Vol. 34, No. 4

Quarterly

CONTENTS

PGR ACTIVITIES 2-6

Exploration and 2-3

Germplasm Collecting

Germplasm Exchange 3-4

Plant Quarantine 4-5

Germplasm Conservation 5

Germplasm 5-6Characterization andEvaluation

Genomic Resources and 6Bioinformatics

GERMPLASM FIELD 6DAYS

OUTREACH ACTIVITIES 6-8

HRD ACTIVITIES 8

PERSONNEL NEWS 8

October-December 2018 www.nbpgr.ernet.in ISSN 0971-2232

ICAR-NBPGR organized a training on ‘ContemporaryApproaches to PGR Management’

A training on ‘Contemporary Approaches to Plant Genetic ResourcesManagement’ was organized by ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi, during Nov. 27 to Dec.17, 2018. Chief guest, Dr D.K. Yadava, ADG (Seeds), ICAR inaugurated the programand delivered key-note address emphasizing the importance of such training forthe breeders in ICAR system. Dr Kuldeep Singh, Director, NBPGR apprised aboutthe recent developments in the National Training Policy of all personnel in governmentdepartments and its importance. Diverse aspects of PGR management werecovered under this training by experienced resource persons from ICAR, PPV&FRA,TAAS and Bioversity International.

The trainees visited Yamuna Biodiversity Park and interacted with Prof. C.R.Babu, Professor Emeritus, Centre for Environmental Management of DegradedEcosystems (CEMDE), Delhi and Dr Faiyaz A. Khudsar, Scientist, DDA BiodiversityParks. An outstation excursion to Dayalbagh Educational Institute (DEI), Dayalbagh,was undertaken, and Prof. Prem Kumar, Dean of Agriculture, facilitated the visitand explained about the reclamation of wasteland and community farming. Thetrainees also visited facilities of IARI, particularly Nanaji Deskmukh National PlantPhenomics Centre (courtesy Dr V. Chinnusamy, Head, Division of Plant Physiology).A special interactive session with Padma Bhushan Dr R.S. Paroda, Chairman,TAAS, was conducted to discuss generic issues in PGR and agricultural research.

Inaugural session and the group photo of the participants attended the training

ICAR - NBPGR Newsletter2

PGR ACTIVITIES

EXPLORATION AND GERMPLASMCOLLECTING

Targeted exploration for wild Abelmoschus fromparts of Saharanpur and adjoining areas (19-26 Nov.2018) was made. Wild Abelmoschus (55) and fewwild species of Sesamum, Solanum, Physalis,Ziziphus, Bryonia were collected from Shamli,Saharanpur, Bijnor, in Uttar Pradesh and Haridwar,Rishikesh, Roorkee in Uttarakhand. Abelmoschusmanihot var. tetraphyllus (locally called Sukhlai,masakdaana) was frequently cultivated in areas ofoccurrence. It was used for clearing jaggery butgradually discontinued due to coming-up of thesugar mills.

sesquipedalis. Paddy (4), rice bean (5), cowpea (3),yardlong bean (3), sem (1), soybean (2), rajmashbean (1), Canavalia gladiata (2), Brassica rapa var.brown sarson (2), sesame (2), Perilla frutescens(4), okra (2), chilli (3) and lesser known vegetablesMomordica subangulata var. renigera (1), and wildspecies (5) were collected.

A multi-crop exploration in South and West Garohill districts of Meghalaya was conducted (21-30Nov. 2018) and cereals, millets, legumes,vegetables, fruits and tubers were collected.Prominent ones among 82 germplasm collectedinclude: landraces of rice (28), maize (9), pseudo-cereals and minor-millets (6), legumes (3),vegetables (9), fruits (11), tubers (6), and othercrops (5) like sesame, leafy mustard, and cotton.

L: Abelmoschus manihot ssp. tetraphyllus in farmerfield grown for stems; R: harvested stems used forclearing jaggery, for sale in market

An exploration trip was conducted from Lunglei,Lawngtlai and Saiha districts of Mizoram (October3-15, 2018) and 52 accessions: maize (11) includinglandrace Mimban/Faisa/Viamim, dent, flint, popcorncalled Viamim (for soups); cowpea behlawi, bete,and yard long bean, Vigna unguiculata var.

Top L: Tubocapsicum anomalum fruits collected fromJanbo area; Top R: Maclura cochinchinensis fruitsfrom Damro Village area; Bottom: variability in Citrusspp.

An exploration at Jammu and lower hills of HP wasmade and Costus speciosus (10), C. pictus (1),Rubus spp (2) Allium roylei (3), A. conseguanum(3), Plumbago zeylanica (3), and Punica granatum(2) were collected.

RS-Srinagar and RS-Shimla conducted a jointexploration and collected 89 accessions of maizelandraces including early maturing and waxy typesand other crops from Kishtwar Dt., of Jammu. RS-Srinagar in collaboration with NRC-SS, Ajmer,Momordica subangulata var. renigera in market

October - December, 2018 3

conducted an exploration at Lolab valley of KupwaraDt., and collected oilseeds (Crambe sp., Lepidiumsativum and other wild Brassica), coriander andcumin.

RS, Hyderabad conducted an exploration for CWRsand collected 176 from parts of Telangana (Medak,Nizamabad) and Maharashtra (Hingoli, Nanded).The accessions comprised, Corchorus (84),Sorghum (23), Abelmoschus (34), Hibiscus (23),Eleusine (5), Echinochloa (5), Panicum (1),Crotalaria (1) and additionally, maize (37) fromvarious parts of Telengana.

catchment regions of Odisha in collaboration withIIVR, Varanasi, and IIHR, Bengaluru.

RS, Shillong collected seven different edible aroidsespecially high yielding Colocasia from Boro Langlaivillage and small sized pumpkin during theperiod.

A & B: Pivli and Lal Jowar (Nanded); C: DagdiSorghum (Basmat, Hingoli); D: Bhendi Jowar (Vai,Hingoli); E: Corchorus spp (Medak and Nizamabad)

Two explorations were undertaken by BC, Cuttack.The first in collaboration with NRRI, Cuttack andHQ (12-22 Nov 2018) collected a total of 95accessions comprising Oryza (43), Capsicum (12),Luffa (9), Leafy vegetables (6), Vigna mungo (7),Solanum (5), Sesame (3), Ocimum (3), Brassica(2), and were collected from Barpeta, Bongaigaonand Chirang districts of Assam. In anotherexploration during 5-14 Dec 2018, a total of 109accessions comprising Cucumis (40), Luffa (14),Trichosanthes (2), Coccinea (2), Diplocyclos (3),Abelmoschus (1), Vigna (21), Sesamum (16),Sorghum (2), Echinochloa (2), Hibiscus (3), Zingiber(1), Mucuna (1) and Ocimum (1) were collectedfrom upper Bonda hills, Podia and Balimela reservoir

High yielding Colocasia and small sized pumpkin

Two exploration trips were undertaken by RS,Thrissur; one in collaboration with IIPR-RRC,Dharwad for pulses collection in Belgaum andBagalkot Dt; and other in collaboration with IIHR,Bengaluru for collection of vegetable and pulsesfrom Koppal, Bellary and Raichur Dt of Karnataka.A total of 297 accessions were collected. Uniqueones include two samples of black gram (NR/18-42 and NR/18-63) with glossy grains like cowpea;and black, dark green and light green Vigna radiata(green gram). Additionally, two farmer-developedvarieties, one in Brinjal (Huliyal Zulappi Kari Badane(HZKB-1) with fruit weight around four kilograms,and another in durum wheat, Huliyal Zulappi Godi(HZG-30). Clusterbean (LSR/18-820) a primitivecultivar with short pods, 3-4 cm long.

An exploration was undertaken by RS, Akola tocover Betul, Chhindwara, and Hosangabad Dt., ofMP during 25 Nov – 03 Dec 2018 to collectvegetables and pulses. A total of 143 accessionsfrom 16 collection sites were made: Maize (32),Benincasa (1), Capsicum (10), Cucurbita (16),Cucumis (5), Vigna (35), Lagenaria (16), Luffa (15),Momordica (4), and Lablab (9).

GERMPLASM EXCHANGE

Import

A total of 8,494 accessions comprising various cropplants was imported from 22 countries. Somepromising accessions are:Wheat: High yielding lines from Mexico (EC968386-968435) and double haploid lines from UK(EC968471-969176); Rice: High Zn content lines

ICAR - NBPGR Newsletter4

(EC963570-966583) from IRRI, Philippines; Barley:Accessions with rust resistance genes fromAustralia (EC967726-967724); Maize: Large whitekernels (Cuzco types) from CIMMYT, Mexico(EC967289-967291; Potato: Resistant andsusceptible lines to Poty virus Y in potato(EC965736-965722) from CIP, Peru; Apple:Accessions resistant to fire blight and phytophthora,resistant to collar rot, woolly aphid and droughttolerant (EC971990-971991) from USA.

Export

A total of 706 wheat samples to Bolivia (353) andBangladesh (353) was exported under acollaborative project.

National Supply

A total of 3,155 samples of various crops wassupplied to different users within the country withMaterial Transfer Agreement.

PLANT QUARANTINE

A total of 51,515 samples of imported germplasm,including transgenics was processed for quarantineclearance during the reporting period. Out of these,5,223 samples were found infected with variouskinds of pests such as fungi (4836), insects (196),nematodes (72) and weeds (119). Out of 5,223infected samples, 148 were rejected due to heavyinfection while the rest were salvaged and releasedto indenters. Out of 119 weed-contaminatedsamples, 105 samples were rejected due topresence of weed species of quarantineimportance.

Important quarantine insect pest interceptionsinclude- Bruchus tristis in Lathyrus sativus, B. erviin Lens culinaris, and B. dentipes in Vicia faba fromLebanon. In addition, Rhizopertha dominicainfestaion was found in Oryza sativa and Hordeumvulgare seeds imported from Philippines andMorocco, respectively. Among pathogens,Dendryphion penicillatum in Papaver somniferumfrom Australia, Tilletia indica in Triticum aestivumfrom Lebanon, Fusarium graminearum in Zea maysfrom Thailand were major interceptions. Among,nematodes, important interceptions wereAphelenchoides besseyi in O. sativa seeds fromPhilippines and USA, Meloidogyne spp. on Malus

domestica from USA. Besides, 119 seed samplesof Hordeum vulgare imported from Morocco foundcontaminated with nine different types of weedseeds out of which six were of quarantineimportance. Quarantine weed species includesBromus secalinus, Centarea melitensis, Galiumtricornutum, Lolium rigidum, Phalaris paradoxa andSinapsis arvensis.

Various prophylactic as well as curative treatmentwere given to the imported germplasm as per theneed such as fumigation (12,899), hot watertreatment (604) Tri-sodium phosphate (411) andpesticidal dip treatment to vegetative propagules(50). A total of 1,421 samples were subjected to X-ray radiography to observe the hidden infestation ofbruchids.

In addition to import, 4,000 samples werequarantined for export. Among those, 59 samplescomprising pearlmillet (2), sorghum (1), chickpea(46), pigeonpea (3) for Gram-ve bacteria; groundnut(6) for Macrophomina /Rhizoctonia; pearlmillet (1)for Bipolaris infection; were rejected. In total, 28phytosanitary certificates were issued.

Five post-entry quarantine inspections were carriedout by the scientists of the division at indenter’s sitesto observe the presence of quarantine pests inreleased germplasm, if any. During inspections,four samples of maize under IQ 132/2018 suspected to infected with maize chloroticdwarf virus at the research farm of M/s SyngentaIndia Ltd., Hyderabad, Telangana; one samplesummer squash (IQ 464/2017) suspected withDidymella bryoniae causing gummy stemblight at research farm of M/s VNR Seeds Pvt. Ltd.,Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh were uprooted anddestroyed. A total of 606 samples ofexotic Phaseolus vulgaris (585) and Pisumsativum (21) is being grown in post-entry quarantinegreenhouses and regularly observed for virus-likesymptoms. The virus free healthy harvested seedwill be supplied to the indenters.

Seed health testing

Seed health status of 2,741 samples of indigenousgermplasm was tested for pest-free conservationin National Genebank. Among a total of 382 infectedsamples, 221, 139 and 22 were found infected withfungi, insect pests and nematodes, respectively. Outof the infected samples, 29 samples were rejected

October - December, 2018 5

while the rest (192) were salvaged and releasedfor storage in genebank.

GERMPLASM CONSERVATION

During the period under report, 32 new and 1,579regenerated accessions were conserved in theNational Genebank including released varieties (29)and genetic stocks (15).

Tissue culture and cryopreservation

Two accessions of Musa bulbisiana and one eachof Malus domestica and Dioscorea deltoidea wereadded to the In Vitro Genebank. Various germplasm(56 acc.) of oil palm, orchids, citrus (19) and threenew species, namely Stixis sauveolens, Macluracochinchinensis and Canarium strictum, werereceived for cryopreservation. A total of 36accessions comprising fruits, industrial crops andcrop wild relatives were conserved as seeds andembryonic axes in the Cryo-genebank.

GERMPLASM CHARACTERIZATION/EVALUATION

HQ

Wheat (1,766), barley (1,000), chickpea (371), lentil(2,900) and linseed (2,600) were grown for agro-morphological characterization.

Akola

Linseed (220 + 3 check), Chickpea (81 + 4),Safflower (59 + 3), Amaranth (100 + 4), Little millet(1,816 + 3) and grain amaranth (147 + 3) weresown in (ABD) Augmented Block Design.

Bhowali

A total of 375 accessions of various crops viz.,wheat (40), barley (46), lentil (224), fababean (19),pea (16), fenugreek (18) and mustard (12) weresown during Rabi-2018-19 for seed multiplication,and evaluation.

Cuttack

A set of 3,260 acc. of cultivated rice germplasmgrown during Kharif 2018 for LTS was harvestedand processed for multiplication. In addition, 216acc. of cultivated germplasm were screened forsalinity tolerance in controlled screening facility atNRRI, Cuttack. Agro-morphological observation forvegetative and floral traits in Abelmoschus spp (20)and Cucumis spp (27), Mucuna pruriens var. utilis(1) were recorded. The herbage yield and essentialoil content of leaf samples of Ocimum spp. (22)were recorded.

Shimla

A total of 540 acc. of pea were sown in ABD withstandard checks (Arkel, Azad Pea, DMR-11, DMR-7, HFP-4, IC279125, Super Linkon) for evaluationand characterization. RIL population in lentil wasgrown for characterization and evaluation.

Srinagar

Common bean (34) was evaluated for resistanceto fungal diseases. Five genotypes especiallyIC0616433 and IC0625026 were susceptible forangular leaf spot (ASL) disease, while the rest ofthe genotypes were free of ASL.

A: Fruits (above) and geminating seeds (below) ofStixis sauveolens, received from collecting missionin Mizoram for cryobanking; B: In vitro derivedColocasia esculenta (taro) plants in the net house(conserved in vitro >20 years)

Restoration of in vitro-conserved tarogermplasm to farmers’ field

Ex vitro hardened corms of 40 accessions of taro(Colocasia esculenta), comprising landraces andwild types, earlier conserved in vitro for more than20 years, were supplied to NBPGR, RS Thrissur,for reintroduction in farmers’ field. This was to fulfillthe request of local farmers who have expressedtheir desire to cultivate traditional landraces, lostover time due to the introduction of modern varieties.

ICAR - NBPGR Newsletter6

Thrissur

A rare landrace of banana ‘Vettanvazha’ of Wayanadis a weaning and vegetable type banana. A wildspecies M. indandamanensis (IC623466) collectedfrom Nicobar islands started flowering with peculiarivory coloured male bud, but found susceptible torhizome weevil.

GENOMIC RESOURCES ANDBIOINFORMATICS

Genetic diversity in Indian rice landraces: Ricelandraces (330) were selected from differentgeographical regions (151, from Uttarakhand; 48,from Eastern UP; 71, from Jharkhand; 37, fromWest Bengal and 23 from Andaman and NicobarIsland) and subjected to molecular characterizationusing thirty HvSSR markers. Genetic data analysesrevealed that rice landraces corresponded to theirrespective geographical location.

GERMPLASM FIELD DAYS

Rice

RS, Cuttack had co-organized rice germplasmfield day on 30th October 2018 with NRRI,Cuttack.

Yard long bean

A field day for yard long bean was organized on 6th

December 2018 at RS, Thrissur. About 150accessions of yard long bean, including releasedvarieties were grown. A total of 25 scientists andstudents from SAUs and the agricultural departmentparticipated in the event.

Followed by this, on 7th Dec 2018, diversity appre-ciation day for yard long bean and small millets wasorganized at RS, Thrissur that was attended by 160farmers from Kerala who selected germplasm oftheir choice. In addition, 26 mentally challengedstudents of Sreyas special school, Thrissur werefacilitated to visit the fields.

GM detection: Three imported consignmentsincluding two of Arabidopsis (5) and one cassava(23) were tested for absence of embryogenesisdeactivator gene. Additionally, molecular testing wasalso conducted for imported consignments ofcotton. The adventitious presence of transgenes infour brinjal collections from North-East using PCR-based markers targeting P-35S, T-nos and nptIIwere conducted. Visual and real-time LAMP assayswere developed for p35S-cry1Ac construct regionwith acceptable specificity and limit of detection of0.01%. GMO screening matrix for 15 stacked GMevents of soybean and multiplex PCR basedmethod for screening of stacked GM events ofmaize were developed.

OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

Seed distribution for on-farm conservation

Seeds of Menshre landrace of wheat were procuredand distributed to 23 farmers of 10 villages inJaunsar-Bawar (6) and Ranwain (4) areas.

October - December, 2018 7

Rice landraces (28) were shared with farmers ofJhupulchaura village, UK for on-farm conservation.As a new initiative in attracting more farmers, foron-farm conservation, farmers’ field day for paddywas organized on 8th October 2018. A total of 46farmers from adjoining villages participated andgave their choice of landraces and consent to growin their fields for upcoming season to participatevoluntarily in on-farm conservation.

Wheat (40) & mustard (10) landraces were sharedwith farmers, for on-farm conservation at Niti valley,Someshwar valley and Tarikhet block.

One community seed bank (CSB) was establishedat Dhangyra, village panchayat in District Mandi ofHimachal Pradesh under DST funded project.Seeds of pulses (French bean, pea, mash,amaranth, red rice) were purchased from farmersfrom various villages for its conservation in the CSBat Dhangyra.

Exhibitions/Fairs

An “Awareness Camp-cum-Biodiversity Fair” wasorganized on 15th November’ 2018 in village Lata,block Joshimath of Chamoli Dt., Uttarakhand underTSP. One hundred thirty-six participants includingfarmers, state officials and resource personsparticipated in the program. A demonstration ofnative crop diversity was made, and petty farmimplements were also distributed to farmers.Farmers were sensitized about the importance ofbiodiversity with respect to agriculture and itsconservation through conventional approaches.

November respectively. Around 575 farmersparticipated and benefitted from the awarenessprogramme.

An exhibition cum seed demonstration of traditionalcrops of North-Western Himalayan region wasorganized on 05.10.2018 on the occasion of 70th

foundation day of ICAR-CPRI Shimla. Hon’ble UnionAgriculture and Framer Welfare Minister Sh. RadhaMohan Singh and other delegates visited ICAR-NBPGR stall and appreciated the efforts made inthe field of conservation and promotion of traditionalcrops.

A workshop entitled “Mainstreaming of Farmer’sVarieties in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand”was organized on 4-5 December 2018 at ICAR-CPRI Shimla. Seed demonstration of traditionalcrops was arranged and highly appreciated by thevisitors.

Eleven farmers visited RS, Thrissur and weresupplied with vegetable seeds (teasle gourd, sweetgourd, citrus and Burmese fish tail palm) as a partof on-farm conservation day programme. RS,Thrissur also participated in VAIGA-2018 and KrishiUnnati Mela held at Thekkinkadu Maidan, Thrissurduring 27-30 Dec 2018.

Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan

Quiz competition and Essay writing on “SwachhBharat Meri Shaan” were organized on 26th Dec.,2018 for observance of “Swachhta Pakhwada: 16-31st Dec., 2018” in Shahid Captain Amit VermaGovt. Co-Ed Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Inder Puri, NewDelhi. Certificates and prizes were distributed forthe competitions. A Drawing Competition on thetheme “A step towards cleanliness” was organizedon 27th Dec., 2018 in Vivek Summit School, EastPatel Nagar, New Delhi and participants andwinners were awarded certificates and prizes.

Two PGR awareness programme under TSP onconservation and promotion of traditional cropswere organized in Lahaul and Spiti (Kaza Dt.) andKinnaur (Kalpa Dt.) on 25th October and 20th

ICAR - NBPGR Newsletter8

HRD ACTIVITIES

Asian Regional Workshop on the “Preparation ofthe National Reports on the Implementation of theInternational Treaty” was hosted by ICAR-NBPGR,New Delhi, India from 11-13 December 2018. Theworkshop was attended by 29 participants from 12countries. FAO office in India provided the logisticsupport. Mr. Ashwani Kumar, Joint Secretary(Seeds) and National focal point of India for theInternational Treaty, gave opening remarks and DrDK Yadava, ADG (Seeds) presented welcomeaddress. The main purpose of the meeting was toprovide information on the compliance rules, thestandard reporting format for the elaboration of thenational reports on the implementation of theInternational Treaty, the Online Reporting Systemand the mechanism for the official submission.

The GM detection group of DGR organized aConsultative Workshop on National Harmonizationof GM testing activities. In another GM relatedactivities, it coordinated participation in GIPSA-USDAInternational Proficiency Program and conductedone Inter-Laboratory Comparison Program on GMtesting. Webpage on ‘Network of GMO TestingLaboratories (NGTL) of India was developed andhosted at ICAR-NBPGR’s Web Page, New Delhi(http://gmolabs.nbpgr.ernet.in:9090/)

PERSONNEL NEWS

Award and recognition

Dr. VS Meena, Scientist (Sr. Scale) was awardedYoung Scientist Award by SSDAT during 28-30th

Oct., 2018.

Dr. Sundeep Kumar, Principal Scientist, Divisionof Genomic Resources, was elected ISGPB fellow2018, on 14th Dec., 2018.

Dr. Prasanna Holajjer, Scientist, received “YoungScientist Award-2018” on 20th Dec, 2018 at ICAR-NRCSS, Ajmer (Rajasthan) during 1st InternationalConference on “Climate Change and Adaptive CropProtection for Sustainable Agri-horticulture LandScape”.

Dr Anuradha Agrawal, PS & OIC, TCCU, waselected as General Secretary (2019-21) of the IndianSociety of Plant Genetic Resources (ISPGR) andtook charge w.e.f. Dec. 31st, 2018.

Deputation abroad

Dr B Sarath Babu, Principal Scientist & Officer-In-Charge attended the FAO Group Meeting at Italyand presented a paper on “Is Policy paralysis onquarantine in the NENA region leading to the buildupand spread of Red Palm Weevil?” during 22-27th

October 2018.

Mrs. Raj Kiran participated in the advance courseon plant diseases caused by Xylella fastidiosa:detection, identification, monitoring and control heldat Zaragoza, Spain during Nov. 12-16, 2018.

Drs SC Dubey, VC Chalam and J Akhtar attendedInternational Conference on ‘Soil and plant healthtowards achieving sustainable development goals’at Hotel Rama Garden, Bangkok, Thailand duringNov. 21-25, 2018.

Retirement

Dr. M. Abdul Nizar, Scientist (SG), RS, Thrissurretired on 30th November 2018.

Mr. Ramit Joshi, Sr. Technical Assistant, RS,Bhowali, retired on 30th November 2018.

Published by: Director, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi-110012 (India)Compilation and editing: Manjusha Verma, R. Parimalan, Ruchi Bansal, Gayacharan and

Kuldeep TripathiComputer assistance: Vijay Kumar Mandal