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Horsegram Field day at ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station, Thrissur
ICAR-National Bureau of Plants Genetic Resources, Regional Station Thrissur organized the “Horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum L.) Germplasm Field Day” on 09th January 2020 under the DBT project on Characterization and Evaluation of Genetic Resources of Minor Pulses for Crop Improvement. About 25 participants comprising scientist and students from Kerala Agricultural University, University of Agricultural Science, Bangalore, ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research Regional Centre, Dharwad participated in the event. Dr. Yasin Jeshima, Scientist SS, NBPGR New Delhi; crop in-charge and Co-PI of minor pulses network participated the occasion. At the outset, Dr. Joseph John K., Principal Scientist & Officer in Charge welcomed the participants and emphasized that this is a chance for the breeders to select the suitable germplasm they need. Later, Dr. M. Latha, Principal Scientist gave an introduction about the project, experimental design and layout plan of horsegram. A total of 2300 accessions from the genebank were grown and displayed in the field. The accessions possessed variability for various agro-morphological traits such as plant architecture, maturity time, number of pods per plant, pod shape, pod colour, seed colour etc which are useful for the breeders to select. The variability exhibited in the germplasm for different yield attributing traits were appreciated by everyone. Earlier the QRT team comprising Dr. M.P. Pandey, Chairman QRT, Ex-VC, BAU Ranchi & IGKVV, Raipur and Former Director CRRI, Cuttack, Dr. Prakash S. Naik, Member QRT, Ex Director, IIVR, Varanasi, Dr. Vidya S. Gupta, Member QRT, CSIR Emeritus Scientist and Emeritus Professor, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune , Dr. Bhagmal, Member QRT, Senior Consultant TAAS, Ex-Director, IGFRI, Jhansi, Dr. S.C. Dubey, Member Secretary QRT, Head, Plant Quarantine Division, NBPGR, New Delhi also visited the horsegram field and admired the uniqueness of the germplasm in terms of more number of pods and its erect habit suitable for machine harvesting. All the scientists visited the field and noted the accessions of their interest and will be supplied with the seeds after harvest. After the field visit a discussion was held with the participants. The scientists felt the photo insensitive lines are the need of hour in horsegram. Gaps in collection of horsegram, domestication and evolution of horsegram also have to be studied. The programme ended with vote of thanks.
(Source: Dr. M Latha, Principal Scientist, ICAR-NBPGR, Regional Station Thrissur)
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