Vo.24, No.2 Apri-June, 2008 Nine New IARI Varieties Reeased Two wheat varieties (HD 2894 and HD 4713); a chickpea variety (BG 2024); a enti variety (L 4596); a pigeonpea variety (Pusa 2002-2); two Brassica varieties (NPJ 93 and LET 17); and two carrot varieties (Pusa Rudhira and Pusa Asita) deveoped by the Indian Agricutura Research Institute (IARI) were reeased for NCR, Dehi by the Dehi State Seed Sub- Committee at its meeting hed on Apri 8, 2008. The wheat variety HD 2894 is a high yieding variety with an Wheat variety HD 2894 average yied of 5.2 t/ha having a protein content of 12.9%, high guten score, and good chapati making quaity. The wheat variety HD 4713 (durum) has an average yied of 4.71 t/ha with a potentia yied of 5.15 t/ha. It is Chickpea variety BG 2024 resistant to brown rust under both natura and artificia conditions, and is suitabe for pasta products. The variety aso possesses the band 45 for g-giadin, which is a desirabe trait. The chickpea variety BG 2024 is a Kabui type with bod seeds. It is suitabe for cutivation in both, dry and irrigated areas of the nationa capita region of Dehi. It has outyieded a reeased variety and checks, and its genetic yied potentia is more than 3.0 t/ha. This variety possesses drought toerance and wide adaptation, and is moderatey resistant to soi borne diseases and pod borer. The enti variety L 4596 has an average seed yied of 2.1 t/ha, which is significanty superior to those of a the checks and prevaiing varieties. The pant is dwarf with erect growth habit. It has green cotyedons and sma seeds (2.33 g/ 100 seeds). It matures in 125 days. The pigeonpea variety Pusa 2002-2 is a medium ta superior variety maturing in 143 days under timey sown condition. It has medium bod seeds with a seed weight of 8.7 g/100 seeds. The mustard variety NPJ 93 has an average seed yied of 2.5 t/ha. It is bod seeded (6 g/1000 seeds) with 38.51% oi content. It is of medium maturity (145 days), and is toerant
Pigeonpea variety Pusa 2002-2 Carrot variety Pusa Rudhira (IPC 122) Carrot variety Pusa Asita (IPC 126) to abiotic stresses (viz., high temperature at seeding stage, sainity up to 12 ds/m and odging and shattering) and biotic stresses (viz., white rust, powdery midew, downy midew and Scerotinia stem rot). Brassica variety NPJ 93 The mustard variety LET 17 (Pusa Mustard 22) is a singe zero (< 2% erucic acid) variety. The mean seed Brassica variety LET 17 yied of this variety is 2.07 t/ha with a potentia yied of 2.75 t/ha. Its mean 1000-seeds weight is 3.6 g. The variety Pusa Rudhira (IPC 122) is a new tropica red carrot. It is suitabe for main season sowing beginning September under north-indian conditions. It is characterized by green foiage and ong red cooured sef core roots. It takes 75-90 days to reach marketabe stage for harvesting with an average root yied of 30 t/ha. It is a rich source of tota carotenoids (7.60 mg/100 g), b-carotene (4.92 mg/100 g), ycopene (6.70 mg/100 g), iron (230 mg/ g), zinc (10.70 mg/g), and antioxidant superoxide dismutase activity (8.92 g/h). The variety Pusa Asita (IPC 126) is a new tropica carrot, which is back in coour. This is the first of its kind in the country. It is suitabe for main season sowing beginning September under north-indian conditions. It is characterized by purpish green foiage and ong back cooured sef core roots. It takes about 90-110 days to reach marketabe stage for harvesting with an average root yied of 25 t/ha. It is a rich source of anthocyanins (520 mg/100 g), Zn (8.45 mg/g), Fe (260.60 mg/g) and Ca (368.67 mg/g). New Varieties Identified for Reease A basmati rice variety Pusa Basmati 6 and a pear miet composite Pusa 443 were identified for reease. The basmati rice variety Pusa Basmati 6 (Pusa 1401) was identified for reease in the states of Haryana and Uttarakhand at the Annua Rice Group Meeting hed at Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyaaya, Raipur (Chhattisgarh) from Apri 11 to 15, 2008. The pear miet composite Pusa 443 was identified for reease in the dry regions of A1 Zone (Rajasthan and Gujarat) of India at the Annua Group Meeting of the A India Coordinated Pear Miet Improvement Project hed at Mysore from Apri 25 to 27, 2008. Ampification and Sequencing of Ribosoma DNA of Greening Bacterium The Institute sequenced 16S(1417 bp), 23S(247bp) and 16S-23S intergenic spacer region (620 bp) of Schematic diagram of 16S, 16S-23S intergenic spacer region and 23S of ribosoma DNA of greening bacterium infecting Kinnow mandarin 2 IARI NEWS
ribosoma DNA of greening bacterium {Candidatus iberibacter asiaticus (Ca)} in Kinnow mandarin (Ludhiana) for the first time in India. The sequencing showed maximum identity with corresponding region of Ca sequenced from other countries. Fifteenth Dr. B.P. Pa Memoria Lecture Deivered The fifteenth Dr. B.P. Pa Memoria Lecture was deivered on May 24, 2008 by Prof. Ani K. Gupta, Professor, Centre for Management in Agricuture, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and Executive Vice-Chairman, Nationa Innovation Foundation, Ahmedabad on Rethinking the Priorities for Indian Agricutura Research Institutions and Poicy: Learning from the Grass Roots. Dr. Ashok Guati, Director in Asia, Internationa Food Poicy Research Institute (IFPRI), New Dehi presided over the function and introduced the distinguished speaker. Dr. S.A. Pati, Director, IARI introduced the Chairman of the session. Dr. H.S. Gaur, Dean & Joint Director (Education), IARI wecomed the Chairman, the Speaker and other dignitaries present, and highighted the contributions of Dr. B.P. Pa to Indian agricutura research and education. In his inspiring ecture, Prof. Gupta highighted four burning issues facing agricuture: (i) managing genetic resources, (ii) rethinking sustainabiity, (iii) redesigning research organizations for sustainabe, accessibe and affordabe outcomes, and (iv) ethica and institutiona issues in agricutura research. He emphasized that the quaity of education, deveopment of entrepreneuria spirit, monitoring the heath of ecosystem and deveoping adequate research faciities are some of the other important concerns in the agricutura research system. When pant breeding got dominated by the practice of making seections from internationa nurseries and reeasing them instead of painstakingy breeding varieties through cyces of compex crossing programmes, it was inevitabe that such rapidy reeased varieties had met with faster mortaity. Prof. Gupta aso said that there were a arge number of areas where wisdom of common peope coud hep in revitaising Indian agricuture. The incentive systems for scientists unfortunatey were not upgraded and caibrated in a manner that socia, professiona and individua interests coud converge. He aso focussed on the essons earnt Dr. S.A. Pati, Director, IARI presenting a memento to Prof. Ani K. Gupta, speaker of the 15 th Dr. B.P. Pa Memoria Lecture from the grass roots innovators, and the fact that pubic awareness about such innovations was very ow. Dr. Ashok Guati eaborated the importance of innovative research and traditiona knowedge in the internationa scenario. He expressed satisfaction on the progress made so far, and supported the views of Dr. Gupta on the need for new innovations and reforms. Dr. K.V. Prabhu, Head, Division of Genetics, IARI proposed a vote of thanks. The fifteenth Dr. B.P. Pa Memoria Lecture was foowed by Dr. B.P. Pa Award Lecture, which was deivered by Dr. Prem Narain, former Director, Indian Agricutura Statistics Research Institute (IASRI), New Dehi on The Genetic Architecture of Quantitative Variation. The Nationa Academy of Sciences, India bestowed the Dr. B.P. Pa Award Lecture award consisting of a citation and Rs. 20,000/- in cash to Dr. Prem Narain. The ecture was jointy organized by the academy and IARI. Dr. S.A. Pati, Director, IARI presided over the function. Dr. V.P. Sharma, Professor, Centre for Rura Deveopment and Technoogy (CRDT), IIT, Dehi spoke about the activities of the Nationa Academy of Sciences, India and the purpose and scheme of the award. Dr. A.K. Ghosh, Professor, IIT Dehi, introduced the speaker. Dr. H.S. Gaur, Dean & Joint Director (Education), IARI deivered the wecome address. IARI NEWS 3
In his informative address, Dr. Prem Narain mentioned that most characters of economic importance in pants and animas and compex diseases in human exhibit quantitative variation, the genetics of which has been a fascinating subject of study since Mende s discovery of the Laws of Inheritance that were rediscovered in 1900. Fisher s Infinitesima Mode showed how intrinsicay discrete effects of mutipe genes can ead to continuous variation at the phenotypic eve, that can be decomposed into genetic and nongenetic components. Dr. K.V. Prabhu, Head, Division of Genetics, IARI proposed a vote of thanks. Staff Research Counci Meeting During the year 2008, the Staff Research Counci (SRC) meeting was conducted in two phases (a) pre-src and (b) main SRC. In the pre-src organized from Apri 8 to May 5, 2008, individua scientists of each division/project directorate/ unit at headquarters made brief presentations on their contributions in various in-house projects. A number of eminent scientists drawn from the areas covered in a schoo acted as resource persons and commented on the quaitative and quantitative performance of scientists, incuding suggestions for midcourse improvement. Dr. Prem Narain, former Director, Indian Agricutura Statistics Research Institute, New Dehi receiving the Dr. B.P. Pa Award Lecture award from Dr. S.A. Pati, Director, IARI In the main SRC organized from May 7 to 9, 2008, Dr. K.R. Kounda, Joint Director (Research) in his wecome address made a brief remark on the roe and significance of SRC. Dr. S.A. Pati, Director, IARI and Chairman, SRC congratuated the scientists for their overwheming response to pre-src activity. In his opening remarks, he spoke about cimate change and sustainabiity in agricuture, the need for poicy to avert food crisis, price rise and energy crisis, agenda for popuarization of technoogy for better production and productivity, assessing the technoogies deveoped by the divisions in farmers fieds, vaue addition of post harvest produce, economics and socia issues, significance of mechanization of agricuture, and private-pubic partnership. He aso highighted the success story of cotton production through introduction of Bt cotton. The project directors, heads of divisions and regiona stations, and unit incharges made their presentations on Action Taken Report of the ast SRC, significant achievements, awards, pubications, and technica programme for the next year. The progress of research work done by the project directorates/ divisions/regiona stations/ units was highy appreciated by the SRC members and the resource persons. On the fina day of SRC, Dr. Pati, in his remarks, emphasized that the overa objectives of research shoud be to increase the farmers income. Dr. A.K. Ganguy, Principa Scientist (PPI) and Member-Secretary, SRC reminded the scientists to concentrate on the objectives proposed for each project and initiate the process for the projects to be operated from 2009 within the framework of Vision 2025. Finay he proposed a vote of thanks to a who were invoved in the successfu concusion of SRC. Workshops A workshop on Water Management Technoogies was organized by the Centre for Agricutura Technoogy Assessment and Transfer (CATAT) under the Farmer Participatory Action Research Programme sponsored by the Ministry of Water Resources at Nekpur viage, Buandshahr district on Apri 8, 2008. Dr. A.K. Singh, Deputy Director-Genera (NRM), ICAR graced the occasion and briefed the participating farmers about different water management technoogies. Dr. Badeo Singh, 4 IARI NEWS
Joint Director youths from March 31 to (Extension), IARI aong with the scientists of Apri 5, 2008. Fifty-one candidates participated CATAT and Water in the programme. Technoogy Centre The Division of (WTC) participated in Foricuture and the workshop, which Landscaping organized was attended by more a seven-day training than 200 farmers of programme in Hindi nearby viages. sponsored by the The CATAT aso District Ghaziabad organized four pre-kharif Horticuture Mission workshops for the Dr. S.A. Pati, Director, IARI giving his comments at the meeting of (Uttar Pradesh) on farmers of the the Staff Research Counci of IARI Commercia operationa areas of the foowing coaborating state agricutura areas was discussed in detai and finaized during these workshops. Cutivation of Fower Crops from Apri 19 to 25, 2008. The training universities (SAUs): (1) University course was attended by 25 fower A five-day workshop-cumexhibition on Krishi, Krishi Vikas of Agricutura Sciences (UAS), growers of Ghaziabad district. Bangauru, Karnataka (on May 29, and Production Technoogy of The Division of Post Harvest 2008); (2) University of Agricutura Kharif Crops was jointy Technoogy organized a training Sciences (UAS), Guberga, organized by IARI and the course on Integrated Post Harvest Karnataka (on May 30, 2008); (3) Deveopment Department of the Management of Horticutura Maharashtra Agricutura Government of Dehi from June 24 Crops for noda officers of the University (MAU), Parbhani, to 28, 2008 at Dr. B.P. Pa Nationa Horticuture Mission Maharashtra (on June 9, 2008); and Auditorium. IARI technoogies, from Apri 21 to 26, 2008, which (4) Mahatma Phue Krishi varieties and products were was attended by 19 participants Vidyapeeth (MPKV), Rahuri, dispayed in the exhibition for the representing 18 states. Maharashtra (on June 10, 2008). farmers of NCT of Dehi. Five The Institute Technoogy Dr. S.A. Pati, Director, IARI, and Dr. technica sessions on different Management Unit organized a Badeo Singh, Joint Director themes were organized during training-cum-workshop on IP (Extension), IARI aong with vicechanceors of concerned farmers of NCT of Dehi and this period in which progressive and Technoogy Management (Theme: Genetic Engineering) at coaborating universities attended extension functionaries of the IARI from Apri 23 to 25, 2008 to the workshops. Dr. Pati impressed Deveopment Department, Dehi enhance and augment the skis of upon the participating farmers of interacted with IARI scientists on the scientists of ICAR institutes the importance of improved various production technoogies and state agricutura universities varieties/techniques for increasing of kharif crops. engaged in IPR activities. Sixtyeight scientists from thirty-one agricutura productivity. The farmers, on whose fieds the Trainings ICAR institutes and five state demonstrations of IARI varieties The Division of Pant Pathoogy agricutura universities during kharif 2007 and rabi 2007-08 organized a training programme participated. were aid, gave their feed back about on Cutivation of Summer crops and varieties. The Kharif Action Pan 2008 for the operationa Mushrooms for the benefit of sma and margina farmers/ Presentations were made by senior facuty speciaized in IPR IARI NEWS 5
reated issues drawn from ICAR; IIT, Dehi; Patent Office, New Dehi; Nationa Informatics Centre, New Dehi; Nationa Law Schoo, Hyderabad; and Nationa Research Deveopment Corporation, New Dehi, and eading Patent Attorneys and Business Managers engaged in biotechnoogica inventions. The penary session was chaired by Dr. Mangaa Rai, Secretary, Department of Agricutura Research and Education (DARE) and Director- Genera, Indian Counci of Agricutura Research (ICAR). The Agricutura Technoogy Information Centre (ATIC) conducted a training and visit session for 45 progressive farmers from 9 states sponsored by the Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, New Dehi, on May 7, 2008 to give first hand information on the atest agricutura technoogies/varieties of IARI. The CATAT organized a training on Phone-in Programme for farm radio officers of seven states. The event was broadcast on Indraprastha Channe of AIR on May 8, 2008. The KVK, Shikohpur organized a vocationa training course on Dress Designing, Taioring and Embroidery from May 15 to Juy 2, 2008 in the Hayatpur viage of Gurgaon district. Twenty-five The best three trainees with certificates and trophies awarded to them for their quaity work during the vocationa training course on Dress Designing, Taioring and Embroidery organized by the KVK, Shikohpur, Gurgaon rura girs and women of the area participated. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Shikohpur organized two vocationa training programmes on Dairy Management for the Rura Women of Gurgaon District : the first in Kaiawas viage from May 23 to June 2, 2008 and the second in Para viage from June 6 to 16, 2008. In both the trainings, thirty farmwomen each participated. The KVK, Shikohpur organized a study tour sponsored by the Nationa Horticuture Board for 30 progressive farmers from June 4 to 16, 2008. They visited various horticuture based universities, research centres and krishi vigyan kendras in Bangauru, Dharwad, Begaon and Goa. The KVK, Shikohpur organized an in-service training programme on June 27, 2008 on Integrated Nutrient Management for 25 agricuture deveopment officers (ADOs) of the State Agricuture Department, Gurgaon, Haryana. New Projects Sanctioned Strategy for Deveoping Recombinant Libraries for Antibiotics funded by the Department of Biotechnoogy. Amount: Rs. 40.18 akhs. Principa Investigator: Dr. K. Annapurna, Division of Microbioogy. 6 IARI NEWS Pouarizing and Refinement of Integrated Disease Management Practice in Appe Nursery funded by the Nationa Bank for Agricuture and Rura Deveopment. Amount: Rs. 9.14 akhs. Principa Investigator: Dr. Satish K. Sharma, IARI Regiona Station, Amartara Cottage, Shima. Sub-project entited Marker Assisted Creation of Heterotic Poos and Diversification of Mae Steriity and Fertiity Restoration System for Hybrid Seed Production in Rice of the main project on Nove Approaches for Production of Hybrid Seed with Characteristics of Improved Insect Resistance and Higher Yied-Rice Component funded by the Counci of Scientific and Industria Research. Principa Investigator: Dr. T. Mohpatra, Nationa Research Centre on Pant Biotechnoogy.
Amount: Rs. 366.50 akhs (tota project cost). Vira Suppressors: Genomics, Synergism and Siencing funded by the Department of Biotechnoogy. Amount: Rs. 47.93 akhs. Principa Investigator: Dr. Shey Praveen, Division of Pant Pathoogy. Measurement of Emission Coefficient of Greenhouse Gases from Agricutura Sector funded by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (through WII). Amount: Rs. 29.60 akhs. Principa Investigator: Dr. Niveta Jain, Division of Environmenta Sciences. Deveopment of Transgenic Resistance to Bud and Stem necrosis virus in Groundnut funded by the Department of Biotechnoogy. Amount: Rs. 10.83 akhs. Principa Investigator: Dr. R.K. Jain, Division of Pant Pathoogy. Construction of Genetic Linkage Map and Identification of Moecuar Markers for Wit Resistance in Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) misp.) funded by the Department of Biotechnoogy. Amount: Rs. 8.97 akhs. Principa Investigator: Dr. R.S. Raje, Division of Genetics. Tagging QTLs for Water Use Efficiency (WUE) in Soybean Using Moecuar Markers A group of progressive farmers of Gurgaon district at the University of Agricutura Sciences, Dharwad during a study tour organized by the KVK, Shikohpur, Gurgaon funded by the Department of Biotechnoogy. Amount: Rs. 22.31 akhs. Principa Investigator: Dr. Sanjay Kumar La, Division of Genetics. Agroweb-digita Dissemination System for Indian Agricutura Research (ADDSIAR) funded by the Nationa Agricutura Innovation Project (NAIP). Amount: Rs. 38.93 akhs. Principa Investigator: Dr. Chandrasekharan, Unit of Simuation and Informatics. Nove Strategies for Moecuar Diagnosis of Pant Viruses funded by NAIP. Amount: Rs. 252 akhs. Principa Investigator: Dr. Bikash Manda, Division of Pant Pathoogy. Patent Fied Pusa Chickpea Thresher MoUs Signed A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between IARI and Mechanica Engineering Research & Deveopment Organization (MERADO), Ludhiana was signed on undertaking joint design and deveopment work on Precision Seeder for vegetabe crops. Five memoranda of understanding were signed on commerciaization of superfine grain aromatic rice hybrid Pusa RH 10 between IARI and Advanta India Limited, Secundrabad; Zuari Seeds Limited, Bangauru; Devgen Seeds and Crop Technoogy Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad; J.K. Agri Genetics Ltd., Secunderabad; and Nath Biogene (I) Ltd., Aurangabad. An R&D based memorandum of understanding between IARI and Sipani Krishi Anusandhan Farm, Mandsaur (M.P.) was signed for crop improvement in pigeonpea, soybean, maize and wheat varieties Awards/Honours Dr. B.B. Singh and Dr. K.V. Unnikrishnan, Principa Scientists, and Dr. Tara Satyavathi, Senior Scientist, Division of Genetics; Dr. K.S. Rana, Principa Scientist, Division of Agronomy; and Mr. K.S. Yadav, Technica Officer, KVK, Shikohpur, Gurgaon were jointy awarded a certificate of Merit & Appreciation and a paque for their outstanding research contribution to pear miet improvement by the IARI NEWS 7
Society for Miet Research and the Dr. Bikash Manda, Senior Extension was invited as a A India Coordinated Pear Miet Scientist of the Division of Pant resource speaker on Women Improvement Project (ICAR), at the Pathoogy were eected Chief Entrepreneurship by the Asian annua Pear Miet Research Editor, Secretary, and Editor, Productivity Organization, Japan Workers Group Meeting hed at the respectivey, of the Indian for their workshop on Improving University of Mysore, Karnataka Viroogica Society. Manageria Skis of Women from Apri 25 to 27, 2008. Dr. D.V.K. Samue, Head, Division of Post Harvest Technoogy Dr. Kayan K. Monda, Senior Scientist, Division of Pant Pathoogy received the Prof. M.K. Entrepreneurs in Agribusiness hed at Yogyakarta, Indonesia from June 10 to 14, 2008. received the Commendation Meda of the Indian Society of Agricutura Engineers for 2006-07 for his distinguished services in the fied of post harvest engineering. Dr. (Ms.) Charanjit Kaur, Senior Scientist, Division of Post Harvest Technoogy received the J.C. Anand Meda for her significant research work in the fied of post harvest technoogy. Pate Memoria Young Scientist Award from the Indian Phytopathoogica Society for his contribution to the fied of pant bacterioogy. Dr. Shey Praveen, Senior Scientist, Division of Pant Pathoogy was awarded the TWAS-UNESCO Associateship to deveop research coaborations within third word countries for a period of three years. Visitors from Abroad During the period, Apri-June, 2008, eight deegations one each from Bhutan, Egypt, Austraia, Canada, Sri Lanka, and Poand, and two from the United States of America visited the Institute. The Egyptian deegation was ed by His Exceency Amin Abaza, Minister of Agricuture and Land Recamation, Egypt; and the Poish deegation was ed by His Exceency Marian Dr. R.K. Jain, Head, Dr. V.K. Baranwa, Principa Scientist, and Dr Rashmi Singh, Senior Scientist, Division of Agricutura Zaewski, Deputy Minister of Agricuture, Poand. His Exceency Amin Abaza, Minister of Agricuture and Land Recamation, Egypt (right) being wecomed at IARI by Dr. S.A. Pati, Director, IARI His Exceency Marian Zaewski, Deputy Minister of Agricuture, Poand (right) being wecomed at IARI by Dr. K.R. Kounda, Joint Director (Research), IARI Pubished quartery by the Pubication Unit on behaf of the Director, Indian Agricutura Research Institute (IARI), New Dehi 110 012. Designed & printed at Aravai Printers & Pubishers Pvt. Ltd., W-30, Okha Industria Area, Phase-II, New Dehi 110 020. Website:www.iari.res.in Joint Director (Research) & Incharge (Pubication Unit): Dr. K.R. Kounda; Editor: Chacko Thomas 8 IARI NEWS