deshmukh, DirectorGeneral, VSI, Mr. PK Mirase, Assistant Secretary(Technical), Maharashtra Pollution Control Board andOfficers of Commissioner of Sugar, Commissioner ofState Excise and MRSSKSL attended the meeting.

On this occasion Hon. President of VSI Mr. ShardPawar felicitated Dr. Pramod Chaudhari, founderchairman, Proj Industries Ltd., Pune, for his awardas he became first Indian to be honored withGeorge Washington Carver Award for Innovationin Industrial Biotechnology and Agriculture byWashington DC-based Biotechnology InnovationOrganization (BIO) and IowaBio.

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In the meeting industrialist presented their views andvarious issues related to production of fuel ethanolfrom sugarcane juice/syrup, B-heavy molasses andSugar. The economics and disposal of distilleryeffluents through zero liquid discharge (ZLD) were alsodiscussed.

After presentations, Mr. Ajitdada Pawar, Mr. JayantPatil, Mr. Dilip Walse-Patil, Mr. Rajesh Tope,Mr. Shamrao alias Balasaheb Patil, Mr. ShambhurajDesai, Mr. Jayprakash Dandegaonkar,Mr. Harshavardhan Patil, Mr. Shekhar Gaikwad,Mr. Kantilal Umap, Mr. BB Thombare, Mr. ShivajiraoDeshmukh and Mr. PK Mirase, expressed their viewson the existing problems faced by the sugar anddistillery industry. They emphasized on presentdifficult economical conditions of sugar mills whichis resulting into non availability funds for new

distillery, expansion of existing distillery andinstallation of ZLD technologies. They also requestedthe GoM for issuing licenses from commissioner ofstate excise and consent from MPCB and alsorequested to help for getting soft loan from central orstate governments.

In concluding remarks, Mr. Sharad Pawar addressedto all distinguished guest and delegates. He appealedand requested to all sugar mills and distilleries todivert maximum sugarcane juice/syrup or B-heavymolasses for ethanol production that will help to bringdown stocks of sugar and also improve the financialhealth due to maximum revenue generated fromethanol. He also ensured that issues raised by theparticipants should be discussed with DFPD andCPCB/MoEF officers to understand their views andfurther necessary action should be taken.

Interactive meeting presided over byMr. Sharad Pawar Hon. President, VSI

Mr. Sharad Pawar Hon. President, VSI felicitatedMr. Pramod Chaudhari, founder chairman,

Proj Industries Ltd., Pune

National webinar on ‘Preparations for ethanolproduction from BH molasses, cane juice, syrup andsugar’ was jointly organized by Vasantdada SugarInstitute (VSI) abd the Ethanol ManufacturersAssociation of India, Indian Sugar Mills Association(ISMA), National Federation of Co-operative Sugarfactories Ltd. (NFCSF), All India Distillers’ Association(AIDA) and MRSSK Sangh Ltd. at VSI, Manjari (BK),Pune, India on November 4, 2020.

National Webinar on Preparations for Ethanol Production fromBH Molasses, Cane Juice, Syrup and Sugar

Total 240 participants attended the webinar. Duringthe inauguration function, welcome address was givenby the Hon. President of VSI Mr. Sharad Pawar. Hehighlighted current ethanol demand & supply status,ethanol blending policy and importance of renewableenergy. He mentioned about National Policy onBiofuels - 2018 and new agenda of GoIon RenewableSector. He also emphasized on GoI’s Make in India &Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for doubling of Farmer’s

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Income, Import Reduction, Employment Generationand Waste to Wealth Creation.

Dr. SV Patil, Head & Technical Adviser of Departmentof Alcohol Technology & Biofuels, VSI delivered thepresentation on ‘Challenges, strategy and cost-economics of ethanol production from multiplefeedstock’. He described the objectives and agendaof the event. He emphasized on Indian and worldsugar balance sheet, ethanol demand and price trend.He explained how current ethanol blending demandcan be met by diverting sugar to B-heavy route. Thiswill help to reduce surplus sugar stock and alsopromote EBP. He discussed two case studies (withbio- compost and incineration routes) for fuel ethanolproduction using different sugarcane feedstocks (C-molasses, B-heavy molasses & Sugar cane syrup) andtheir combination. Mr. Abinash Verma, DirectorGeneral, ISMA summarized the presentation given byProf. SV Patil. He then shared his views especially oncurrent ethanol pricing and EBP programme. Hementioned that sugar diversion to ethanol will helpto avoid surplus sugar stock for timely payment ofFRP to the farmers. He also emphasized on need ofincreasing distillery capacity to fulfill current ethanoldemand.

Dr. R Dani, Head, Sugar Technology, VSI deliveredpresentation on ‘Implementation of DFPDguidelines in sugar mill for diversion of BH molassesor other feedstock for ethanol production’. Hehighlighted Part-I, II, III of DFPD guidelines. He alsofocused on guidelines & requirements of storage ofdifferent feed-stocks & colour coding under Part-II ofDFPD guidelines. He also explained about diversionof sugarcane juice/syrup, production, dispatch andstock records of each feed stock, recovery calculationsfor partial diversion of juice/syrup.

Mr. Prakash Naiknaware, Managing Director, NationalCo-operative Sugar Factories Federation summarizedthe presentation given by Dr. R Dani. He mentionedthat around 426 cr lit of ethanol will be required tofulfill 10% ethanol blending by 2022. He pointed outthat there is need to speed up process of EC clearancefor EBP promotion.

Dr. Vidyasagar Sidnale, Sr. Sugar Technologist, SugarTechnology, VSI gave presentation on ‘Challenges and

remedies in sugar processing while diverting BHmolasses or other feedstock for ethanolproduction’. He explained about advantages of BHdiversion in sugar plant, challenges & remedies forBH diversion etc.

Mr. Vivek Pittie, President, ISMA summarized thepresentation given by Dr. VP Sidnale. He highlightedabout steam and other saving due to diversion of sugarto B-heavy/Syrup route. He pointed out that somepollution boards are rejecting bio-compost route forZLD and also insisting on CO2 plant installation whichmay cause additional cost burden on sugar mills andslowdown EBP.

Mr. Avinash Deshmukh, Technical Officer, AlcoholTechnology & Biofuels, VSI delivered presentation on‘Implementation of DFPD guidelines in distillery forethanol production’. He explained National BiofuelPolicy-2018, vision & goals of policy, Part-I/II & IIIguidelines in details. He also explained pricing ofbiofuels and DFPD guidelines in connection to ethanolstorage (PESO Norms).

Mr. Rahul Patil, Technical Officer, Sugar Technology,VSI gave presentation on ‘Methodology to be usedfor FRP recovery calculations during diversion ofBH molasses or syrup’. He explained about dayrecovery loss calculation during diversion of BHmolasses, preparation of weekly report, fortnight report& RT7© report.

After presentations, Mr. Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil,President, EMAI, Mr. Jayprakash Dandegaonkar,Chairman of MRSSKSL, Mr. Shivajirao Deshmukh,Director General, VSI, Mr. Kantilal Umap, Commissionerof State Excise, Mr. Prakash Naiknaware, ManagingDirector, National Co-operative Sugar FactoriesFederation, Mr. Vivek Pittie, President, ISMA,Mr. Abhinash Verma, Director General, ISMA andMr. VN Raina, Director General, AIDA participated inpanel discussion and deliberations on the webinar.Mr. Jayprakash Dandegaonkar emphasized that it isnecessary to calculate profitability for different routeson case to case basis from VSI. He also mentionedabout reduction of sugar stock by diverting it to ethanolproduction for survival of sugar industry in future.Mr. Kantilal Umap appreciated that the webinar wasvery elaborative, integrated and interactive by

VSI celebrated 45th Foundation Day on November 19,2020. All Head of Divisions/Sections gathered at Boardroom. On this occasion, Mr. Shivajirao Deshmukh,Director General, lighting the lamp. On this occasion,Mr. Vikas Deshmukh, Director, AST and all Heads ofDivisions/Sections were present.

45th Foundation Day

Lighting the lamp by Mr. Shivajirao Deshmukh, DG, VSI onthe occasion of 45th Foundation Day of VSI

World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5th

December as a means to focus attention on theimportance of healthy soil and to advocate for thesustainable management of soil resources. Soilscience section celebrated the World Soil Day onDecember 8, 2020 under the theme ‘Keep soil alive,protect soil biodiversity’.

Mr. Vikas Deshmukh, Director, AST, Dr. BD Bhakre,Head, Department of Soil Science and AgricultureChemistry, MPKV, Rahuri, and all head of section andstaff of Agriculture were present. Total 70 participantsfrom 22 sugar mills and farmers were present onlinefor this event.

World Soil DayDr. Preeti Deshmukh welcomed the guest and all theparticipants and briefed the importance of world soilday. Mr. Vikas Deshmukh, focus on the integratednutrient management practices for sustainable soilfertility and cane productivity. Dr. BD Bhakre deliveredthe lecture on ‘Shashwat oos utpadanasaathee jaminaarogya aani eakaatmik annadravye vyasthapan’.He briefed the importance of organic manure,application of chemical fertilizer on the basis of soiltesting, reclamation of salt affected soil. The eventconcluded with vote of thanks.

involving various stakeholders from institutions,industry and Govt sectors. He informed about newlyformulated state excise policy by GoM which issupporting EBP. Mr. Vivek Pittie mentioned aboutethanol pricing formula need to put in public domainfor increasing investor/sugar mill confidence. He alsomentioned about ethanol blending need to be allowedmore than 10% in surplus sugar state like UttarPradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

In concluding remarks, Mr. Shivajirao Deshmukhemphasized that distillery capacity is limiting factor

in successful implementation of EBP and GoI shouldhelp sugar mills for increasing distillery capacity byproviding financial & policy support. He highlightedthat production of ethanol from sugarcane juice/syrupwill be profitable if pollution board allows the industryto use land application for effluent disposal. Finally,he concluded the webinar with vote of thanks.Overall co-ordination and moderation of webinar wasconducted by Mr. AN Jamadar, Mr. VP Ghule andMr. Sagar Bramhe.

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Department of Alcohol Technology & Biofuels (AT &B), VSI conducted a two weeks duration tailor madeshort term training programme for their newlyappointed officers of Commissioner of State Excise,Government of Maharashtra State on the ‘Overviewof Distilleries and Alcoholic Beverage industry’ duringSeptember 21 to October 3, 2020. Total five officerswere participated in this training course.

The course was inaugurated by Dr. SV Patil, TechnicalAdviser & Head, Department of AT & B. He introducedthe staff of department of AT & B to the traineeparticipants. He elaborated the importance of the courseto the participants. He also thanked the Commissionerof State Excise, Government of Maharashtra for sendingthe officers for the training at VSI.

The short term course covered topics such as onGlobal and national scenario of distillery industry andpotential of the country to meet the demand andsupply of alcohol, latest technologies of alcoholproduction from various feedstock, various types offermentation & distillation processes, operatingparameters and operational efficiencies,alcoholometry, production process of country liquorand Indian made foreign liquor (Whisky, Brandy, Rum,Gin & Vodka), malt alcohol production, beer & winemanufacturing processes, records and registers to be

Overview of Distilleries and Alcoholic Beverage Industry

TRAININGTRAINING

maintained in CL & IMFL, maturation & aging, taxesand duties on molasses and alcohol etc. The coursealso included important demonstrations/practical inthe training programme, which will be helpful for theState Excise Officers while working at distilleries andliquor manufacturing units.

In the concluding session on October 2, 2020 thetraining programme manual was released byMr. Kantilal B. Umap, Commissioner of Sate Excise,GoM. Other senior officers of State Excise namelyMr. Yatin Sawant, Joint Commissioner (Molasses &Spirit), Mr. Prasad Surve, Divisional DeputyCommissioner, Pune Division, Mr. Sunil Chavan,Divisional Deputy Commissioner, Thane Division andMr. Santosh T. Zagade, Superintendent, Pune andMr. Shivajirao Deshmukh, Director General, VSI werepresent. Dr. SV Patil briefly presented the departmentalactivities to the Commissioner State Excise and theirOfficers. Director General also explained themregarding activities of VSI in general. During thesession detailed discussion were take place onanalytical facilities available at VSI for alcoholbeverages industry. Discussion was also held on theliquor and/or wine production from various feedstocks.The training concluded with distribution certificatesto the officers.

The officers of Commissioner of State Excise, Govt. ofMaharashtra for the training programme in

Alcohol Technology & Biofuels Department, VSI

The training programme manual was released byMr. Kantilal B. Umap, Commissioner of Sate Excise, GoM.

along with Mr. Shivajirao Deshmukh, Director General, VSI.

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Implementation of environmental regulations hasbecome very stringent. This has also increased thedocumentation and online submission of relateddocuments. One such development is the introductionof the Logbook Module by the Maharashtra PollutionControl Board (MPCB) last year. The data has to besubmitted online on a regular basis. However, manyof the Environmental Officers/Managers working inthe sugar industry arefacing problems in filling/submission of this data. Tohelp the environmentalofficers in handling thisissue, the Department ofEnvironmental Sciences,Vasantdada Sugar Instituteorganised a webinar on'MPCB Logbook Module-how to fill it up?' held onDecember 15, 2020. Thewebinar was attended bystaff of around 90 sugar mills & distilleries.

Dr. Deepali Nimbalkar welcomed the participants andgave the background of the subject. She explainedthe significance of documenting the data correctlyto avoid future problems. She also asked theparticipants to discuss the issues faced by them. Afterthis, Mr. Shivajirao Deshmukh, Director Generaladdressed the participants. He stressed on thesignificance of environmental issues and VSI’s rolein awareness about them. He asked everyone tounderstand the details of the form properly anddiscuss in detail with the expert panel.

This was followed by a detailed presentation byDr. Eknath Alhat on 'The MPCB logbook module'which included the information to be filled and thecalculations for the various units of the ETP. He alsoexplained about the data to be filled for distilleriesand some of the lacunae in the form. Mr. KalyanGaikwad, Environment Manager, Nira-Bhima SSK Ltd,then gave a live demonstration of actual form fillingon the MPCB website. Mr. Rajendra Gophane,Environment Manager Daund Sugar Ltd also gavesome information regarding distillery data. This wasfollowed by panel discussion on the various issues

Webinar on MPCB Logbook Module: How to Fill it up?faced by the environmental staff in sugar mills &distilleries. The panel also included Mr. Gavhane fromVitthalrao Shinde SSK Ltd. &Mr. Ashok Suryavanshi from SGZ & SGA Sugars Pvt.Ltd. Mr. Jitendra Mane, Environment Manager,Karmayogi Shankaraoji Patil SSK Ltd summed up theproblems faced in filling up the form. In addition toqueries raised regarding the logbook module,

participants also cited thelack of basic laboratoryfacilities and manpower forenvironment managementcell in many sugar mills.Most of the queries raisedby were answeredsatisfactorily andDr. Nimbalkar gave theassurance of taking up theunsolved issues with theMPCB.

The Director General in his closing remarks expressedhis satisfaction at the enthusiastic participation inthe webinar. He assured the participants of thesupport of VSI in environmental issues and also ofconveying the issues raised in the webinar to theMPCB. The webinar ended with a vote of thanks byDr. Amol Deshmane.

As a follow up to the webinar a letter on suggestionsfor improvement in the MPCB logbook module wassent to the Chairman MPCB, Mr. Sudhir Shrivastavaby the Director General. The Chairman has respondedvery promptly and positively that MPCB will take upthe suggestions and make changes to the format ofthe logbook.

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The two days residential training programme on‘Advanced technologiesin sugarcane agriculture’was organized duringNovember 25 to 26, 2020for officers and staffmembers of DivisionalJoint Director ofAgriculture Aurangabadand Latur sponsored byNational Food SecurityMission.

In this training total 36participants DivisionalJoint Director ofAgriculture, (Aurangabad20 & Latur 16) including Agriculture Officers, Agril.Assistants and Agriculture Supervisors participated.

The training was inaugurated by Mr. Vikas Deshmukh,Director of AST, in presence of Heads of section andrepresentative from participants. Dr. GS Kotgire,Scientist, Plant Pathology section welcomed all theparticipants and others. During the inaugural speechby Mr. Vikas Deshmukh highlighted the importanceof the training and appealed to all officials to adoptintegrated cropping system and focus on integratednutrient management for increase in productivity of

Advanced Technologies in Sugarcane Agriculturesugarcane crop. He appreciated all participants camefor training in the Covid 19 situation. He also

instructed to follow thesafety guidelines.

During training modern andscientific sugarcanecultivation technology wastaught which covered thelectures on various topicslike sugarcane varietiesand varietal planning, seednursery management,tissue culture, modernplanting techniques, weedmanagement, soil fertilityand fertilizer management,

irrigation water management, use of bio-fertilizers,farm mechanization, ratoon management andintegrated disease and pest management andpractical’s and field demonstrations was also given.In the plenary session, the participants discussed theirdoubts from the subject experts. In the concludingfunction, the representative trainees expressed theirviews. The certificates were distributed to the traineesand event was concluded with Vote of thanks byMr. BH Pawar.

Participants in the training program

Inauguration of training program byMr. Vikas Deshmukh, Director, AST, VSI

Certificate distribution to the participants byMr. Vikash Deshmukh, Director, AST, VSI

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PARTICIPATION BY VSI STAFFPARTICIPATION BY VSI STAFFA cloud HD video meeting was arranged byInstitution of Agricultural Technologists (IMAT),Pune on November 22, 2020. Mr. Vikas Deshmukh,Director Agricultural Sciences & TechnologyDivision, VSI was invited for a lecture on ‘AdvancedTechnologies for improving sugarcaneproductivity in Maharashtra state’. About 600technologists, researchers, sugar mill officers andprogressive farmers attended the presentation.

A virtual meeting of World Association of Beet andCane Growers (WABCG) was held during November16 to 30, 2020 in three phases. Vasantdada SugarInstitute is a member and observer to thisassociation. Mr. Shivajirao Deshmukh, DirectorGeneral VSI and Mr. PV Ghodke, Scientist,Agronomy Section attended these online meetings.Detailed discussions on world sugar stock, sugarpricing policy, ethanol production- pricing, effectof COVID-19 on sugar industry and variousproblems faced by the industry was held duringthese meetings. Director General VSI presented the'Indian scenario of sugar & ethanol production,sugarcane production, productivity, newachievements and research area for beet & canecultivation'.

untapped opportunities the world over and alsogave the value of the wastewater treatment marketin India. She listed out the wide range of careeropportunities in wastewater treatment ranging fromETP design, operation & maintenance, chemicals& microbial cultures to management of variousservices. She also elaborated on the scope forentrepreneurship in the field.

The webinar got good response with around 50attendees who participated in a Q&A session afterthe presentation. The video of the webinar has alsoreceived over 1200 views since then.

Poornam Ecovision Foundation is an NGO in Puneworking on environmental problems particularlysolid and e-waste management through recyclingand upcycling. They have been organizing awebinar series under their awareness initiative onevery Wednesday since August 2020. The 16th

webinar in the series was delivered by Dr. DeepaliNimbalkar, Sr. Scientist, Department ofEnvironmental Sciences on ‘Opportunities inWastewater Treatment’ on November 25, 2020through facebook live. Dr. Nimbalkar began herpresentation with the significance of thewastewater treatment in sustainable development.She explained that it was one of the greatest

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Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between VSI & ICAR - NIASM,Baramati

ICAR’s National Institute of Abiotic StressManagement, Malegaon Tal. Baramati andVasantdada Sugar Institute, Manjari (Bk.) Pune signeda MoU on December 28, 2020 for collaborativeresearch work for the management of abiotic stressesin sugarcane and allied crops. Under this programresearch trials with the technologies developed byboth the institutes will be integrated as well as newtechnologies will be jointly researched out fordeveloping farmer friendly technologies to managethe abiotic stresses like drought, salinity, high andlow temperature, hail storm as well as flood. Forthis purpose, the scientific knowledge, the laboratoryand field infrastructure of both institute will beshared. Further, for managing of abiotic stressestraining programs/ workshops/ symposia etc. will beconducted jointly for the agriculture staff of sugarmills.

In first phase of implementation, the program of thetrials for management of drought stress in sugarcanehas been planned. A joint research proposal by boththe institute along with Bhabha Atomic ResearchCenter, Mumbai has been also submitted to Board ofResearch on Nuclear Science, Govt. of India forutilizing the chitosan and thiourea nanoparticles forenhancing the drought stress tolerance in sugarcane.Apart from this the microbial consortia, microbialpolysaccharides, nanoparticles conjugates developedby both the institute will be evaluated for

management of different stresses in sugarcane as wellas other horticultural crops.

Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director of NIASM, andMr. Shivajirao Deshmukh, Director General, VSI, Punesigned the MoU in presence of Dr. Jagdish RanePrincipal Scientist & Head and Stress PhysiologyDivision, NISAM, Mr. BK Sinha, Administrative officerof NIASM, Mr. Vikas Deshmukh Director, AST, VSI,Mr. PV Ghodke, Scientist, VSI and Dr. SG Dalvi, Scientist,VSI.

During the program, Dr. Pathak presented the differentactivities by NIASM and Dr. Rane briefed about theagenda of MoU. Mr. Shivajirao Deshmukh briefedabout VSI activities and assured support forimplementing the joint research work. He suggestedthat the farm facilities of VSI at different locationsmay be utilized for different trials going to beconducted for salinity, drought etc. He invited all thescientists of NIASM to VSI for exploring thepossibilities of research trials for management ofdifferent stresses. Mr. Vikas Deshmukh also supportedfor the same stating that the NIASM will help inadvancing the technologies developed by VSI to othercrops stress management and yield improvement. Hestated that the advanced infrastructure available withNIASM would be useful for screening and advancingthe stress tolerant elite sugarcane genotypes. Laterthe VSI team visited to the different laboratories,phonemics facility and the farm facilities at NIASM.

Signing on MoU between VSI and ICAR-NIASM VSI Deligation at ICAR-NIASM

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Local Enquiry Committee constituted by SavitribaiPhule Pune University under the chairmanship ofProf. Suresh Gosavi, visited VSI on November 25, 2020.The other members of committee were Dr. SanjayGaikwad, Dr. Vinay Kumar, Dr. Rajendra Patil,Dr. Dnyaneshwar Mahajan for the affiliation toVasantdada Sugar Institute as a Research Centerleading to Ph.D. program and Post Graduate Coursesof M.Sc. Wine Brewing & Alcohol Technology andEnvironmental Science. The committee visited all thedepartments to see the infrastructure of VSI. Duringtheir visit concern scientist explained the activitiesof department.

VISITORS TO VSIVISITORS TO VSI

Prof. Suresh Gosavi, Chairman, felicities byMr. Shivajirao Deshmukh, DG, VSI

Interactive meeting with Local Enquiry Committeeconstituted by SP Pune University presided over by

Mr. Shivajirao Deshmukh, DG, VSI

Visit of members of Local Enquiry Committee of SPPU toAlcohol Technology and Biofuels Department of VSI

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Following visitors visited VSI during last three months (October to December, 2020)

Total No. of VisitorsParticulars October - 2020

Individual Farmers from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh & Karnataka State 318, 03 & 05

November - 2020Individual Farmers from Maharashtra & Telangana State 297 & 02 December - 2020

Individual Farmers from Maharashtra State 320

TOTAL 945

New sugarcane varieties are developed through aconventional breeding program, which depends onthe available germplasm stocks for breeding material.The desirable genotypes are used for hybridizationto produce new varieties. Sugarcane breeding forimproved cultivars is a time-consuming process,taking upwards of ten years from initial crosses tofinal agronomic assessment of elite cultivars (Coxet al. 2000).

Cross pollination is the rule in sugarcane. Self maleand female sterility, protogyny and hanging down ofanthers away from the stigma at the time of anthesispromote self pollination. Usually anthesis will be inearly morning between 5 am and 6 am and maximumanthesis in between 6 am and 8 am. Stigma protrudesout first and anthers dehisce afterwards. Floweropening will be from top to downwards. It will takeabout 10 days for complete opening of spikelets.Flowering in sugarcane is location specific andinfluenced by environment. In sugarcane followingdifferent crossing techniques were followed to effectthe biparental and polycrosses.

Sulfurous acid Technique (Hawaii method)A sulfurous acid solution keeps the inflorescencealive for several weeks. Here, we cut both male andfemale flowering arrows along with small portion ofstem. During this time, the seed will mature.

Potted PlantsThe clones and species not amenable to thesulphuric acid technique or marcotting, clones aregrown in small containers which can be readilymanipulated for crossing.

Lantern methodThis is commonly used everywhere in the world insugarcane breeding. In this method, providinglantern for a female plant before anthesis starts.From the desired male parent cut the arrow. Thatarrow can be introduced into the Lantern and shakenup and thereby crossing can be effected. This will

Use of Marcotting Technique in Sugarcane at SBC, Amboli

Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Manjari Bk., Pune

Dr. RS HapasePlant Breeding Section

be repeated for 2-3 days in order to have more seedset.

Marcotting methodThis method was developed by Venkatraman andThomas (1926) at Sugarcane Breeding Institute,Coimbatore. In this method a well grown stalks in flagleaf stage as chose to the ground as possible in orderto insure maximum stalk length. In this techniquerooting in canes that would flower later, is induced atthe nodal region by covering polythene tube of requiredsize which can covers two to three nodes and a mixtureof sand, moist garden soil and organic matter in asuitable proportion is poured around the nodes. Themixture is then watered in adequate quantities andpolythene tube will be tied at both the ends alsoknown as sleeving. The sufficient rooting will be afterabout 15-20 days. The canes are then detached belowmarcotted portion and kept in pots and made use ofin crossing under controlled environment (See Fig.1.(a-d).

The Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune established anew Sugarcane Breeding Centre at Amboli (Dist.:Sindhudurg) for Maharashtra State during the year2005 in collaboration with Sugarcane BreedingInstitute, Coimbatore. At this station all the abovementioned crossing techniques were used andassessed for their significance over the field crossing.(fig. 2). At this station marcotting technique wasundertaken after the natural nuisance in crossing. Thefollowing nuisances affecting crossing efficiency wereobserved at SBC, Amboli;

a) In early morning due to heavy wind the pollensfrom open spikelets were flown away.

b) The high humidity affects the dehiscence ofpollens.

c) The temperature fall in early morning affectsopening of spikelet even after heating of malearrows.

d) Requires every day cutting of male arrows stillnext seven to eight days

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e) The field crossing method requires moremanpower to fix the field structure andpollination in field with the help of ladder.

f) Fertility and seed setting of crosses affected.

Sr.No.

No. of seedlingsobtained inGN-II (year)

Year No. ofmarcotted

canes

No. of bi-parentalcrosses

Weight of (gm)

1. 2011 824 116 1608 3564 (2012)

2. 2012 528 189 2635 5884 (2013)

3. 2013 321 70 1671 2863 (2014)

4. 2014 574 115 2231 18579 (2015)

5. 2015 637 102 1848 21135 (2016)

6. 2016 711 89 1110 15279 (2017)

7. 2017 924 78 1707 23683 (2018)

8. 2018 573 80 1748 2753 (2019)

9. 2019 822 202 1988 5102 (2020)

10. 2020 1459 657 Yet to collect fluff Will be raised in 2021

Looking to the constraints we started the use ofmarcotting technique at SBC, Amboli for makingcrosses from the year 2013 and we got the success.The details of crosses made with the help of thistechnique and seedlings were raised is given in thefollowing table;

References :Cox, M., Hogarth, M., Smith, G. (2000). Cane breedingImprovement Chapter5 In: M. Hogarth, P. Allosopp,eds. Manual of cane growing. Bureau of sugarexperimental stations Indooroopilly, Australia.pp. 91-108.

Venkatraman, T. S. and Thomos, R. (1926). Sugarcanrbreeding Technique. Isolation of live arrows fromundesired pollen through artificial rooting of canes.Agric. J. India, 21 (3):203-209.

Fig. 1d : Pots with marcotted canes inhybridization chamber

Fig. 2 : Flowering view of SBC, Amboli

Fig. 1a :marcotted canes

in field

Fig. 1b :marcott

field view

Fig. 1c :well rotted

marcott

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Introduction

In agriculture, modern genetic engineering techniquecalled genetically modified crops (GM crops) hasmodified the genomic DNA of particular plant. Theaim in most cases is to insert a new trait to the plantthat does not present naturally in the species forexample; resistance to certain diseases, pests,herbicide tolerance, environmental conditions,increase of nutritional value etc. More than 189 millionhectare of the world’s crop lands is planted with GMcrops (ISAAA, 2017). India is yet to approve commercialcultivation of GM food crops. Cotton is the only GMcash crop got legal permission for commercialcultivation in India. Recently, GEAC has given a goahead for tests of GM mustard crop before taking adecision of its commercialization.

The benefits of GM crops are good because of: 1) Betterpest and disease resistance, 2) Improved stresstolerance, 3) Faster growth, 4) More nutritious crops, 5)Crop can produce medicines and vaccines, 6) Herbicidetolerance, 7) Better tasting foods etc. On the other side,why GM crops are Bad are: 1) Unexpected side effects,2) Effects on non-GM Crops, 3) Problems with labelingof GM food, 4) Ecological damage, 5) Reduced speciesdiversity, 6) Over use of herbicides, 7) Benefits may notbe available to all. However, there are no scientific dataavailable about the myths of GM crops and most of themare assumptions.

World scenario

Genetic transformation or transgenic technology hasbeen greatly exploited for other food crops speciesimprovement. According to ISAAA-2017 report, ~ 18million farmers from 26 countries use 185.1 millionhectares of land for cultivation of all transgenic cropsover a period of two decades. It was 1.7 millionhectares in 1996, which counts almost 110-foldincrease. During 2015, India was in fourth positionwith 11.6 million hectares (mha)

Genetic Transformation in Sugarcane and Present Status

Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Manjari Bk., Pune

K. Harinath Babu and RM DevarumathMolecular Biology & Genetic Engineering Section

Genetic transformation in sugarcane for varioustraits:

Development of transgenic sugarcane plants isincreasing rapidly in recent years. Sugarcane has beengenetically modified for traits like sugar yield andquality, novel sugars with potential benefits to consumerand pharmaceuticals.Further, many abiotic and bioticstresses related to physiological characters have beenstudied. These include resistance to sugarcane mosaicvirus (SCMV), yellow leaf virus, sugarcane borer andleaf scald resistance, antibiotic resistance, herbicidetolerance, drought and salinity tolerance.

Production of naturally occurring compounds for usein bioplastics, enhanced nitrogen use efficiency,altered plant growth, improved sucrose accumulation,improved cellulosic ethanol production from sugarcanebiomass, enhanced water use efficiency, altered juicecolour are the results of transgenic technology.Further, GM sugarcane varieties that can produce high-value compounds e.g., pharmaceutically importantproteins, nutraceuticals, biopolymers, enzymes andprecursors are paving ways to promoting sugarcaneas a biofactory in coming years.

a. Herbicide tolerance: Genetically modifiedsugarcane plants resistant to phosphinotricine (PPT),the active compound of commercial herbicide, BASTAwere generated and transgenic plants were confirmedby Southern blot hybridization. Herbicide resistancegene (bar) was used and selected plants wereanalyzed by PCR.

b. Abiotic Stress tolerance: Higher plants have beengenetically transformed for resistance to comeherbicides, virus, bacterial and fungal diseases andinsect pests, production of enzymes, pharmaceuticals,vaccines etc. However, transgenic sugarcane plantsharboring Grifolafrondosa synthase gene thatimproved tolerance to osmotic stress was developedin 2005. Arabidopsis CBF4 gene transferred intosugarcane and it improved drought tolerance. Open

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field trials of transgenic sugarcane for PT PerkebunanNusantara XI (Persero) in Indonesia released droughttolerance only in year 2015. Plant betain aldehydedehydrogenase (BADHs) an enzyme involved in theproduction of glycine betain (GB) in response of plantsto abiotic stress and potential for transgene expressionof BADHt improve abiotic stress tolerance. Likewise,betA and betB (encoding choline dehydrogenase fromEschericia coli) and TsVP (encoding V-H+-PPase fromThellungiella haliphila) are also responsible forenhancing the abiotic stress tolerance in plants.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) have a key role in stresstolerance mechanism in plants. HSP70 gene isolatedfrom Erianthus arundinaceus and driven by Port Uvi2.3promoter was introduced in sugarcane variety Co 86032through Agrobacterium mediated method. Their resultssuggested that EaHSP70 played an important role insugarcane acclimation to drought and salinity stress andits potential for genetic engineering of sugarcane fordeveloping drought and salinity tolerance.

Introduced the Pea DNA Helicase45 (PDH45) intosugarcane variety Co 86032 through Agrobacteriummediated method and analyzed Vo and V1 plants fortolerance to soil moisture and exhibited significantlyhigher cell membrane thermo-stability, transgeneexpression, chlorophyll content,relative water contentand photosynthetic efficiency. Further, they over-expressed EaDREB2 and pyramiding with the Pea DNAhelicase gene (PDH45) in sugarcane cultivar Co 86032to enhance tolerance to drought and salinity. When co-transformed with plant DNA helicase gene, DREB2showed greater level of salinity tolerance than in singlegene transfer.

c. Biotic Stress resistance/diseases: Diseases and pestscause significant economic losses to the sugarindustries throughout the world. Sugarcane issusceptible to a crowd of viral, phytoplasma, bacterialand fungal diseases.

Sugarcane pathogens like mosaic virus and Fiji diseaseviruses cause significant yield losses in susceptible line.The coat protein-coding region of sugarcane mosaic virus(ScMV) has been introduced in sugarcane. Transgenicsugarcane plants containing this gene were evaluatedand exhibited robust resistance over non-transformedplants. Transformed plants were inoculated with ScYLV

and 10 months after infection, 37 plants were negativefor ScYLV.

d. Biotic Stress resistance – Insect pests: Pests ofsugarcane are another major source of economicdamage in all the cane-growing countries. Presently,sugarcane pests such as cane-grubs, borers, mealybugs, wooly aphids and other insects are controlledby integrated pest management (IPM) practicescomprising biological, cultural, and insecticidalcontrols. Although IPM approaches arecomplementing the already existing tolerance insugarcane, increasing pest resistance by means ofintroducing novel insecticidal genes by transgenicapproach would be another technology to support inmaximizing and sustaining crop productivity.

In a recent study, genetic transformation in sugarcanewith the Nicotiana alata proteinase inhibitor gene orsnowdrop lectin (GNA) gene exhibited marked antibiosisto canegrubs. In another investigation, observedconsiderable growth inhibition of sugarcane stalk borerswhen fed on GM sugarcane engineered with lectingenes. Remarkable resistance to the borer Diatraeasaccharalis Fab. was also reported in transgenicsugarcane that expressing a Bt[Cry IA(b)] gene.

Inheritance of resistance to Bacillus thuringensisCry1Ab protein in the sugarcane borer, Diatraeasuccharalis (Lepidoptera crambidae) were analyzedby various genetic crosses. Construction of expressionvector of Cry1Ac gene and its transformation insugarcane and evaluated genetically modifiedsugarcane lines carrying Cry1Ac gene.Transformations of Cry1Aa3 gene in sugarcane andone-step regeneration of transgenic plants were alsoreported.

A synthetic gene coding for approtinin, designed andcodon optimized for better expression in plant systemwas transferred to two sugarcane varieties CoC 9206and Co 86032 through particle bombardment andhygromycin resistant lines were analyzed by in vivobioassay, in vitro bioassay of Cry1F. Pyramiding ofapprotinin expressing sugarcane with Cry1Ab forshoot borer resistance was also reported.CTC Brazilhas released insect pest resistant Bt sugarcane oncommercial basis in 2017.

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3.e Genetic Transformation for Byproducts / others:Transgenic plants are contributing in many areasincluding increased crop production and enhancedfood quality in agriculture; production of therapeuticproteins, monoclonal antibodies and edible vaccinesfor the pharmaceutical industry and environmentfriendly outputs like biodegradable plastics. The futureresearch may determine that sugarcane is an ‘idealplant biofactory’ for many of these new products.Production of pharmaceutical grade proteins insugarcane, production of Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB),an environment friendly bio-degradable plastic.

Plastid transformation

Transgene(s) expression into the nuclear genome hasled to a growing public distress because of the possibilityof gene escape to their wild relative species throughpollen. In most of the crops plants, plastids arematernally inherited.Engineering of the plastid genomeis gaining importance as an alternative target to nucleartransformation. Chloroplast transformation has gotnumber of advantages over nuclear transformation like:high level of transgene containment, transgeneexpression and absence of gene silencing.Genetictransformation in plastids (chloroplasts) was attemptedin VSI, India and Max Plank Institute of Molecular PlantPhysiology, Germany but, no report of development ofcomplete transplastomics.

Genetically modified Sugarcane field trialsPT Perkebunan Nusantara XI (Persero) developed NXI-1T, NXI-4T and NXI-6T, a genetically modified droughttolerant sugarcane variety from BL-19 for droughtresistant qualities with the help of CDAST, JemberUniversity, Indonesia. They used betA gene ofAjinomoto, Japan which is responsible foraccumulation of betain aldehyde dehydrogenase(BADH), as osmoprotectant that helps in developingthe drought tolerance. Around 50 hectares of landunder cultivation of these varieties.

The Sugarcane Technology Center (Centro deTechnologia Canavierira- CTC), Brazil has developedthe GM sugarcane ‘Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis)’ generesponsible for borer resistance is approved for itscommercial cultivation. CTC will work with producers,starting the seedling process and monitoring fieldplanting.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research – SugarcaneBreeding Institute (ICAR-SBI), the CentralGovernment’s premier research institution - has joinedhands with Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI), Pune, fordeveloping drought tolerant genetically modified (GM)sugarcane that will need less water for cultivation.“However, it will be a long-term project. Developingdrought tolerant (less water use) GM sugarcane isnot an end in itself. We know how difficult it is in Indiato go for commercial release of any transgenic crop”,said an ICAR Scientist. The permission for field trialsof drought tolerant GM sugarcane variety, developedby the SBI Coimbatore by over-expressing pea DNAhelicase (PDH45), Heat shock protein from Erianthusspp. (EaHSP70) and EaDREB2 genes, is underconsideration with the Review Committee of GeneticManipulation (RCGM).

Conclusion

The collaborative research joint venture seeks to makesugarcane production more profitable through caneimprovement and industry diversification through theapplication of biotechnology. Public opinion currentlyappears to be biased against foods derived fromgenetically modified (GM) organisms. Lack ofknowledge about the process and lack of transparencyin introducing genetically modified crops hasincreased consumers’ wariness of these newproducts. People who supported science andtechnology and who trusted government and industrywere more accepting of the technology.

References:K Harinath Babu, RM Devarumath, AS Thorat, VMNalavade, Mayur Saindane, C Appunu, and PSuprasanna (2020) Sugarcane Transgenics:Developments and Opportunities. In: Kavi Kishor PB,Rajam MV, Pullaiah T (eds) Genetically ModifiedCrops. Pp 241-265. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5897-9_12

GA Nerkar, AS Thorat, SS Sheelavantmath, K HarinathBabu and RM Devarumath, (2018) Biotechnologies ofCrop Improvement Vol. 2 : Trangeneic ApproachIn: Satbir Singh Gosal and Shabir Hussain Wani (Eds)Genetic Transformation of Sugarcane and FieldPerformance of Transgenic Sugarcane pp 207-226Spring International publishing UK

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Role of Accredited Test Laboratory (ATL) at VSI Pune in Testing andCertification of Tissue Culture Raised Quality Plantlets

Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Manjari Bk., Pune

Sachin Kalwade and RM DevarumathMolecular Biology & Genetic Engineering Section

Seed quality is considered as important factor inimprovement and attaining higher crop yield andsustained growth in agriculture production. Seedquality is a complex trait and novel researchapproaches to improve seed quality involve acombination of seed technologies, genetics, andmolecular biology. Plant Tissue Culture Technologyoffers great promise for the production of qualityplanting material on account of disease free and trueto type plants produced through micropropagationtechniques. The need for a certification programmefor the tissue culture plants is imperative sinceinadvertent micropropagation of virus infected plantswill not only result in its poor performance, but alsoin undesirable spread of viruses wherever such plantsare grown. Also, failure to use prescribed standardprotocols will result in variations in the plantsproduced. The most deleterious variants in tissueculture raised plants are those that effect yield,genetic fidelity/uniformity and carry infection ofviruses, and other fastidious pathogens, which aredifficult to diagnose. This is an area of great concern,and requires a well-structured system be put in placeto provide support to the tissue culture industry forthe commercialization of virus free and high qualityplanting material. The Department of Biotechnology(DBT) is certification agency for tissue culture-raisedplanting materials and to facilitate it this establisheda ‘National Certification System for Tissue Culture-raised Plants (NCS-TCP)’. NCS-TCP follows a distinctand dynamic quality management system for tissueculture industry encompassing Tissue CultureCertification Agency (DBT), Accreditation Unit (AU)and Project Management Unit (PMU) at BiotechConsortium India Limited (BCIL.). Referral Centres,Accredited Test Laboratories (ATLs), RecognizedTissue Culture Production units.

Accredited Test Laboratories (ATLs)

Test laboratories are accredited entities, responsiblefor testing the Tissue Culture material for Virusdiagnosis and Genetic fidelity/ uniformity, for thepurpose of certification. The Test laboratory preparesa Test Report based on tests conducted in conformitywith the guidelines. Based on the Test Report, eachAccredited Test Laboratory (ATLs) is authorized toissue the Certificate of Quality for the Tissue CulturePlant (CQ-TCP) along with certification label on behalfof the Tissue Culture Certification Agency. ATLs areresponsible for maintaining/ procuring all diagnostickits, primer, probes etc required for routine testing.Each ATL would perform both tests-for virus diagnosisand true-to-type. At present there are 4 ATLs in Indiaviz., Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune, GKVK,Bangalore, ICAR-CPRI, Shimla and ICAR.-IISR, Lucknow.At VSI we perform the analysis of stock and batch leafsamples of Banana, Gerbera, Date palm. In this, Virusindexing of Banana for Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV)& Banana streak virus (BSV) using PCR method whileCucumber Mosaic virus (CMV), Banana bract mosaicvirus (BBrMV) using ELISA techniques. Genetic fidelityof banana, Date palm assessed through PCR basedISSR marker. In Gerbera only virus indexing for CMVperformed analysis through ELISA and phytoplasmadetection in date palm using nested PCR.

Banana streak virus (BSV)

Banana streak virus (BSV) is a plant pathogenicbadnavirus of the family Caulimoviridae, affectingproduction of banana (Musa spp.). It is anunenveloped, non-covalently closed, bacilliformdouble-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus with amonopartite genome of ~7.2–7.8kb encoding threeopen-reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 encodes a smallprotein of unknown function that is associated with

19

virions. BSV was first identified in West Africa in 1958and is now reported in most banana and plantaingrowing countries. BSV is a complex of differentviruses belonging to the pararetroviruses andclassified as endogenous pararetroviruses when theyare integrated into a host genome. The BSV integratedin the banana host genome are known as endogenousBSV (eBSV).

Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV)

The disease, often called BBTV for banana bunchytop disease, gets its name from the bunchyappearance of infected plants. By that time, however,the virus has most likely been spread to other plantsby the banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa.Infected plants cannot recover and will serve as asource of viral particles unless they are destroyed.The virus is also spread through infected plantingmaterial. Bunchy top is considered to be the mostdevastating viral disease affecting bananas.

Most common symptoms are narrow, discontinuousand sometimes continuous chlorotic or yellow streaksthat run from the leaf midrib to the margin. In somecases, spindle or eye-shaped patterns are present.Yellow blotches have also been associated withbanana streak. Symptoms can be sparse orconcentrated. Sometimes the lamina can be distorted.Streaks later darken to orange and often becomebrown or black. Necrosis has also been seen on themidrib and petiole. Necrosis occurs more under lowtemperature, short-day conditions. A characteristicof infection is the periodicity of symptom expressionin leaves. Plants may not show streak symptoms inall leaves and, for several months at a time, emergingleaves may be symptomless or show only slightsymptoms. Symptom expression seems to beassociated with the change of seasons andfluctuating temperatures may play a role. Plants withBSD may appear symptomless at some stage in theirgrowth cycle as leaves with symptoms are shed andnew leaves appear without symptoms due to factorsdiscussed above. Some infected land races show nosymptoms even under fluctuating environmentalconditions.

Fig.1 : Banana Streak Virus infected to banana plant

Fig. 2. Banana Bunchy Top Virus infected to banana plant.

Bunchy top is named after one of the mostcharacteristic symptoms of an advanced infection,when the leaves become progressively dwarfed,upright and bunched at the top of the plant, with wavyand chlorotic margins that tend to turn necrotic.Initialsymptoms may be difficult to detect for a novice dueto their inconspicuous nature. The first symptoms aredark green streaks on the lower portion of the leaf’smidrib and later on the secondary veins. Removingthe waxy white coating on the midrib makes it easierto see the streaking. The streaks consist of dot-dashpatterns, the so-called ‘Morse code’, the mostdiagnostic symptom of bunchy top. As infectionprogresses, streak symptoms become more evidenton the leaf blade. Dark-green hook-like extensions ofthe veins can also be seen in the narrow, light-greenzone between the midrib and the lamina. The shorthooks point down along the midrib toward the petiole.These hooks are best observed from the underside ofthe leaf by holding the leaf to the light.

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Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)

The disease, cucumber mosaic, is caused by theCucumber mosaic virus (CMV). CMV is one of the mostcommon and destructive cucurbit viruses, and it iswidely distributed throughout temperate and tropicalareas of the world. CMV can infect over 1200 plantspecies including both monocots and dicots. Thereare many strains of CMV that differ in the symptomsthey cause, the range of hosts they infect, and theirmeans of dispersal. It can be transmitted from plantto plant both mechanically by sap and by aphids in astylet-borne fashion. It can also be transmitted inseeds and by the parasitic weeds, Cuscuta sp. Mosaicof infectious chlorosis of banana has been known fora long time to be caused by Cucumber Mosaic virus(CMV), and occurs throughout the world. Symptomsconsist of foliar mosaic and occasional leafdeformation, especially in young suckers developingfrom infected mother plants. Mosaic symptoms aremost pronounced during cool weather but do notpersist, in contrast, the severe of heart rot strains ofCMV. CMV occurs naturally on very wide range of plantspecies, including cultivated crops (e.g. tomato,pepper, cucurbits) and weeds, which serve asreservoirs of infection for banana. The virus istransmitted in a non-persistent manner by severalaphid species (e.g. Aphis gossypi, Myzus persicae)which colonize a wide range of source plant speciesand visit but do not colonize banana. As a result,infection of banana CMV occurs almost exclusive byaphid transmission from other plant species ratherthan from banana to banana.

Banana bract mosaic virus (BBrMV)

Bract mosaic caused by banana bract mosaic virus(BBrMV) was first recorded in the Phillipines in 1979.The virus is known to infect only banana, and can betransmitted in a non-persistent manner by at leastthree species of aphid, Aphis gossypi, Rhopalosiphummaidis and Pentalonia nigronervous. Infection byBBrMV can result in growth defects, reduced suckeringand misshapen, unmarketable fruit; therefore thisdisease has the potential to cause economic loss.Fortunately, BBrMV like BBTV is not known to occurin the new world tropics and has been identified onlyin the Phillipines, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam andWestern Samoa. This disease would therefore be mosteffectively controlled by exclusion. As in the case ofBBTV, attention must be paid to the source of importedbanana planting material particularly plants producedby in vitro propagation. Routine indexing ofgermplasm for BBrMV infection can be reliable byenzyme immunoassay or RT-PCR.

Fig.3. : Cucumber Mosaic Virus infected to banana plant.

Fig.4. : Banana bract mosaic virus infected to banana plant.

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in Gerbera

Gerbera has gained immense popularity in the pastfew years in India. The demand of gerbera, in Indianfloral industry, is increasing day by day as cut flowerand potted plant due to its beautiful blooms of variouscolors, long vase life and ability to rehydrate afterlong transportation. The gerbera production hassetback of plant virus infections: CMV, Impatiens

21

nercotic spot virus (TSWV), Tabacco mosaic virus(TMV) and Tabacco rattle virus (TRV). Amongst them,CMV is considered as important because it causedsevere flower deformation so it leads to detoration inthe market value of their blooms. Gerbera ispropagated by vegetative means through clumps andhence chances are more for viral dissemination totheir subsequent generation and from one area toanother cultivation site, therefore virus eliminationfrom mother stock was considered for its betterquality production. For this we are using ELISAtechniques to detect this virus.

Phytoplasma in Date Palm

Phytoplasmas (Candidatus Phytoplasma) areunculturable, cell wall-less bacteria that aretaxonomically classified as class Mollicutes and plantpathogens that have been associated witheconomically and ecologically important plant hostsworldwide. Phytoplasmas are classified into groupsand subgroups based on restriction fragment lengthpolymorphism (RFLP) analysis of their 16S rRNA-encoding loci with a set of seventeen endonucleases.The main symptom observed in the plants was

discoloration of the foliage, which developed from thetip to the base of the leaves. The leaves showedyellowing followed by dryness and most fruits fellearly, particularly in the Sukkari cultivar. They aretransmitted by phloem-sucking insects in the family’sCicadellidae, Cixiidae, Cercopidae, Derbidae,Delphacidae and Psyllidae. Pytoplasma is obligateparasite of phloem tissue and affects many plantsmainly date palms. For detection of phytoplasma,Nested PCR was used in which two sets of 16SrRNAphytoplamsa gene specific primers were used in tworounds of PCR. The first round of PCR was set withfirst set of primers and the annealing was done at550C. For the second round PCR, first roundamplification used as template. The nested secondround primer amplifies the 16SrRNA gene with thetarget size.

Fig.5 : Diagrammatic illustration of plant sample analysis under NCS-TCP program

For More information visit to following websiteURL: https://dbtncstcp.nic.in/

Natioanl Certification System for TissueCulture Raised Plants (NCS-TCP)

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LIBRARY UPDATELIBRARY UPDATEOctober to December 2020

1. Dr. Yashpal Singh (2020). Distillery Spent Washand It’s Utilisation in Agriculture. Lucknwo, UttarPradesh: Wealthy Waste School India. (p. 400)

2. Dr. Rajesh Kumar (2020) National Seminar onBiofuel Production in India: Potential, Prospectsand Technology. Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: NorthIndian Sugarcane and Sugar Technologists Asso-ciation. (p. 53)

3. VSI (2020) Proceeding of the 2nd InternationalConference and Exhibition on Sustainability In-novation and Diversification in Sugar and AlliedIndustry (31st January to 2nd February 2020. Pune:Vasantdada Sugar Institute. (p. 23)

4. VSI (2020) Sugarcane Research Report 2019-2020: Division of Agricultural sciences and tech-nology. Pune: Vasantdada Sugar Institute (p. 401)

5. SBI (2012) Centenary Souvenir (1912 – 2012).Coimbatore: Sugarcane Breeding Institute (p.185)

6. Gunjal Aparna B. (2020) Enzymes in degrada-tion of the Lignocellulosic Wastes. Switzerland:Springer Nature (p. 113)

7. Kumar Rayaprolu (2009) Boilers for power andprocess. USA: CRC Press (p.745)

Committee :Dr. KH Babu, Mrs. Seema Joshi, Mr. MR Shinde,Mr. RA Chandgude, Dr. PS Deshmukh, Mr. US Manjul,Mr. RB Bhoite,

Adviser : Mr. Shivajirao DeshmukhEditor : Dr. RM Devarumath, Mr. AA PrabhavalkarLayout & Photography : Mr. Sanjay A Dawari

VSIBulletin is published by the Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune.

VASANTDADA SUGAR INSTITUTEVASANTDADA SUGAR INSTITUTEVASANTDADA SUGAR INSTITUTEVASANTDADA SUGAR INSTITUTEVASANTDADA SUGAR INSTITUTEManjari (Bk), Pune - 412 307; Maharashtra. E-mail : admin@vsisugar.org.inPhone - (020) 26902100; Fax - (020) 26902244 Website: www.vsisugar.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the VSI. The publisher makes no representation or warranties with respectto accuracy, applicability or completeness of information. Contents are for reference purpose only. Using it for any other purpose than for which it is shared is unauthorized and prohibited. No materialfrom the issue may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded or commercially exploited in any manner without the prior consent of the publisher.Copyright © Vasantdada Sugar Institute