Officer Incharge: Dr. M Latha
Contact Numbers: Telephone +91-0487-2370499, Fax +91-0487-2372589 +91-9995546541 (M)
Address: ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station Thrissur, KERALA Vellanikkara, KAU P.O. Thrissur - 680656, Kerala, INDIA
E-mail: nbpgr.thrissur@icar.gov.in
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Mandate

The NBPGR Regional Station functioning since 1977 at Vellanikkara (Latitude 10^o 31’ N, Longitude 76^o17’ E altitude 40 m above MSL with annual rainfall around 3000 mm), Thrissur is responsible for plant genetic resources related activities in the south western peninsular region of India comprising southern Western Ghats in the States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Goa and the Union Territories of Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) Islands.

Mandate crops

Agriculture crops: Rice, Horsegram, Sesame and wild species of Cajanus, Oryza, Sesamum and Vigna

Horticultural crops: Fruits: Jackfruit, Mango, Wild banana

Vegetables and Tubers: Ash gourd, Bitter gourd, Snakegourd, Cucumber, OP melon, Drumstick, Leafy amaranth, Okra, Pumpkin, Yams and wild species of Abelmoschus, Cucumis, Dioscorea, Momordica,Solanum and Trichosanthes

Spices: Kokum and Malabar tamarind and wild species of Garcinia, Curcuma, Piper and Zingiber

Economically important plants: Medicinal & Aromatic plants: Alpinia calcarata, A. galanga, Bacopa monnieri, Caesalpinia sappan, Kaempferia galanga, K. rotunda, Protasparagus racemosus, Piper longum, Zingiber montanum and Z. zerumbet

Salient Achievements

Germplasm Exploration and Collection
From 1978-2021, a total of 258 exploration missions was executed based on the crop priorities fixed from time to time, independently or in collaboration with ICAR/ SAU/ International institutes. Ten exploration trips in collaboration with International Institutes namely ICRISAT (3 trips), CSIRO (1), IRRI (2) and IBPGR (4) were carried out. The other national collaborators (ICAR institutes/ SAUs) were ANGRAU, CIARI, CPCRI, CTCRI, IIHR, IIPR, IISR, KAU, NRC Banana, SBI, TNAU and UAS-B. So far, 31178 accessions/samples were collected through these missions, of which 1367 samples were from A&N Islands, 146 from Andhra Pradesh, 61 from Arunachal Pradesh, 203 from Assam, 2 from Daman & Diu, 2 from Delhi, 237 from Goa, 71 from Gujarat, 4769 from Karnataka, 14594 from Kerala, 106 from Lakshadweep Islands, 117 from Madhya Pradesh, 94 from Maharashtra, 2 from Meghalaya, 270 from Mizoram, 179 from Nagaland, 18 from Pondicherry, 119 from Sikkim, 8590 from Tamil Nadu, 102 from Tripura, 5 from Uttar Pradesh, 34 from West Bengal and 105 samples from Nepal.

Herbarium
In all 2839 herbarium specimens have been accessioned and are being maintained at the Station. Ninety two accessions of various Vigna species comprising Vigna dalzelliana (15 accessions), V.glabrescens (1), V.hainiana (13), V.mungo (2), V.sylvestris (15)V.radiata (5), V.setulosa (2), V.sublobata (15), V.trilobata (14), V.trinervia var. bourneae (7), V.umbellata (wild) (1), V. unguiculata (1) and V.vexillata (2); 15 accessions of Abelmoschus species compring A. enbeepeegearensis (1), A. crinitus (1), A. tetraphyllus (1), A. pungens subsp. pungens (1), A. pungens sub sp.. mizoramensis (3), A. angulossus var. grandiflorus (6), A. tuberculatus (3), A. moschatus subsp.. moschatus; 11 accessions of Cucumis species comprising C. sativus var. hardwickii (8) and C. melo var. agrestis (3) were deposited in BSI, Kolkata. A complete set of mounted herbarium sheets of all the identified taxa of Vigna (242 sheets in 16 taxa), Abelmoschus (207 sheets in 12 taxa), Cucumis (229 sheets in 16 taxa) and 25 specimens collected from Andaman and Nicobar Islands were prepared and added to the holdings at NBPGR RS, Thrissur
New Taxa Described: Nine taxa new to science namely, Abelmoschus enbeepeegearensis, Abelmoschus pungens sub sp. mizoramensis, Curcuma karnatakensis, C. kudagensis, Momordica sahyadrica, Momordica sahyadrica var. anamalayana, Momordica cochinchinensis subsp. andamanica, Piper psuedonigrum and Vigna konkanensis have been described from the region.

New Reports and first time collection: New reports of extended distribution of the species Curcuma albiflora, C. oligantha, Vigna dalzelliana and first time collected from the Bureau includes Alpinia nigra, Alpinia manii, Amorphophallus oncophyllus, Artocarpus camansi, Corypha utan, , Curcuma codonantha, Dioscorea pyrifolia, Diospyros crumenata,Etlingera linguiformis, Garcinia andamanica, Garcinia dulcis, Micromelum integerrimum, Miliusa andamanica, Oryza meyeriana var. indandamanica, Phoneix andamanensis, Planchonella longipetiolata, Sorghum nitidum, Zingiber ottensii were made from the region. Taxonomic status of Cucumis callosus as a sub-species of Cucumis melo , C. setosus as a valid species distinct from C. sativus, and species identity for Cucumis muriculatus and C. hystrix was established.

Unique Collections maintained:
• Coloured rice/red rice landraces of West Coast - 508 accessions
• Medicinal/Njavara rice of Kerala - 15 accs. (Njavara, Chenellu, Jeerakachembavu, Kunjinellu)
• Saline tolerant/ Pokkali rice landraces – 37 accs. (Anakomban, Pokkali, Orkaima, Ormundakan)
• Upland direct seeded rice – 42 accs. (Keeripallan, Erinellu, Ambaladan, Boothakali, Karakozhivalan etc.)
• Wild and semi-domesticated bitter gourds: Rudrakshagali, Methipavai, Karandakappaval (81 accs.)
•Poly-embryonic mango landraces – Muvandan, Vattan, Tholikaypan, Kotturkonam, Puliyan, Kilichundan, Kochukilichundan, Priyur, Kolambu, Vellari, Nambiar Manga, Chandrakaran
• Fruit variability in oriental pickling melon – Cucumis melo var. conomon (Mikikai)
•Medicinal ash gourd: Neykumbalam
•Variability in Chinese spinach (220 accessions), multicut leafy amaranth, dual purpose vegetable cum ornamental, deep magenta coloured leaves, late flowering type, small leaf bushy type (Aarakeera), green and magenta red livid amaranthus
• Slicing cucumber (62 accessions), dark green, ivory white, cooking types and orange fleshed carotenoid rich
• Coloured okra, West Coast landraces (170 accessions), long fruited landrace Aanaikomban,
• Variability in horsegram (> 1000 accessions)
• Fruit length and colour variability in snake gourd (58 accessions)
• Burmese Fish-tail Palm (Caryota mitis) - dwarf ornamental/multipurpose palm collected from A&N Islands
• Chop-chopa (Garcinia kydia), a good monsoon season fruit comparable to mangosteen
• Sweet gourd (Momordica cochinchinensis) – from A&N Islands – a potential vegetable for popularisation
• Teasel gourd (Momordica subangulata subsp. renigera) - a potential bitter-less gourd vegetable from A&N Islands
•Kokum (Garcinia indica) variability - a potential tree oil seed and multi-purpose fruit
• Malabar tamarind (Garcinia cambogia) variability
• Garcinia speciosa from A&N Islands
• Fruit length variability in drumstick (Moringa oleifera) – 30 collections
• Brinjal (Solanum melongena) - field tolerant lines to shoot and fruit borer
• Variability in cultivated and wild bitter gourd
• Species diversity in wild edible and less cultivated fruits of Western Ghats
• Crop wild relatives in the genera Abelmoschus (156 accessions), Amorphophallus (19), Artocarpus (3), Cucumis (43), Curcuma (71), Dioscorea (106), Garcinia (8), Momordica (89), Moringa (1), Oryza (41), Piper (61), Sesamum (64), Solanum (153), Trichosanthes (26), Vigna (307) and Zingiber (10 accessions)
Ethnic Tribes Contacted: Twenty-five tribes among the states of Kerala (11), Karnataka (7), Goa (2) Tamil Nadu (4) and A&N Islands were contacted during exploration missions for collection of landraces and ethnobotanical information on traditional crops as detailed below:
• Kerala: Malapulayar, Malavedar, Uraali (Idukki); Kurichiyar (Kannur, Wyanad); Kadar, Malamalasar, Malasar (Palakkad); Kanikkar (Thiruvanathapuram); Muthuvan, Vannan (Thrissur); Malayar, Kurumbar (Wayanad)
• Karnataka: Aikar (Shimoga); Golluru (Tumkur); Goral (Belgaum); Gawali, Sidhi (Uttara Kannada); Naik, Halakigowda (Chitradurga); Sholiga (Chamrajnagar)
•Tamil Nadu: Irula, Kota, Kurumba (Nilgiris); Malaivasy (Namakkal)
• Goa: Kulmi and Gowli (South Goa)
• A&N Islands – Nicobarese
New Areas Explored: During last 10 years, several areas were explored for the first time namely Swarajdweep, Hutbay, Katchal, Kamorta, North Andaman, Middle Andaman and South Andaman in Andaman & Nicobar Islands; Muthikulam forest of Palakkad dt., Kerala; six inhabited islands of Lakshadweep; Siriyur area of Trichy dt., Tamil Nadu; Indira Gandhi Wild Life Sanctuary and Parambikulam Wild Life Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu and Yelagiri and Javadu hills of Tamil Nadu; Thengumarahada village in Satyamangalam forest under Nilgiris district, Tamilnadu.
Special Mission to Andaman & Nicobar Islands: A special mission involving scientists from IISR, CPCRI, CTCRI, SBI and NBPGR was conducted to A & N group of Islands and 107 accessions (coconut-11, spices and condiments-6, tubers-13, sugarcane-1, wild sugarcane-7, wild relatives of tubers and spices-48 and other economically important species-20) were collected.
Four special exploration missions were conducted in Nicobar group of islands since 2017. Plant diversity rich pockets like Galathea river base, Navy Dera, Mount Thullier, 17 KM way to Koppenheat on East-West Road, Afra Bay and Nicobari tribal hamlets like Makachua, Pilopanja and Pilobao in Little Nicobar were explored. crop wild relatives under the genera Mangifera, Musa, Piper, Dioscorea, Amorphophallus, Zingiber, Amomum, Curcuma, Cinnamomum, Vanilla, Vigna, Garcinia, etc. few medicinal plants and cultivated crops of Nicobarese were collected. crop wild relatives under the genera Mangifera, Musa, Piper, Dioscorea, Amorphophallus, Zingiber, Amomum, Curcuma, Cinnamomum, Vanilla, Vigna, Garcinia, etc. few medicinal plants and cultivated crops of Nicobarese were collected.
Germplasm Characterization and Evaluation
So far, 4116 accessions of field crops comprising rice (3205accessions) and horse gram (911), 1341 of horticultural crops comprising Chinese spinach (91), Amaranthus blitum (8), A. graecizans (2), A. dubius (15), bitter gourd (15), Chinese potato (33), field bean (47), yard long bean (103), Mucuna pruriens (15), okra (863), brinjal (174), snake gourd (49), taro (134), elephant foot yam (35), ginger (40), black pepper (85), lesser yam (65) and turmeric (426) were characterised. One hundred and ninety-seven accessions of okra and 7 of taro were evaluated under multi-location evaluation along with crop based institutes. All wild relatives of crop plants comprising genera Vigna, Abelmoschus, Cucumis, Solanum, Trichosanthes and Momordica were characterised. Among the perennial, all horticultural crops in FGB, jackfruit (26), Malabar tamarind (123), kokum (72), mango (70) were also characterised.
New initiatives
Repository for RET crop wild relatives: A permanent plot was developed as a field gene bank for perennial crop wild relatives, mainly rare, endangered and threatened (RET) species, and over 100 samples collected from Nicobar Islands were planted in field and pots under the shade, net, mist and poly houses. This include Alocasia decipiens (1), Amorphophallus campanulatus (1), Artocarpus hirsutus (1), A. chaplasha (1), A. gomezianus (1), Bacopa monnieri (1), Bouea oppositifolia (1), Curcuma caesia (1), C. mangga (4), Dioscorea bulbifera (2), D. glabra (1), D. serpenticola (1), D. wallichii (1), Diplazium esculentum (1), Garcinia hombroniana (1), G. kydia (1), G. speciosa (6), Macaranga nicobarica (1), Mangifera andamanica (1), M. sylvatica (1), Mimusops andamanica (1), Musa acuminata (1), Piper miniatum (1), P. sarmentosum (1), P. wallichii (1), Saccharum spontaneum (1), Sterculea parviflora (1), Ternstroemia wallichiana (1) and Tinospora sinensis (1).
Simulated in situ plot were raised for Benincasa hispida f. pruriens (wild ashgourd) collected from Teresa Island of Nicobar, A & N Islands
FGB of Curry leaves (> 25 accessions), Citrus species (36), Drumstick (23) was established
Wide hybridisation in okra using YVMV tolerant wild Abelmoschus species was initiated and segregating progenies supplied to IIVR, IIHR, IARI and PAU for evaluation.
On-Farm Conservation:
On farm conservation of eight promising Citrus mostly lime and lemon from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 25 taro landraces, 25 drumstick clones and 20 landraces of rice was initiated involving voluntary farmer conservators.
A network of custodian farmers across Kerala cultivating and maintaining landrace diversity in rice, taro, greater yam, mango, jackfruit, banana, cassava, vegetables, native and exotic fruit trees and medicinal plants were formed. Volunteer farmers were supplied germplasm of their choice for augmenting diversity in home gardens.
A network of custodian farmers across Kerala, cultivating and maintaining medicinal plants, was developed. Volunteer farmers were supplied germplasm of their choice for augmenting diversity in home gardens. Over 200 seedlings each of Manilkara littoralis and Syzygium samarangense collected from A&N islands were supplied to the social forestry department for planting in Chavakkad beach, Thrissur as part of coastal bioshield plantation.
Popularization of potential new crops:
Seedlings of potential economic plants like Acrostichum speciosum, Diplazium esculentum, kokum, Garcinia kydia, G. speciosa, bitter-less Aloe vera, Macranga nicobarica, Caryota mitis, Piper sarmentosum, Salacia fruticosa, seeds and planting materials of three bitter-less gourd species, Momordica dioica, M. cochinchinensis and M. subangulata subsp. renigera were supplied to farmers across Kerala. Planting material of Caryota mitis and Musa balbisiana var. andamanica was supplied to a few farmers as a feed to domesticated elephants
Germplasm Conservation
MTS: In total, A total of 13552 accessions comprising 11553 of different crop/CWRs of this station along with 343 voucher samples and 1656 accessions received from other institutes are under conservation in MTS
Field Gene Bank: A total of 1928 accessions in 300 species belonging to 180 genera are being maintained in field and pots under the shade, net and poly houses. This includes spices (644 accessions), tubers (198), medicinal plants (244), fruits (399), wild relatives (285), Other economically useful plants (135) and vegetables (23).
LTS: A total of 20227 accessions were sent for long-term storage and 1564 accessions to MTS facility for medium term storage at NBPGR, New Delhi. In addition to these, 4257 accessions received from other co-operators were also sent to Germplasm Conservation Division for LTS/MTS. For in vitro conservation/ cryo-preservation, 2192 accessions were supplied. Pollen of 9 species of Abelmoschus, 8 of Vigna, 2 of Momordica and 8 of various medicinal plants were deposited in cryo-bank.

Germplasm Exchange
Germplasm receipt: A total of 20767 accessions in 145 genera were received from 48 different sources for further maintenance, seed multiplication and evaluation.
Germplasm transfer to crop-based institutes: In all, 2194 accessions of different crops were transferred to crop-based institutes such as ICAR-CISH, Lucknow, UP (67); ICAR-CTCRI, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala (1247); ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, Karnataka (28); ICAR-IISR, Kozhikode, Kerala (556); ICAR-DMAPR, Anand, Gujarat (5) and ICAR-NRCB, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu (291).
Supply to user agencies: Under material transfer agreement (MTA), supplied 28111 accessions to various user agencies comprising ICAR institutes (7616), SAUs (16680) and other institutions (3815). A total of 2630 accessions were transferred to the NAGS for maintenance and utilization.
Supply for multi-location evaluation: Supplied 1300 accessions comprising 800 of horse gram (100 each from 2005 to 2013) to 3 institutions under the National Network Research Project on Arid Legumes; 500 (100 in 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2010 in 2011) of okra in 7 sets to ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi under the All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Vegetable Crops.
Technology developed/ transferred etc.
Seven varieties of vegetables were released by Kerala Agricultural University based on germplasm supplied by this station.

Brinjal (Solanum melongena): Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture (KAU), Vellanikkara has released a brinjal variety, “NEELIMA”, an F1 hybrid between ‘Surya’ x NIC014090 (NBPGR), through heterosis breeding in 1998.
Areas of adaptation: Central zone of Kerala
Characteristic feature: High yield potential, resistant to bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum
Collection source of NIC014090 (NBPGR): Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala.
Chinese potato (Plectranthus rotundifolius): RARS (KAU), Pattambi has released a new variety of Chinese potato namely, “NIDHI” through clonal selection from the original collection, IC085708 (NBPGR) in 2000. The underground tuber of this plant is pleasantly aromatic and is a short duration vegetable crop in Kerala, parts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Goa. “Nidhi” is the leading variety in Kerala now.
Areas of adaptation: Central zone of Kerala
Characteristic feature: High yield potential, large tubers, good cooking quality
Collection source of IC085708 (NBPGR): Northern Kerala
Greater yam (Dioscorea alata): One of the greater yam collections, IC44209 (NBPGR), has been released through clonal selection as a new variety “INDU” for intercropping in coconut groves by RARS (KAU), Kumarakom, Kottayam, Kerala in 1997.
Areas of adaptation: Reclaimed alluvial soils of Kuttanad, Alapuzha, Kerala
Characteristic feature: Shade tolerant variety with 8 months duration
Collection source of IC044209 (NBPGR): Kothamangalam, Ernakulam, Kerala
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus): Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture (KAU), Vellanikkara has released a new variety of red okra namely, “ARUNA” based on pure line selection from the original collection, IC218870 (NBPGR) in 2000. This is rich in anthocyanins and valued as health food.
Areas of adaptation: Central zone of Kerala
Characteristic feature: High yield potential, attractive red colour long fruit rich in anthocyanin
Collection source of IC218870 (NBPGR): Mudimar, Manjeswaram, Kasaragod District, Kerala
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus): Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture (KAU), Vellanikkara has released a new variety of okra namely, “SALKEERTHI” based on re selection from the original collection, IC470862 (NBPGR) in 2000. It is one of the leading varieties in Kerala used in home garden cultivation.
Areas of adaptation: Central zone of Kerala
Characteristic feature: High yield potential, attractive light green long fruit.
Collection source of IC470862 (NBPGR): Kerala
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus): College of Agriculture (KAU), Vellayani has released a new variety of okra namely, “MANJIMA” through hybridization between Gowreesapattom Local x IC282257 (NBPGR) in 2007.
Areas of adaptation: Central zone of Kerala
Characteristic feature: This variety is high-yielding (1.34 kg/plant), compact, early maturing and YMV resistant.
Collection source of IC282257 (NBPGR): Kerala
Yard-long Bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis): Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture (KAU), Vellanikkara has released a variety, “KAIRALI”, on the basis of pure line selection from IC045415 (NBPGR) in 2000.
Areas of adaptation: Central zone of Kerala
Characteristic feature: Resistant to Mosaic disease
Collection source of IC045415 (NBPGR): Tamil Nadu
Registration of Genetic Stocks
Based on the evaluation / characterisation of germplasm, six accessions with unique traits were registered as follows:
1. Malabar tamarind (Garcinia cambogia), IC244100-2 (INGR No.04061) and IC244111-1 (INGR No.04062) for early bearing (6 and 7 years after planting, respectively) in 2004.
2. Kokum (Garcinia indica), IC136687-3 (INGR No.04063) is high yielding in number of fruits (2898 per year) in 2004.
3. Greater galangal (Alpinia galanga) accession IC349746 (INGR No. 08107) for highest 1,8–cineole (72.49%) in 2008.
4. Lesser galangal (Alpinia calcarata) accession IC210421 (INGR No. 09051) for high 1,8–cineole (37.21%) and frenchyl acetate (19.87%) in 2009.
5. Black pepper (Piper nigrum) IC266417 (INGR10065) for its oval shaped berries in 2010.
6. F1 hybrid of musk mallow (Abelmoschus moschatus subsp. moschatus x A. moschatus subsp. tuberosus) (INGR 16036) with perennation and bright red flower.
Field Days organized
Twenty field days involving SAUs, ICAR institutes and students and four diversity appreciation days for farmers were conducted in crops and crop wild relatives.
Tribal Agro-biodiversity Fairs
Six Tribal Agro-Bio-diversity Fairs cum planting material distribution event were conducted Kannur, Palakkad, Wayanad, Nicobar and Erode districts under TSP and SCSP programmes.

Research publications (453)
Research Papers :191
Seminar / Symposium Presentations : 107
Book chapters :38
Books/ Booklets : 18
Catalogue/Scientific Monographs :07
Technical Bulletins :13
Popular Articles : 79

Patents

Awards/Honours

Dr. Joseph John was awarded Dr. RK Arora Best Paper Award 2008 of the Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources for the paper entitled “Occurrence, distribution and ex situ regeneration of Balsam apple (Momordica balsamina L.) in India” published in the Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources, 2008.. 21 (1) 51 – 54.
Dr. Joseph John co-authored Dr. R.K Arora Best Paper Award 2010 of the Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources for the paper entitled “Floristic Diversity of Potential Horticultural Plants in Bay Islands of India” (TVRS Sharma, V Jayakumar, TC Shyju, S Rajalakshmi, KN Ganeshiah, K Joseph John and RC Srivasthava 2010, Indian J. Plant. Genet. Resources 23 (2): 199 – 205 (which is based on the field survey conducted in the Islands in 2008).
Dr. Joseph John K and Dr. NK Dwivedi were recognized as Journal Reviewer (since 2004) of Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, a journal published by NISCAIR (CSIR).
Best Poster Paper Award under the theme on ‘Conservation and Utilisation of the PGR’ was awarded to the poster on “Genetic Resources of Wild Vigna Species – A Treasure House for Broadening the Genetic Base in Cultivated Vignas” authored by Latha M, Nissar VAM, Roy YC, Bhat KV and S Mani in the National Symposium on “Crop Improvement for Inclusive Sustainable Development” at PAU, Ludhiana, Punjab during November 2014.
Dr. Suma A., Scientist of this station was conferred Young Scientist Award 2019, for her outstanding contribution to PGR Management Programme of Cucumbers in the ‘National Conference on Trends in Higher Education, Taxonomy, Agriculture , Biotechnology and Toxicology’ on 17th November 2019 at Chennai, Tamil Nadu by Dr. B. Vasantha Raj David Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Best oral paper presentation was awarded to the paper “Wide hybridization and Development of Amphidiploids incorporating yellow vein mosaic virus tolerance in okra” authored by Suma A., K Joseph John K., M Latha and KV Bhat in the National Seminar on Forestry, Plant Genetics and Improvement. 3-4 December, 2019, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala

• Dr Joseph John K, Principal Scientist was awarded prestigious ‘”Dr.Harbhajan Singh Memorial Award (2020)” instituted by the Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi.

• Dr K Pradheep, Principal Scientist was awarded ISPGR Fellow (2020) by the Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi.

• Dr K Pradheep, Principal Scientist, co-authored a paper entitled “Tubocapsicum anomalum (Franch. & Sav.) Makino: A New Record to the Flora of Arunachal Pradesh” published in Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources was awarded Best Paper Award (2020) by the Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi.

Major Activities

Collection of germplasm comprising landraces and wild relatives of crops from southern Western Ghats, West Coast and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and documentation of passport information
Characterisation and multiplication of germplasm of Rice, Horsegram, Sesame, Jackfruit, Mango, Ash gourd, Bitter gourd, Snakegourd, Cucumber, OP melon, Leafy amaranth, Okra, Pumpkin, Yams, Black pepper, Kokum and Malabar tamarind, wild species of Abelmoschus, Amaranthus, Cajanus, Cucumis, Curcuma, Dioscorea, Momordica, Oryza, Piper, Sesamum, Solanum, Trichosanthes, Vigna and Zingiber, and other economically important species; and documentation of the generated data
Ex situ conservation of germplasm of various crops and their wild relatives in the field gene bank/ seed gene bank and their deposit in the National Gene Bank in a phased manner
Supply of germplasm to user agencies under Material Transfer Agreement (MTA)
PGR awareness education to school and college students, farmers, general public and tribal communities
Co-ordinating PGR activities in the Peninsular India with the active support of SAUs, State Biodiversity Boards, crop-based institutes of ICAR and State Department of Agriculture
On-farm conservation/ popularization of elite germplasm through information dissemination in the region like field days, exhibition, biodiversity fairs etc.
Adaptability studies of new crops from varied agro-climatic zones

Publications/Research Papers

2018

1.	K. Joseph John, R. Asokan Nair, A. Suma, M. Unnikrishnan & V. Arunachalam (2018). Agro-biodiversity and ethnobotany of Lakshadweep Islands of India. Genet. Resour. Crop. Evol., 60 (6): 02 Aug 2018: DOI/10.1007/s10722-018-0676-8

2.	Joseph John K, K Pradheep, M Abdul Nizar, VA Muhammed Nissar, MV Krishnaraj, M Latha, A Suma, LK Bharathi, R Asokan Nair and KV Bhat (2018). Taxonomy, Diversity and Distribution of the Genus Cucumis L. in India. Indian J. Plant Genet. Resour., 31 (1): 78-88

Projects

Inhouse Projects

Programme	Project Title	Leader and Associates	Project Code
01.00	Augmentation, Characterisation, Evaluation, Maintenance, Regeneration, Conservation, Documentation and Distribution of Plant Genetic Resources in Southern India including Goa and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. (Institute Projects: 03)		PGR/GEV-BUR-THR-01.00
01.02	Augmentation, characterisation, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation, documentation and distribution of genetic resources of spices and their wild relatives , medicinal and other economic plants	Dr. K Pradheep, Joseph John K., A Suma, S. Mani and A Indiradevi	PGR/DGE-BUR-THR-01.02
01.03	Augmentation, characterisation, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation, documentation and distribution of genetic resources of vegetables, tropical tubers, fruit crops and their wild relatives	Suma A, Joseph John K, M Latha, K. Pradheep S Mani and A Indiradevi	PGR/DGE- BUR-THR-01.03
11.1.1	Augmentation, characterisation, evaluation, maintenance, regeneration, conservation, documentation and distribution of genetic resources of field crops and their wild relatives	M. Latha, K. Pradheep, Suma A, S Mani and A Indiradevi	PGR/DGE- BUR-THR-01.01

Externally Funded Projects

Programme	Project Title	Funding Agency	Principle Investigator	Date of Start	Date of Termination	Budget (Lakhs)	Project Code
01	Collection, Conservation, Taxonomy, Diversity, Cytology, Molecular Characterization and Nutritional analysis of Momordica subangulata Blume subsp. subangulata and other edible species of Momordica L. from Northeast India.	DBT	Dr. K Joseph John	April 2019	March 2022	17.50	1011838
02	Mainstreaming of Sesame germplasm for productivity enhancement through genomics assisted core development and trait discovery (Subproject 6; Component 1)	DBT	K Pradheep	April 2019	March 2024	46.96	1012162
03	Generating Genomic Resources for facilitating genetic enhancement on selective Vigna species and Horsegram	DBT	Dhammaprakash Wankhede	April 2019	March 2022	533.84	1010668