ICRISAT’s molecular breeding approaches in groundnut improvement presented
Dr P Janila during her presentation.
ICRISAT’s approaches in groundnut breeding and progress made through the adoption of integrated molecular breeding was presented at the All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Groundnut (AICRP-G) workshop held at the Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat on 15-17 April.
Representing ICRISAT and giving the presentation at the workshop’s inaugural session was Dr P Janila, Scientist – Groundnut Breeding.
The workshop sessions focused on groundnut improvement, agronomy and pest and disease management. Taking note of the dwindling groundnut production in India, a brainstorming session on “An appraisal of current groundnut scenario and emerging research requirements” was conducted, chaired by Dr NC Patel (Vice Chancellor, Junagadh Agricultural University), with Drs JB Misra, SN Nigam, and DJ Dangaria as resource persons. Soilborne diseases, increasing demand for groundnut haulms for fodder use, farm mechanization, seed storage facilities and soil and water management emerged as key issues at the session attended by scientists and progressive farmers.
Also during the workshop, two ICRISAT-bred groundnut varieties – CTMG-6 (ICGV 05049) and ALG-060320 (ICGV 94118) – have been proposed for identification by State Agricultural Universities. Identification is a prerequisite for the release of a variety in India.
Aiming to introduce more improved groundnut varieties, the breeder seed indent for 2014 of the old variety TMV 2 (grown on 80% of the area, released in 1940) is now less than 3% of the total breeder seed indent of 1,249 tons. This is a long-awaited shift being realized through the government’s policy to stop subsidizing seed of TMV 2. Interestingly, the breeder seed for ICRISAT-bred variety ICGV 91114 accounted for 14% of the total indent for India.
About 100 scientists from across Institutes of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and State Agricultural Universities participated in the workshop.
Source: ICRISAT Happenings
