ICAR-NBPGR RS, Cuttack

• To explore and collect the indigenous plant genetic resources of rice, other agri-horticultural crops, their wild relatives, wild economic plants, medicinal and aromatic plants of Odisha and adjoining region.
• To characterize evaluate and rejuvenate the plant genetic resources suited to this region.
• To maintain and conserve collected plant genetic resources in field gene bank and supply of seed samples for long term conservation in the national gene bank.
• To prepare herbarium, seed museum, inventories and catalogues on plant genetic resources of the region.
• Documentation of information on plant genetic resources and publication of research results for user community.

The Base Centre of National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources at Cuttack was established in July 1986 with the primary purpose of managing plant genetic resources of Odisha, parts of Chhatisgarh and West Bengal. Looking into the quantum of plant biodiversity, nature and amount of variability in useful plant populations emphasis was given on collection, characterization, evaluation, exchange, seed multiplication, conservation, maintenance, documentation and utilization of plant genetic resources of the region.  Implementation of National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) with sub-project on “Sustainable Management of Plant Biodiversity” in Mission mode during 1999-2005 at this Base Centre resulted with significant achievements on various plant genetic resources activities. The centre is also engaged in encouraging, supporting, coordinating, exploration and other PGR activities as well as providing information, training, and building linkages with SAUs, ICAR institutes and other Govt. institutes for better functioning of PGR activities. The significant achievements made by this Centre is given below:

• Conducted 89exploration programmes including special exploration missions in cyclone hit coastal districts, drought and flood affected areas of Odisha and a total of 9307 acc including 913 wild relatives of crops were collected from Odisha, NEH and adjoining region.
• A total of 6081 accessions comprising Cultivated rice (3796), wild rice (386), turmeric (665), Pigeon pea (09), Taro (51), M&AP (04), green gram (103), black gram (66), horse gram (87), sesame (899), wild cucurbits (17) were characterized for various agro-morphological traits as per the minimal descriptors.
• A total of 20314 accessions were multiplied and conserved in LTS (12,652), MTS (7028) cryo bank (50) and FGB (584).  In addition, 330 herbarium specimens were deposited in NHCP, NBPGR, New Delhi.
• A total of 5254 acc of different crops, their wild relatives, medicinal plants and wild economic plants were supplied (32 institutes) and 7513 acc were received (15 institutes) for research purpose.
• A total of 768 accessions comprising various crop groups, M&AP and wild relatives are being maintained in the field gene bank of this Base Centre.
• A catalogue on rice germplasm and a document on “Plant Genetic Resources of Orissa- Accomplishments and future strategies” were published.

Special exploration mission

• Super cyclone hit areas : Coastal districts of Odisha
• Drought affected areas : Western and Northern parts of Odisha
• Flood affected areas : Regions around river basins such as Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Budhabalanga, Subarnarekha, Rushikulya etc covering 19 districts.

Noteworthy collections

• Rare and endangered medicinal plants such as Saraca asoca, Rauvolfia serpentina,Mesua ferrea and Paederia foetida (Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Gandhamardan hills, Eastern Ghats)
• Drought tolerant (Nuapada, Jharsuguda, Phulbani); flood tolerant (Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Bargarh); saline tolerant (Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Sundarvan) and short grained scented rice landraces. 
• Chilli germplasm with high capsicin content (Sundargarh, Sambalpur)
• Turmeric accessions with higher curcumin content (Kandhamal)

• Registered four rice germplasm lines viz. NBPGR-TGMS-1, Gaurav, Mundadhan, Malsundari for various economic traits.
• Three rice genotypes IC-568957, IC-568918 and IC-568854 were identified as donor for submergence tolerance.

With the establishment of this Exploration Base Centre at Cuttack during 1986, considerable efforts has been made in managing the plant genetic resources of the region through conducting germplasm exploration, preliminary characterization and  conservation. Characterisation and evaluation of cultivated rice (in collaboration with CRRI) is the mandated activity of this centre. Besides, the tribal dominated part of Odisha and Chhatisgarh hold rich diversity of indigenous crops, their wild relatives and economically useful plant species. Traditionally, tribals or adivasis have access to less fertile, rainfed agricultural land in mostly uphill areas. On these lands they grew crops like millets, sorghum, pulses, oil seeds and a few varieties of paddy that could grow in rainfed hill slopes. Millets can grow under completely rainfed conditions and therefore do not need irrigation for their cultivation. Millet based farming system is being declined due to the recent over-emphasis on rice and wheat. In order to face the changing environmental conditions of these region, indigenous crop diversity, which are less environment responsive and less dependent on external sources for inputs are to be given importance.

 Despite significant achievements made by this centre on exploration and collection of these genetic resources, a need for further emphasis on detailed characterization and evaluation of ex situ germplasm is a prioritized area for the utilization of the native crop diversity of pulses, millets, some potential M&AP and wild economic plants for food and nutritional security.