The Hindu Business Line : Largest germplasm collection with Icrisat

THE R.S. Paroda Genebank at the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) here has 1,13,849 accessions of pearl millet, sorghum, chickpea, pigeonpea and groundnut from 130 countries, according to the institute's Director General, Dr William Dar.

``The Indian scientists are the largest beneficiaries of the Icrisat genebank. On an average, they have been receiving over 12,000 germplasm samples annually for research. Eleven varieties from the basic germplasm material and 134 varieties and hybrids from breeding materials supplied by Icrisat have been released for cultivation in India. Icrisat has almost completed the restoration of the 44,822 germplasm accessions to NBPGR which was requested five years ago,'' Dr Dar stated in a press release here on Wednesday.

On the other hand, he said, India had contributed the maximum number of germplasm accessions from any one country. The genebank has 32,307 accessions of the 11 crops that were received as donations from various institutions in India. Fresh germplasm collections were made (96 missions) which resulted in an additional 12,515 accessions. The germplasm accessions receive high priority and attention for regeneration, characterization, conservation and distribution.

He said that the chickpea varieties released in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have given an additional income of $55 and $80 per hectare, respectively. The first hybrid of pigeonpea (ICPH 8) was currently under commercial production in India and it would give about 25 per cent higher yield. Groundnut varieties ICGS 44 and ICGV 86564 were making a significant impact in the southern States and in Gujarat.

The press release stated that Icrisat was also implementing contained field trials of one transgenic groundnut variety resistant to the Indian Peanut Clump Virus and another transgenic groundnut variety resistant to the rosette disease. Contained field trials were also on for transgenic pigeonpea resistant to attack from the pod borer Helicoverpa armigera.

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