Vol. 27, No. 2
News
April-June, 2011
Global Warming Potential of Indian Agriculture Global warming, caused by the
Methane is primarily produced
major source of methane.
increase in the concentration of
in soil during microbial
Nitrogenous fertilizer is a source
greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the
decomposition of organic matter
of nitrous oxide in fertilized
atmosphere, has emerged as the
under anaerobic conditions. Rice
soils, whereas the indigenous N
most prominent environmental
fields submerged with water,
contributes to the release of this
issue. These GHGs: carbon dioxide
therefore, are potential source of
GHG in unfertilized soil. The
(CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous
methane. Continuous sub-
main source of carbon dioxide
oxide (N2O) trap the outgoing
mergence, higher organic carbon
from agriculture is through soil
infrared radiation from the earth’s
content and use of organic manure
management such as tillage, which
surface and thus raise the
in puddled soil enhance methane
triggers carbon dioxide emission
temperature. Agriculture contri-
emission. Burning of crop residues
through biological decomposition
butes to the greenhouse effect
also contributes to the global
of soil organic matter. Fuel use for
both through the emission and
methane budget. Enteric fer-
various agricultural operations and
consumption of GHGs.
mentation in ruminant is another
burning of crop residues are other sources of carbon dioxide emission. An off-site source of carbon dioxide is manufacturing fertilizers and pesticides. The earlier estimates, based on the limited data available in the 90s, reported 37.5 million tons of methane emission per year from Indian rice fields. However, with sustained and systematic indigenous research, the methane emission estimates are rationalized. The current estimate shows that Indian rice fields covering an
Estimates of methane emission from Indian rice fields by various researchers over the years
area of 43.86 million ha emitted 3.33 million tons of methane per
The analysis showed that there was enough scope of improving agricultural production in the country w i t h o u t increasing the
GHG
emission. Trend in greenhouse gas emission intensity in Indian agriculture
Mitigation of
year. The nitrous oxide emission
GHG emission from agriculture
from Indian agricultural soils is 0.14
can be achieved by sequestering C
million tons per year.
in soil and reducing methane and
While the emission of methane from Indian rice fields has remained almost constant over the
nitrous oxide emissions from soil through change in land-use management. Changes in the management of irrigation, fertilizer
years, the emission of nitrous oxide
use, and soils can reduce both
has increased as a result of higher
nitrous oxide and methane
use of nitrogenous fertilizers. Total
emissions. Such options are not
global warming potential (GWP)
only important for mitigation of
(methane x 25 + nitrous oxide x 298)
global warming, but also for
of Indian agriculture per unit area
improving soil fertility and making
-1
(kg CO2 eq. ha ) has thus increased. However, GWP per unit of produce (kg CO2 eq. ton-1) has decreased. Similarly, GHG intensity per unit
agriculture sustainable.
Onion Selection Sel. 126 Identified for Release
A promising onion selection, Sel. 126 developed at the Institute was identified for release in the 2nd group meeting of the All India Network Research Project on Onion and Garlic (AINRPOG) held on April 29-30, 2011 at Ooty, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore. The variety identified for cultivation during rabi season in zone III (Delhi, UP, Haryana, Bihar and Punjab), zone IV (Rajasthan and Gujarat) and zone V (MP, Chattisgarh and Orissa). The bulbs of this variety are compact, flat globe, and brownish in colour. Average equatorial diameter of bulbs ranges from 4.5 cm to 6.0 cm, polar diameter ranges from 4.8 cm to 6.5 cm and single bulb weight ranges from 70.0 g to 100.0 g. The variety is with high TSS, average around 170 ± 2 Brix. The variety is suitable for storage, drying, processing and export. Average yield recorded in different AINRPOG centres is 25 t/ha. The variety gave an average yield increase of 64.08% over that of the check (15.26 t/ha).
agricultural gross domestic product (Ag-GDP) also declined over the years. This decline was due to increase in the adoption of high yielding crop varieties and better crop management practices without increasing the area under agriculture. Though the application of N fertilizer increased the agricultural GWP, increase in yield and agricultural GDP due to higher N use was more. 2
A promising onion selection Sel. 126
A Bioformulation Pusa Cg2WP Developed against Late Blight of Potato A formulated product from Chaetomium globosum (Pusa Cg2WP), found effective against late blight of potato during 2009-10, was tested IARI News
Testing of Chaetomium globosum based formulation (Pusa Cg2WP) against late blight of potato under field conditions
enzymes (pectin methyl esterase and polygalacturonase) declined
Treatments*
Blight (%)
Reduction in severity (%)
Yield (t/ha)
in the transgenic tomatoes. No
T1
12.5 (60)**
78.26 (29.41)
41.96
observed.
T2
20.0 (45)
65.21 (47.05)
40.54
T3
57.5 (85)
-
38.22
First Report of Garlic Virus X Infecting Garlic
* T1: Spray of Pusa Cg2WP (0.2%) before, at and after onset of late blight (at 8 days interval); T2: Dithane M-45 0.25% (3 sprays); and T3: Control ** Values in parentheses are final disease observations
during 2010-11 at CPRI Regional Station, Modipuram. Three sprays of the bioformulation were found effective in controlling the disease up to 30% and increased the yield up to 10%.
To m a t o Tr a n s g e n i c s for Delayed Ripening/ Senescence
senescence by over-expressing ethylene receptor gene GgERS1. Physiological and molecular analysis of the transgenics vis-à-vis post harvest life of tomato carried out at the Institute showed delayed ripening in the presence of ethrel, a source of ethylene. The photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content
Tomato transgenics were
and membrane stability index
developed for delayed ripening/
increased, while the fruit softening
adverse physiological effects were
An allexivirus in cultivar G-282 was characterized as Garlic virus X (Gar V-X) based on coat protein sequence identity. Coat protein (GenBank accession-HQ 822272) shared 79.6% to 81.1% identity in nucleotide sequence and 89.3% to 90.9% identity in amino acid sequence with Gar V-X isolates reported from other countries. This is the first report of Gar V-X in a garlic cultivar from India. The characterization of allexiviruses will be useful for the production of antibodies and virus free garlic plants through tissue culture.
A Dual Gene Construct Developed for Conferring Resistance against Bud and Stem Necrosis in Groundnut The Institute developed a dual gene construct [N gene from Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV-N) + CP gene from Tobacco streak virus (TSV-CP)] in plant transformation vector (p CAMBIA) f o r A g ro b a c t e r i u m m e d i a t e d transformation of groundnut to confer resistance against stem and Different stages of development of the putative transgenic tomato plant
IARI News
bud necrosis diseases. 3
be revolutionized in small and back yard farms in rural India by using low cost and low head drip system, through participation of rural women and their access to this affordable drip system, thus reducing drudgery. Therefore, a low head bucket drip system having a bucket, portable laterals, and drippers was designed for kitchen gardening (area: 25 to 50 2 m ) costing ` 750 to ` 1000/- per
unit. The drip system operates by pCAMBIA 1305.1 (11.8 kb) binary vector used for dual construct
gravity from a bucket of 25 litre capacity placed at 1 to 1.5 m height.
Diversity in Rice False Smut Pathogen from India S i x t y - f i ve r e p r e s e n t a t i ve samples of rice false smut ( Ustiloginoidea virens ) collected from different agro-climatic regions were analyzed for their disease severity. The samples showed prominent variation in ornamentation, structural size and location of smut balls in panicles in different rice genotypes collected from different geographic areas.
a. Blackish green (NCR, Delhi)
b. Reddish orange (Kerala)
c. Orange (Kerala)
d. Black (Bihar)
Variability in ornamentation of smut balls from different regions
4
Revolutionizing Vegetable Productions through Adoption of Low Cost Bucket Kit
The management of the bucket kit
Drip irrigation is one of the
irrigated by using the single system,
most efficient methods of water
which can produce 150 kg of bottle
application for vegetable crop
gourd, 90 kg of bitter gourd, and 75
production, which can be adopted
kg of okra in one season (March to
effectively even by small
June). Sixty-five farm women from
farmers.Vegetable productions can
Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have
system is very easy and requires no special skills. Farmers can install and maintain it on their own. About 25 to 50 plants of vegetables can be
Bucket kit system being used for bottle gourd crop at IARI farm
IARI News
implementing the research programmes more effectively. In IRC-I, individual scientists made brief presentations on their contributions to various in-house projects, outreach programmes and Training on bucket drip system externally funding programmes for the period 2010-11. adopted this technology and many farm women are being encouraged Forty-two eminent resource persons to use these kits through capacity drawn from diverse areas of building programmes being specialization evaluated the research organized by the Institute’s Water performance of the scientists in various disciplines and provided Technology Centre. valuable suggestions for further Institute Research Council improvement and mid-course correction. Meetings Meetings of the the Institute Research Council (IRC)-I were held from April 4 to June 1, 2011. Dr. (Ms.) Malavika Dadlani, Joint Director (Research) welcomed the experts, introduced the research programmes of each discipline and made brief remarks on the role and significance of IRC. Dr. H.S. Gupta, Director, IARI and Chairman IRC in his opening remarks, stressed upon need to lay greater emphasis on emerging issues of national importance in IARI’s research, viz., climate change, efficient resource management, conservation agriculture, waste management and post-harvest technologies. He also emphasized the importance of inter-disciplinary and interinstitutional collaboration within and across the schools for IARI News
ICAR-CII Meet 2011 The Institute Technology Management Unit (ITMU) participated in the ICAR-CII Meet 2011, organized at NASC Complex on May 23, 2011 and coordinated the display of technologies pertaining to seeds, planting material, plant biotechnology and post harvest processes/products from all the ICAR institutes. More than 150 technologies were displayed in the exhibition in the form of posters, live samples or products and kits. The commercialized products from the licensee industry partners were also showcased. The visitors and industry representatives showed interest in crop varieties/hybrids, especially Baby Corn and other varieties of maize, vegetable and
floriculture crops, processing and post harvest products of cereals & fruits and bio-fertilizers. The business incubation facility at the ITMU was also displayed and discussed with the entrepreneurs.
Participation of IARI in Agriculture Fair The IARI participated in the “Krishi Takniki Sangoshthi evam Pradarshani” organized by the KVK, Dhanauri, Haridwar on June 4, 2011. Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Government of India, Shri Harish Rawat was the chief guest at this function. Dr. H.S.Gupta, Director, IARI was the guest of honour and addressed the farmers in the inaugural session. The Centre for Agricultural Te c h n o l o g y A s s e s s m e n t & Transfer/Agricultural Technology Information Centre (CATAT/ATIC) of IARI put up a stall to display the products and technologies developed by the Institute.
Trainings The Farm Operation Service Unit (FOSU) of the Institute organized two one-day training programmes on the topic “Use, Operation & Maintenance of Laser Leveller” on May 9, 2011 and May 23, 2011, which were attended by farmers from Nuh block of Mewat district, Haryana, and Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Shikohpur organized two 5
2011 and from June 3 to 13, 2011, respectively, in which 70 farm women participated; one training on “Kitchen Gardening” was also organized from May 26 to June 2, 2011 for 12 participants.
New Projects Sanctioned ●
“Retrieval of Crop Biophysical Parameters from HyperspectralBRDF through Inversion of Radiative Transfer Model” under Hyperspectral Remote Sensing - HSRS - networked project funded by the Department of Science & Technology (DST). Amount: ` 60 lakhs. Principal Investigator: Dr. R.N. Sahoo, Division of Agricultural Physics.
●
“Molecular Breeding Selection Strategies to Combine and Validate QTLs for Improving WUE and Heat tolerance in Wheat” under Generation
A participant receiving a certificate from Dr. V. Venkatasubramanian, Assistant Director-General (Agricultural Extension) on successful completion of the training on “Skill Development and Exposure Visit of Farmers and Officials of Assam” at IARI
training programmes for field level extension personnel on: (i) “Integrated Plant Nutrient Management (IPNM)” on May 27, 2011 for 27 participants, and (ii) “Integrated Pest Management (IPM)” on June 10, 2011 for 22 participants.
Vocational Trainings The KVK, Shikohpur organized three vocational training courses: two on “Dairy Management for Rural Women” in Akleempur and Dhani Kumbhwas villages of Gurgaon district from May 20 to 31,
The CATAT organized two oncampus training programmes for agricultural officials and progressive farmers of Assam and Delhi on: (i) “Skill Development and Exposure visit of Farmers and officials of Assam” sponsored by the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), Assam from June 16 to 23, 2011, which was attended by 25 participants, and (ii) “Good Agricultural Practices and its Certification” sponsored b y t h e D e l h i D e ve l o p m e n t Department on June 26, 2011, w h i c h wa s a t t e n d e d b y 2 5 participants. 6
A subject matter specialist of the KVK, Shikohpur imparting skill knowledge to the farm women during the vocational training course on “Dairy Management for Rural Women” at Akleempur village of Gurgaon district
IARI News
Challenge Programme in Collaboration with CIMMYT University of Sydney funded by the CIMMYT University of Sydney. Amount: US$ 161,5397.5 (` 26639367 received through ICAR). Principal Investigator: Dr. K.V. Prabhu, Division of Genetics. ●
●
●
●
“Taxonomy of Coleoptery (Bruchidae, Coccinellidae, Cucujoidae, Curculionoidea and Scarabaeoidea)” funded by the Ministry of Environment & Forests. Amount: ` 41.37 lakhs. Principal Investigator: Dr. V.V. Ramamurthy, Division of Entomology. “Lentil Biofortification Project (Development of Lentil Cultivar with High Concentration of Iron and Zinc)” under the CGIAR Harvest Plus Challenge Programme (Biofortification) funded by the ICARDA. Amount: US$ 10,000. Principal Investigator: Dr. H.K. Dikshit, Division of Genetics. “Evaluation and Production of Cytoplasmic Genetic Male Sterility (CGMS) Based Hybrids for Enhancement of Productivity and Stability of Yield in Pigeonpea” funded by DAC-IIPR funding under NFSM. Amount: ` 25.88 lakhs. Principal Investigator: Dr. S.S. Raje, Division of Genetics. “Web Enabled Weather Based Decision Support System for Forewarning and Management of Important Insect Pests and IARI News
Diseases of Mustard in Delhi National Capital Region – A Pilot Study” funded by the DST. Amount: ` 35.00 lakhs. Principal Investigator: Dr. Deb Kumar Das, Division of Agricultural Physics. ●
●
“Centre of Excellence for Highthrough Put Allele Determination for Molecular Breeding” funded by the Department of Biotechnology (Collaborative project with ICRISAT/IIPR/ANGRAU/IARI). Amount: ` 38.57 lakhs. Principal Investigator: Dr. Shailesh Tripathi, Division of Genetics. “Use of RNAi Technology in D e ve l o p i n g L o w P h y t a t e Soybean and Rice” funded by NFBSFARA. Amount: ` 139.42 lakhs. Principal Investigator: Dr. Archana Sachdev, Division of Biochemistry.
Crop Varieties Applied for the Protection under PPV & FR Act, 2001 ●
Wheat – HD 2985, HD 2987 and HD 2967
●
Cauliflower – Pusa Meghna and Pusa Sharad
●
Brinjal – Pusa Ankur and Pusa Bindu
●
Cabbage – Pusa Ageti
Technologies Commercialized ●
A novel bio-pesticidal formulation with improved shelflife and the method for its preparation licensed to M/s Huntin Organics, Faridabad
●
Novel super absorbent hydrogel/s and the method of producing the same licensed to M/s Huntin Organics, Faridabad
Patent Filed ●
●
Samfungin: A novel fungicide and its process of making
the preparation of powdered Azadiratchin A-rich concentrate from neem seed kernel licensed
Patents Renewed ●
●
●
●
The process for preparation of mosquito larvicidal formulations based on the ingredients from Rabdosia Melissoides
to M/s Bharat Biocon Pvt Ltd., Raigarh ●
Process for the preparation of mono/di/polyol ester pesticides
Hybrids of tomato (PH-8), brinjal (PH-9), bottle gourd (PH-3), bitter gourd (PH-2), and cucumber (Pusa Sanjog)
Additives for improved photostability ofAzadirachtin-A Process for the preparation of pesticidal oxime esters
Improvement in or relating to
licensed to M/s Bhartiya Beej Nigam, Rudrapur ●
Commercial seed production of wheat variety HI 1563 licensed to M/s Pan Seeds Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata 7
Contract Research Approved ●
Bio-efficacy trial and residual analysis in potato under controlled application of chlorpropham 50% HN with M/s RajhansFertilizer Ltd., Indore, MP
●
Bio-efficacy testing of capsaicin and bicolor against sucking insects of okra, brinjal and chillies with M/s Sree Ramcides Chemicals Pvt Ltd., Chennai
●
High density CFU microbial formulation with International Panacea Limited, New Delhi
Award/Honour ●
●
Dr. H.S. Gupta, Director, IARI was conferred with ‘Life Time A c h i e v e m e n t Awa r d ’ f o r leadership in agriculture and his significant contributions to the field of agricultural sciences in general, and crop breeding in particular during the national seminar on “Multi-Sectoral Innovations for Rural Prosperity” held from May 19 to 21, 2011 at the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, Haryana, organized by the Society for Community Mobilization for Sustainable Development (MOBILIZATION) in collaboration with NDRI, Karnal. Dr. D.S. Rana, Principal Scientist,
Division of Agronomy was elected Secretary of the Indian Society of Agronomy for the biennial 20112012.
Vi s i t o r s f r o m Abroad During the period, April-June, 2011, five delegations–one each from Eithiopia,
His Excellency Prof. Babury, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Higher Education, Afghanistan signing the visitors’ book
Bhutan, Israel, Taiwan, and Afghanistan–visited
of Higher Education, Afghanistan.
the Institute. The Israeli delegation
Others who visited the Institute
was led by Her Excellency Orit
include: Dr. Emmanuel Fabiano,
Noked, Minister of Agriculture,
Vice Chancellor, University of
Israel, and the Afghan delegation
M a l a w i ; a n d M r. H u g u e s
was led by His Excellency Prof.
Ngouelondele, Mayor of
Babury, Deputy Minister, Ministry
Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
Dr. H.S. Gupta, Director, IARI welcoming Her Excellency Orit Noked, Minister of Agriculture, Israel at IARI
Published quarterly by the Publication Unit on behalf of the Director, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi 110 012, and printed at Venus Printers and Publishers, B-62/8, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase II, New Delhi - 110 028. Joint Director (Research) & In-charge (Publication Unit) : Dr. Malavika Dadlani
8
Website : http://www.iari.res.in
IARI News
