Dr. B. S. Dhillon (Former Director, ICAR-NBPGR) visited ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station Jodhpur

Dr. B. S. Dhillon, visited ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station, Jodhpur on 24th August 2022. The purpose of his visit was to explore the activities being carried out at the station. At the outset Dr. Vijay Singh Meena, Scientist (SS) & Officer In Charge, welcomed him and briefed about the activities being undertaken. Dr. Dhillon interacted with scientific, technical staff of the station and get awared about various research activities being carried out at the station. He visited Field Gene Bank of the station where 453 accessions belonging to 49 species are being maintained as live plants. Dr. Dhillon appreciated the diversity being maintained in various horticultural crops like ber, bael, pomegranate, karonda, jojoba and other perennial crops. He suggested for further molecular and biochemical analysis of various fruits for better understanding of the variability. During the visit to field crop research farm area he was shown diversity available in annual crops germplasm like moth bean, mung bean, clusterbean, kalingda, sesame etc. He was shown early maturing accessions of cluster bean and moth bean. He appreciated the field management and research activities done by the station. Dr. Dhillon visited at facilities available at station including library, laboratories, medium term storage (MTS) unit and RET species block. He suggested for improvement in laboratory facilities to carry out all the molecular and biochemical analysis here itself. Dr. Dhillon appreciated the work being done by NBPGR Jodhpur team and further suggested improvement in the station activities.