shrink-wrapping high-value temperate fruits for enhancing shelf-life

Volume 15 No. 3 July-September 2009

RESEARCH UPDATE

Promising Technologies• Shrink-wrapping high-value temperate 1

fruits for enhancing shelf-life

New Initiatives• Effective utilization of farm 3

and home wastes

Natural Resources Management• Areca-cocoa system for reducing 4

greenhouse gases• Cryostorage of tree-borne oilseeds 4

Profile• Central Institute for Subtropical 6

Horticulture, Lucknow

Spectrum• Varietal Releases 12

Govind Ballabh Pant University of 12Agriculture and Technology, PantnagarVivekananda Parvatiya Krishi 12Anusandhan Sansthan, AlmoraVRW 3, yellow-rinded watermelon 13

• Terminal heat and wheat productivity 14in the northern states

• Drought-tolerant transgenic sorghum 15• Torsa – A high-yielding, early-maturing 16

Motihari tobacco• Grass fly, a new rice pest 17• Ber value-addition for regulating its 18

fresh-fruit market• Subsurface drain envelope materials 18

for waterlogged vertisols• K supplemented fish products 20

to address hypertension• Enhancing pig productivity at farm-gate 21

level using superior germplasm

Impact of Technology• Dealing with erratic monsoons and 23

droughts: The Way Forward

The Last Page 24

PROMISING TECHNOLOGIES

Shrink-wrapping high-value temperatefruits for enhancing shelf-life

Apples and kiwifruits are the most important fruits of thetemperate region of our country. In both, post-harvest lossesaccount for 25-30%. Considering their importance, the technologyof shrink-wrapping for apple (variety Royal Delicious) and kiwifruit(variety Allison) has been standardized.

Different types of heat-shrinkable films, viz. Cryovac (9 μ),polyolefin (13μ) and LDPE (25 μ) were used. Cryovac film was thebest in extending both shelf-life and storage life with betterretention of fruit quality over unwrapped fruits. And best resultswere obtained when heat shrinking was done at 120oCtemperature with 10 seconds’ exposure.

IIIIIndian Cndian Cndian Cndian Cndian Council of Aouncil of Aouncil of Aouncil of Aouncil of Agggggriculturriculturriculturriculturricultural Ral Ral Ral Ral ResearesearesearesearesearchchchchchKrishi Bhawan, New Delhi 110 001, India

www.icar.org.in

Apples and kiwifruits tray-wrapped

This technique involves over-wrapping of the produce with heat-shrinkable films of the desirable thickness with the help of a machine.For individual shrink-wrapping, initially individual fruit is loosely

Advantages• It is easy, user-friendly,

can be very well adopted by

marginal farmers and/or

entrepreneurs.

• It adds very little to

the cost of high-value fruits

like apple or kiwifruit.

• Machine used for

shrink-wrapping of apples or kiwifruits can also be

used for other commodities. Thus, year-round

production of shrink-wrapped produce is possible.

• Shrink-wrapped produce looks attractive, hygienic

and free from dust and dirt.

• It is easy to handle shrink-wrapped apples or

kiwifruits during storage or transportation.

• It avoids secondary infection, which is important for

long-term storage.

• It delays deterioration of the produce, and thus

enhances to shelf-life.

R.R. Sharma and R.K. Pal

Division of Post-harvest Technology, Indian

Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012

e-mail: rrs_fht @rediffmail. com

PROMISING TECHNOLOGIES

Individually shrink-wrapped apples

Shrink-wrap packaging is a new technique for

post-harvest handling of fruits and vegetables.

The technology delays physiological

deterioration of fruits and also prevents

condensation of droplets within the package.

Individual shrink-wrapping of the produce

provides optimum gas and humidity for

maintaining quality of the produce during the

transit and storage. As a result, it doubles or

sometimes triples storage life of the fruits under

proper storage conditions. Such unit packs also

provide protection against abrasion and maintain

attractive appearance of the product.

sealed in a desirable heat-shrinkable film with the help of

an impulse sealer. The produce is then placed inside the

machine maintained at 120°C. Then upper cover of the

machine is pressed for 10-15 seconds to activate fan,

which circulates hot air around the produce, and the film

shrinks tightly around the produce. In case of tray-wrap

packaging, produce is first sealed in a consumer pack of

suitable size and then passed through the machine.

Shrink-wrapped produce is immediately removed from

the machine and cooled for 2-3 hours at 5-100C or by

rapid ventilation. Thereafter, the produce can be packed

in plastic crates for further storage or transportation.

The cost of the shrink-wrap packaging varies with the

commodities to be wrapped or films to be used for wrapping.

In practice, it adds a packaging cost of about Rs 0.80-1.00 for

one kg fruits. This cost can be further reduced if tray-wrap

packaging of 6-10 units per pack is done.

Fruit Shelf life at room temperature (days) Storage life in zero energy cool chamber (days)

Unwrapped Wrapped Unwrapped Wrapped

Apple 21 30 35 45

Kiwifruit 9 14 11 20

2ICAR NEWS

NEW INITIATIVES

Effective utilization of farm and home wastes

Located in the dense forest hills of Talavadi village,

Erode district in Tamil Nadu, Krishi Vigyan Kendra

has emerged as one of the leaders in the promotion

of Eco-San with Integrated Farm Development (IFD)

concept by successfully demonstrating eco-san

toilets and IFD components in all households within

the framework of the existing programmes and

resources.

A project, initiated by the KVK in 2003-04 and

supported by the ICAR, Tamil Nadu State

Government and the UNICEF, has used innovative

approaches to promote Eco-san concepts, ranging

from involvement of the self-help groups, micro-

credit based revolving funds and multi-sectoral

approaches through integrated farming initiatives

to inclusive capacity-building approaches.

The KVK was instrumental in promoting sustainable

agricultural practices,

especially for

recycling of farm and

home wastes. The

Eco-san system

became a part of the

peoples’ existing

‘Integrated Farming

Approach’ that

directly focused on

the household

through increasing

attention on the Low

External Input

S u s t a i n a b l e

Agriculture (LEISA)

technologies and

fuller utilization of

agricultural and

domestic wastes through biogas, vermi-composting,

eco-san toilets, indigenous growth promoters and

pest repellents, rainwater harvesting, tree planting

on field bunds, etc. Because of this overall holistic

approach, each household at present has a biogas

plant, a bathroom with an eco-friendly water heater,

an Eco-san toilet, a kitchen-garden, a cow-shed with

urine collection tank, and a space for vermi-

composting.

All these interventions

are interlinked in a way

to promote maximum

waste utilization;

generated either at the

household or at the

farm. This approach

followed a systematic

path that graduated

from the farm waste to

animal waste to human

waste. Eco-san in this

route of waste

management has filled

the gap very

effectively.

S. Prabha Kumar

Zonal Project Directorate-Zone VIII

H.A. Farm Post, Hebbal

Bengaluru (Karnataka) 560 024

e-mail: [email protected]

The journey of the IFD had started in 2001 with

eight farm families when KVK had demonstrated

eco-san and IFD in MP Doddi village as an

experiment.

These farm families had accepted the new

concept and integrated this practice in recycling

of farm and household wastes; it also supported

their need for safe disposal and usage system for

human waste. As a result, after seven years it has

spread to 53 villages with 860 farm families. Now

the village looks greener and the people are living

in a more hygienic environment; it stands as a

model for others to advocate eco-san with an

integrated approach.

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3 JULY – SEPTEMBER 2009

Cryostorage of tree-borne oilseeds

Areca-cocoa system for reducing greenhouse gasesCarbon sequestration by terrestrial biomass is one ofthe mitigation options used for reduction ofgreenhouse gases. The areca-cocoa mixed croppinggives a sustainable production, and also serves as agood system for biomass production and carbonaccumulation. Arecanut is grown either as a mono-plantation or is intercropped with cocoa and banana,and cocoa is grown only as an intercrop of coconut orarecanut.

Areca-cocoa system had a standing biomass of 23, 54and 87 tonnes/ha in 5, 8 and 15 years of growth.Contribution of biomass was greater from areca thancocoa. Annual increments in biomass or net primaryproductivity ranged from 1.4 to 2.6 tonnes/ha in cocoaand 3.3 to 7 tonnes/ha in areca. Parallel to these, CO2

sequestration ranged from 2 to 3.8 and 5 to 10.9 incocoa and areca respectively. The standing biomass

increased over time indicated accumulation of biomassin stem, and also increased yield of areca and cocoaplants with age up to 15th year of planting. The studyhas revealed that biomass and primary productivityare considerable with areca-cocoa mixed crop, and iscomparable to any agroforestry systems involvingcocoa. Areca cocoa-based systems produce abundantbiomass to qualify for carbon sequestrationmechanisms. Organic carbon content was higher inareca basin than in cocoa basin; higher organic contentin upper layers of the soil profile.

D. Balasimha1 and S. Naresh Kumar2

1CPCRI, Regional Station, Vittal (Karnataka) 574 243e-mail: [email protected]

2Division of Environmental Sciences, IndianAgricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012

NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Vegetable oils obtained from tree sources have edibleas well as industrial uses. Oils derived from tree-borneoilseeds (TBOs), especially jatropha (Jatropha curcas),karanj (Pongamia pinnata) and wild apricot (Prunusarmeniaca), have potential to be used as bio-diesel.Salvadora oleoides seeds contain 40-50% of greenishyellow-fat with large amount of lauric and myristicacids. Purified fat is used for soap-making, and is apotential industrial substitute of coconut oil for humanconsumption. S persica oil possesses pharmaceuticalapplications. Cheura (Diploknema butyracea) oil is usedas a substitute for ghee and butter for cookingpurposes.

In India, TBOs are mostly found under naturalconditions. Their population under farm cultivation isvery limited, and is in the initial years of establishment.

TBOs are mostly propagated by seeds, as clonalpropagation of these has still not been worked out.The major collection constraint in TBO seeds is their

short collection period (4-6 weeks) and that alsoprecedes or even coincides with rains. Besides this,various biotic and abiotic stresses are continuous threat

Dried jatropha fruits

4ICAR NEWS

NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Wild apricot tree, and seedlings raised from cryostored seeds(inset)

National cryo genebank

for the germplasm growing under the naturalconditions.

TBOs germplasm can be conserved in situ as well exsitu. Among all methods of ex situ conservation,cryopreservation is the only method for long-term(infinite) conservation.

Conserved TBOs at the National Cryogenebank,NBPGR, with the following objectives: (i)Collection, seed handling and post-harveststorage of selected TBOs (jatropha, karanj, wildapricot, Salvadora spp. and cheura); (ii) Studieson seed storage behaviour including seedviability and longevity for development ofsuitable cryopreservation protocols; (iii)Development of suitable short-, medium- andlong-term conservation methods for ex-situconservation; (iv) Cryopreservation in the formof seeds and embryonic axes.

Detailed experiments led to the determination ofcritical moisture content and desiccation and freezingtolerance in the investigated species.

For seeds and excised embryonic axes of jatropha andkaranj, high germinability (80-100%) was observedafter 24 hr of storage in liquid nitrogen. In wild apricot,60-80% viability was observed for seeds and axes after

liquid nitrogen exposure, indicating intermediatenature of seeds. Seeds and axes of Salvadora persicaand S. oleoides showed low level of recovery after liquidnitrogen exposure of 40%, indicating recalcitrant seedstorage behaviour.

Cheura seeds were found highly recalcitrant, andrecovery of up to 20% was achieved using embryonicaxes alone, and there was no success using wholeseeds.

Cryostorage of germplasm

A total of 742 accessions of jatropha collected from 92districts of 14 states, 176 accessions of karanj collectedfrom 37 districts of 9 states and 417 accessions of wildapricot collected from 10 districts, 8 from Jammu andKashmir and 2 from Himachal Pradesh and 35accessions of Salvadora species from 2 states have beensuccessfully cryostored in cryogenebank.

Viability testing of samples of species after 3 years ofcryostorage have revealed good germinabilty. Usingexcised embryonic axes, normal healthy plantlets ofJatropha, karanj, wild apricot and Salvadora spp. couldbe recovered.

Rekha Chaudhury, S.K. Malik and Jyotsna JoshiNational Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources

Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110 012e-mail: [email protected]


PROFILE

The Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH)was started as the Central Mango Research Station on4 September 1972 under the aegis of the IndianInstitute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru. TheResearch Station was upgraded to full-fledged Institute,named as the Central Institute of Horticulture forNorthern Plains on 1 June 1984. Later the Institute

was renamed as the Central Institute for SubtropicalHorticulture (CISH) on 14 June 1995.

The Institute has established its Regional Station atMalda, West Bengal, for which 68.74 hectares weregiven by the Govt of West Bengal on 29 March 2007.The mandate of the Regional Station is to conductresearch work on the subtropical fruits like mango andlitchi.

The National Committee on Plasticulture Applicationin Horticulture (NCPAH) under the Ministry ofAgriculture has sanctioned the Institute as one ofthe centres for promotion of precision farming inhorticultural crops. The centre is conducting trainingprogrammes on the technologies developed for thebenefit of orchardists.

The Institute has also been recognized by theIGNOU, New Delhi, as the study centre for offeringone year Diploma Course on value-added products

Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow

6ICAR NEWS

PROFILE

Temperature humidity controlled polycarbonate structure

of fruits and vegetables and organic farming. AndNational Horticulture Mission has identified it as anodal centre for imparting training on all aspectsof the subtropical fruits.

MANDATE

• To undertake basic and applied research to enhanceproductivity and develop value-chain to major andminor subtropical fruits.

• To act as a national repository of above fruit crops.• To act as a centre for human resource development

and provide consultancy to stakeholders.• To develop linkages with the national and

international agencies to accomplish above activities.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Experimental farms. The Farm at Rehmankhera hasarea of 132.5 hectares comprising 4 blocks and R.B.Road campus has of 13.2 hectares.

Nursery complex for planting material. To meetgrowing demands for planting materials of mango,guava, aonla and bael and making them available all-round-the-year, the Institute has polyhouse,polycorbonate structures fitted with heaters forsterilization and filling of media, soil sterilization unit,shade nethouse, shading platform for seed extraction/rubbing and automated drip irrigation/ micro sprinkler.

Rainwater harvesting. Three types of (Dugout, Roofwater and earthen embakemant) water-harvestingponds of 3,600 M3, 1,600 M3, 6,500 M3, 5,800 M3 and1,225 M3 capacity having corresponding area of 4 ha,3.5 ha, 4.35 ha, 6.50 ha and 2.15 are in operation.

Guava grafts in poly bags

Mango grafts in mist chamber

Equipments. The Institute has followingequipments: RT-PCR, PCR, Gel Documentation Unit,Chip-based Electrophoresis, Liquid Nitrogen Unit, GeneGun, Laminar Air Flow, Ultra Centrifuge, TransgenicGlasshouse, Inductively Coupled Plasma EmissionSpectrometer, Fermenter, Growth Chamber, D-freezer(-800C), Table-top Centrifuge, Temperature, humidityand light control system equipped glasshouses, One-ton-capacity packaging line for fruits, Processing linefor the preparation of juices and other products, FreezeDryer, HPLC, Colour Flex Meter, CO2 Ethylene Analyzer,Juice Concentrators and Vacuum Dryer.

Biotechnology laboratory. The laboratory hasadvanced DNA fingerprinting, transgenic, tissueculture and cytogenetics facilities.

Biocontrol laboratory. The laboratory has all state-of the art facilities. Equipment like fermenter andgrowth chamber for conducting experiments on theresponse growth and developments of antagonistsvis-à-vis abiotic factors have been acquired for massproduction of bioagents.

Museum. Research achievements are displayed inthe museum in the form of photographs, charts,graphs, live materials, models and publications.

Conference hall. This hall is equiped with LCDprojector, black-board, projection screen, and audiosystem for better- and-effective communication.


Library. It has 3,085 scientific and technical booksand 7,457 back volumes of journals, and it subscribesto 111 journals. Out of which, 49 foreign journals arebeing subscribed in printed as well as in Internetversion. The library has also been automated throughLS Ease software (Libsys).

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Crop improvement• Germplasm/accessions of mango (721), guava (114),

papaya (32), bael (54), litchi (35), aonla (35), jamun(45), khirnee (38), mahua (30), tamarind (24), wood-apple (17), custard apple (8), mulberry (10), amra/hog plum (3), lasora (5), carambola (9), rose apple (3)and karonda (30) collected from different locationsare maintained in the field gene bank.

• Mango varieties, Ambika (Amrapali x JanardhanPasand), Arunika (Amrapali x Vanraj), regular bearerwith good potential for domestic and export marketshave been released.

• Lalit and Shweta, two open-pollinated seedlingselections of coloured guava, have been released.

• Two bael varieties CISH-B1 and CISH-B2 selected fromthe seedling population have been released.

• Two superior genotypes (CISHJ 37 and CISH J 42) of jamun wereidentified and have been establishedin the field gene bank. A seedlessgenotype (CISH J 42) selected fromChandauli district of Uttar Pradeshhas been multiplied by soft-woodgrafting, and planted at the fieldgene bank.• One-hundred-fifty mangocultivars have been characterizedusing 20 microsatellites (STMSprimers). The Gene Scan basedanalysis could detect variabilityamong Dashehari and Himsagarclones.• A rapid regeneration systemusing immature zygotic embryoshas been developed for papaya PusaDelicious.• Genetic transformation systemhas been developed in guava usingendochitinase gene mobilized inAgrobacterium. PCR analysis has

confirmed presence of endochitinase and npt–II gene.

Crop production• Technologies to rejuvenate old and senile orchards

have been standardized for mango, guava and aonla.• High-density plantings for mango Dashehari with

400 plants/ha spaced at 5 m x 5 m and guavaAllahabad Safeda with 555 plants/ha spaced at3 m x 6 m have been standardized.

• Drip irrigation from September to second week ofMay, followed by fertigation (P and K with 25% ofthe recommended doses in split doses at flowering

Lalit Shweta

Ambika Arunika

High density guava planting

PROFILE

8ICAR NEWS

PROFILE

and fruit-setting)resulted in highestfruit yield (59.74kg/tree) incomparison toc o n v e n t i o n a l(basin system18.71 kg/tree)irrigation andfertilizer use inmango.

• Meadow orchardsystem developedfor guava, whicha c c o m m o d a t e s5,000 plants/ha (1m x 2 m) coupled with regular topping and hedging.An average yield of 12 tonnes/ha was obtained afterthe first year, and it reached to 50 tonnes/ha afterthe 3rd year.

AN-17 and Penicillium citrinum, applied through FYM(30 kg/plant).

• A forecasting model for the prediction of powderymildew has been developed.

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) module formango insect pests and diseases has been developedand standardized.

• A simple technique, involving covering fruits on treeswith paper-bags one month prior to harvest,eliminates all post-harvest diseases in an eco-friendlymanner.

• Inoculation technique (stem-hole inoculation) forreproduction of wilt in guava has been standardized.Gliocladium roseum has been found the most potentcausal pathogen for guava wilt, as it producessymptoms in grown-up plants in the field within 2months of inoculation.

Post-harvest management• Dashehari fruits harvested with 8-10 mm stalks could

be stored for 21 days at 12°C and relative humidityof 85-90% and then for 6 days under ambientconditions.

• Uniform ripening of early harvested mangoes couldbe achieved by dip treatment of fruits in 750 ppmethrel in hot-water (52 ± 2oC) for 5 minutes.Concentration of the ethrel could be reduced to 100-500 ppm depending upon the stage of the fruitmaturity and variety.

• Beverages prepared from blends of mango-pineapple (1:1), mango-pear (any ratio) and mango-papaya (2:1) were ideal combinations with betteracceptability.

• Recipe of oil-less pickle of mango was developedwith salt, chilli and asafoetida as ingredients. It couldbe stored for nine months safely.

• Good quality vinegar from mango-peel could beobtained by use of Acetobacter aceti.

• Jelly-grade pectin and edible fibres could beextracted chemically from mango-peel.

• Guava slices from cv. Lalit could be stored in 40oBrixsugar syrup for 9 months.

• Techniques for preparation of sweetened and brined(salted) aonla segments have been standardized.

• Recipe of sweet papaya chutney has been developedthat can be stored for 9 months in plastic jars.

• Hydraulically-operated fruit-picking platform hasbeen found very effective in harvesting bael fruits.

• CFB boxes of 2-kg capacity for packaging of mangoand guava fruits have been developed.

Wedge grafting in guava

Rejuvenation of old and senilemango orchard

• Wedge grafting technique has tremendous potentialfor multiplying guava plants throughout the year ingreenhouse as well as in open.

• Cow-dung pasting in rejuvenated mango trees isfound most effective for managing gummosis.

• Farm waste utilization through vermi, micro-mediated and biodynamic (BD) compost enhancedbeneficial microorganisms in the soil.

Crop protection• Methyl eugenol wooden-block traps were found

highly efficient in trapping male mango fruit flies.• A technique has been developed for biocontrol of

wilt disease by antagonistic fungi Aspergillus niger


commercial potential as its fruits are found free fromjelly formation and ripen 10 days later thanDashehari.

• In guava, Lalit, a selection from Allahabad Safeda,released in 1998, has been found suitable for tableand processing purposes. Not only in the North, thevariety has been most successful processing varietyin South (Andhra Pradesh) and West (Maharashtra).More than 250 hectares have been covered by thevariety within last 3 years.

• Guava Shweta develops pink colour on the peelduring cool nights under the north Indian conditions,and thus makes the fruit very attractive. The areassuitable for cultivation of this red-peel variety havebeen mapped using GIS tool.

• For mango and guava wedge grafting techniquehas been found suitable for mass multiplication oftrue-to-type plants.

• With rejuvenation technology for old mangoorchards, an additional income of Rs 33,000 wasrealized from 0.7 ha (100 plant) of the rejuvenatedmango plants as against Rs 21,000 from the non-rejuvenated ones.

• Forecasting model for powdery mildew of mangoand fungicidal spray schedule for its managementdrastically curtailed expenditure incurred by themango orchardist around Malihabad.

• CFB boxes designed and fabricated have tensilestrength above the standard set by CODEX.

Thrust areas• Enrichment, management and efficient utilization

of germplasm of subtropical fruit crops throughconventional and biotechnological tools, includinggenetic mapping and marker-aided selection.

Aonla dietary fibre enriched biscuits

All-India Co-ordinated Research Project onSubtropical Fruits

This project with its headquarters at the CentralInstitute for Subtropical Horticulture located atRehmankhera, Lucknow, coordinates researchwork on mango, guava and litchi.

At present the research work is being carried outat 12 centres viz. IARI, New Delhi; IIHR, Bengaluru;CISH, Lucknow; FRS, Sangareddy; BAC, Sabour;FRS, Vangurle; FRS, Rewa; FRS, Paria; RCA, Udaipur;GBPUA&T, Pantnagar; BCKV, Mohanpur; HC&RI,Periyakulam

Achievements• A total of 12 technologies in mango, 16 in

grape, 3 in guava, 2 in litchi and 5 in temperatefruits have been standardized.

• Hybrids/ selections, 25 in mango, 12 in grape,7 in guava, 2 in litchi, 6 in apple, 3 in pea, 5 inpeach and 4 in plum have been developed.

Impact of technologies• From a meagre production of planting material

(13,500 and 12,500 plants during 2003-04 and 2004-05), a significant increase was observed during 2005-06, 2006-07, and subsequently in 2007-08, a recordsale of 157,000 plants was achieved.

• The institute has the largest mango germplasmrepository of the world; currently have 721accessions.

• Ambika has been developed to cater to exportmarket. Similarly another hybrid Arunika has beendeveloped to overcome biennial bearing. Anotherhybrid CISH-M2 developed from a cross betweenDashehari and Chausa, would have immense

PROFILE

10ICAR NEWS

• Tapping cultivar/varietal sources for off-season

fruiting / extended duration.

• Working out water productivity norms for

monocropping and multiple cropping.

• Development of cropping systems for perennial

fruits’ orchards.

• Development of input-use efficiency management

systems such as fertigation, mulching, growth

regulators and IPM / IDM protocols and biosaftey

models against toxic pesticides.

• Utilization of biotechnological tools for

enhancement of productivity per unit area and

development of cultivars for biotic and abiotic

stresses.

• Enhancement of cropping efficiency through crop

canopy architecture through the development of

crop canopy models.

• Development of efficient organic farming protocols

based on the bio-prospecting-aided interventions.

• Exploration, identification and conservation of

efficient pest/pathogen antagonists, and

development of bioagent-based pest / disease

management protocols.

• Management of alternative bearing/mango

malformation through biochemical interventions.

• Enhancement of farm income through development

of value-added products and their microbial quality

assurance, and economically sustainable waste

utilization.

• Development of database on market intelligence to

safeguard farmers’ interests.

• Quantification of impact of technologies among

clientele groups.

Ramesh Chandra

Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture

Rehmankhera, PO Kakori, Lucknow

(Uttar Pradesh) 227 107


Web-based softwares developed for soybean

The Directorate of Soybean Research has developed

softwares that are available in the public domain to

benefit users by providing wealth of information stored

in the system on the WWW on different aspects –

soybean diseases and multilocational AICRPS trial data

management. These are linked to the Institute website

http://www.nrcsoya.nic.in.

The Directorate has obtained Copyrights ‘for the

following softwares: (i) Web-based soybean

disease diagnosis and information system (Regn

No. SW-3457/2007 dtd 23/4/2007); (ii) Soybean

disease database (Regn No.SW-3456/2007 dtd 23/

4/2007); (iii) Screens of the web-based soybean

disease diagnosis and information system (Regn

No.SW-3455/2007 dtd 23/4/2007); (iv) Screens of

data management system for all-India co-

ordinated research project in soybean agronomy

trials data (Regn No. SW-3707/07 dtd 27/11/2007);

(v) Data structure for agronomy trials data of all

India co-ordinated research project on soybean

(Regn No. SW-3708/07 dtd 27/11/2007); (vi) Data

management system for All-India Co-ordinated

Research Project on Soybean Agronomy trials

data (Regn No. SW-3709/07 dtd 27/11/2007)

“Web-based soybean disease diagnosis and

information system has been developed using web

technologies like HTML and active server pages. It

serves as a good tool for correct identification of

diseases and provides all the necessary information

on soybean diseases. The database is developed using

SQL SERVER 2000. “Screens of the Web-based soybean

disease diagnosis and information system” were

created for taking disease-symptom inputs from the

users for providing them solutions for disease-related

problems.

Data management system for All-India Co-

ordinated Research Project on Soybean Agronomy

is computer software developed for processing

multilocation agronomic experimental trials data

generated under the All-India Co-ordinated Research

Project on Soybean and for generation of summary

table report in easy, efficient and user-friendly mode.

The system has been developed using Visual Basic (6.0).

The reports are generated in EXCEL worksheets.

Savita Kolhe and S.K. Srivastava

Directorate of Soybean Research, Khandwa Road

Indore (Madhya Pradesh) 452 001

e-mail: director @ nrcsoya.com

PROFILE


SPECTRUM

Pant Lentil 7This hybrid has been developed by crossing high-yielding L 4076 and DPL 15. It showed an overall yieldadvantage of 10.9% over the best check DPL15 in theAll-India Co-ordinated Trials over 3 years. It was foundresistant to rust and wilt diseases and also to pod-borer pest. It has large seeds (2.9 g/100seeds), and itmatures in 125-130 days. The variety has been releasedby the State Varietal Release Committee in 2008 forcultivation in the plains of Uttarakhand.

Pant Lentil 8It has been developed by hybridization of DPL 59 andIPL105. It showed an overall yield advantage of 26%over the best check Pant Lentil 4 in the All-India Co-ordinated Trials over 3 years. It was found moderatelyresistant to rust and wilt diseases and resistant topod-borer pest. It has smaller grains (1 g/ 100 seeds). Itmatures in about 130-135 days. This has beenidentified as a promising genotype for cultivation inthe plains of Uttarakhand.

D.P. Singh, S.K. Verma and J.P. SinghDepartment of Genetics and Plant Breeding, GBPUAT

Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) 263 145

Pant Pea 74It is a dwarf and high-yielding variety of fieldpea,developed by hybridizing HUDP 6 and Pant Pea 11.This showed an overall yield advantage of 23% overthe best dwarf check KPMR 522 and 15% over tall checkDMR 7 in the All-India Co-ordinated Trials over 3 years.It was found resistant to powdery mildew andmoderately resistant to rust diseases. It has mediumsized grains (16 g/ 100 seeds), and matures in 125-130days.

D.P. Singh and Ravindra KumarDept of Genetics and Plant Breeding

GBPUAT, Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) 263145

Varietal Releases

Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture andTechnology, Pantnagar

Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, AlmoraVivek Sankul Makka 35 (VL 113)This, an early, yellow flint synthetic cultivar of maize(Early Yellow Heterotic Pool-I) has been released andnotified for Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammuand Kashmir and North-East Hills region. It yielded15% higher over the best check Surya and 7% higherover the double-cross hybrid HIM 129. The cultivar

matures in 90-95 days in hills. It responded very well tolower and higher doses of nitrogen.

V. Mahajan, H.S. Gupta, V.P. Mani,S.K. Pant and J.K. Bisht

VPKAS, Almora (Uttrakhand) 263 601

Pant Lentil 8

12ICAR NEWS

SPECTRUM

Vivek Sankul Makka 37 (VL 114)This, an extra-early, yellow flint synthetic cultivar ofmaize has been released and notified for Maharashtra,Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It yielded13% higher over the best check Surya. It matures in85-89 days. It responded well to lower doses ofnitrogen.

V. Mahajan, H.S. Gupta, V.P. Mani, S.K. PantVPKAS, Almora (Uttarakhand) 263 601

VRSG 52-1, a cluster-bearing sponge-gourdA cluster-bearing genotype of sponge-gourd hasbeen isolated from a local material collected fromthe adjoining areas of the Farrukhabad andShahjahanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh. The plantbears greenish-white coloured fruits, 15-20-cm longand 12-14-cm in girth. Fruiting starts in bunches of5-7pistilate flowers per cluster, and finally 2-3fruitsare set per cluster. Plants start fruiting at 65-70days after sowing. This material can be furtherutilized for developing high-yielding, good qualitygenotypes.

P.K. Singh, B.R. Choudhary, Ramesh SinghD.R. Bhardwaj and Mathura Rai

IIVR, Seed Production CentreSargatia, Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh) 274 406

Vivek Sankul Makka 37 (VL 114)

VRW 3, yellow-rinded watermelonVRW 3, a yellow-rinded line of watermelon has beenisolated from the local material collected fromShahjahanpur (Uttar Pradesh). It is characterized byyellow-coloured rind, early maturity (75-80 days), short

vine length (3.2-3.6m), high total soluble sugars (11%)and profuse bearing (5-7 fruits/plant). The yellow colourof the fruits appears right from the ovary stage. Fruitsare small in size, are very attractive and delicious in


SPECTRUM

Terminal heat and wheat productivity in the

northern states

Climate-change related, short-term, location-specific

weather abrasions are more pronounced in north

Indian states. Sudden rise and fall in temperature

during growth and reproduction stages of rabi crops

cause significant reduction in productivity.

In late sowing of wheat, duration of several phenotypic

stages is reduced considerably because plant has to

complete its life-cycle to match with the rise in

temperature in March. Wheat sown in December and

January takes 10-15 days for germination and the

November-sown wheat germinates within 4-6 days.

Effects of higher temperature on wheat

• Temperature beyond 30°C, when synchronizes

with low relative humidity at maturity reduces

grain yield.

• During terminal spikelet to anthesis stage,

increase of one degree mean temperature

above 17-1 7.5°C declined 597 grains in HD

4502 and 685 grains in Kalyansona per m2.

• Wheat under 25/10°C temperature regime took

one week less to complete floret phase than

the one under 20/5°C regime, and plants

exposed to 15/5°C took 3 weeks more

During 2005-06, the maximum and minimum

temperatures during February and March were 2-4°C

above long-range average. Maximum rise in

temperatue was recorded between 15 and 18 January

and 14 and 23 February 2006. These temperatures were

not favourable for wheat, and affected adversely overall

wheat productivity. During 2006-07, minimum

temperatures remained either one or two degree

higher or lower during whole of March. This favoured

wheat growth and productivity. And in 2007-08 both

highest and lowest temperatures were favourable for

the crop. Starting from 20 January to 20 February,

maximum and minimum temperactures were 0-3°C

below long-term average. But for a few abrasions,

temperatures followed the trend of long-term average.

States like Punjab and Haryana surpassed procurement

targets fixed for 2007-08.

Response of wheat varieties to weather scenario

during 2007-08

In HD2851, plant height, spike length, effective

tillers, spikelets/spike and number of grains/spike

were markedly better when planted in late

November as compared to when the same variety

was planted in the first week November. Number

of grains per spike were 44 in late planted crop

compared to 29 in the early planted. The reverse

trend was observed in PBW 502. These observations

indicate that weather favoured PBW 502 when it

was planted in the first week of November.

The observations suggest that the terminal heat plays

a significant role in deciding wheat productivity in

northern states, including Punjab, Haryana and western

Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, there is a strong case to

monitor critically growth parameters from sowing of

crop till its harvest and correlating each phenophase

with daily maximum and minimum temperatures.

Wheat varieties are not likely to yield according to

their reported yield potential, but will produce

differently in different years according to the

temperature trends in February and March.

Breeding wheat varieties for their tolerance to terminal

heat is the need of the hour. Till such varieties are not

available, a mechanism needs to be put in place for

forewarning farmers to reduce/negate impacts of high

temperatures during flowering and grain-filling stages

through agronomic manipulations such as application

of light frequent irrigations and use of sprinklers

wherever possible.

Gurbachan Singh

Central Soil Salinity Research Institute

Karnal (Haryana) 132 001


taste with a unique aroma, weighing 3-3.5 kg. They

contain 6.7 mg ascorbic acid/100g, 4.95 mg

carotenoids/100g, 0.192% citric acid and 10.0% oxalic

acid.

B.R. Choudhary, S. Pandey, P.K. Singh, Ramesh

Singh and Mathura Rai

IIVR Seed Production Centre, Sargatia, Kushinagar

(Uttar Pradesh) 274 406

14ICAR NEWS

Transgenic strawberry tolerant to salt and

drought stresses

Fragaria x ananassa Duch., the modern cultivated

octaploid strawberry (2n = 8x = 56) is in great demand

for fresh market as well as in fruit-processing industry

for preparing jams and other products. But, drought

stress during fruit maturation seriously limits its fruit

size, and in severe cases berries resemble raisins.

Strawberry, a potential for post-harvest processing,

can transform economy in rural India if its cultivation

is encouraged in salt-affected and drought-prone areas.

Drought-tolerant transgenic sorghum

Shoot apices of sorghum cultivar SPV 462 cultured on

medium supplemented with 2,4-D and kinetin

produced friable and embryogenic calli. After two

subcultures, calli when transferred onto regeneration

medium containing kinetin alone gave rise to 40 green

shoots per callus.

A very robust protocol for microprojectile

bombardment was optimized with Gene Pro 2000He

for high frequency transformation. Suitable vectors

were constructed with mtlD gene for particle

bombardment and Agrobacterium-mediated

transformation, which contained kanamycin resistance

for bacterial selection, hygromycin for plant selection

and GUS as reporter gene along with mltD gene driven

under the control of a constitutive promoter. Frequency

of transient GUS expression varied from 60 to 86%,

and regeneration frequency after transformation was

around 41% with 23 shoots differentiating per callus.

Regeneration and rooting of plantlets from selected

transformed calli was successfully achieved.

Gene mtlD codes for mannitol -1- phosphate

dehydrogenase enzyme involved in biosynthesis

of mannitol, which has a role in osmotic

adjustment and free-radical scavenging.

Several putative transgenics were generated by

bombardment of sorghum shoot-tip calli with mtlD

gene. T0 plants were raised in pots in a transgenic

glasshouse. Hygromycin selection pressure was

maintained during germination for all plants to minimize

multiplication of escapes. Segregation analysis based

on germination of T0 seed on hygromycin selection

medium revealed an expected Mendelian monogenic

ratio of 3 tolerant : 1 susceptible. Selected independent

transgenic lines were advanced to flowering, selfing and

collection of seed. Molecular characterization was

carried out at different generations by PCR, RT- PCR,

Southern and Western to confirm transgene integration

and expression. Physiological evaluation of transgenic

lines had been carried out for improved tolerance to

PEG8000 and NaCl stress.

Currently sorghum T4 transgenics with a high

expression of mtlD gene are being evaluated in terms

of water relations and capability of stress recovery.

M. Maheswari, S.K. Yadav and B. Venkateswarlu

Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture

Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) 500 059

e-mail: v bandi_1953 @ yahoo.com

SPECTRUM

Germination potential and root/shoot growth

were several folds higher in mtlD transgenics

when germinated under PEG (-0.7MPa) and NaCl

(200mM) stress. Leaf water content and

chlorophyll retention were remarkably higher in

transgenic leaf segments when exposed to

polyethylene glycol 8000 (-2.0 MPa) and NaCl

(600mM), as compared to untransformed control.

The root mass at harvest was significantly higher

in tansgenic plants when challenged with water-

deficit stress compared to untransformed plants.

Osmotin provides osmotolerance to plants

and possesses antifungal activity also. These

properties make it an important target gene

for potential improvement of stress tolerance

in strawberry, which besides being susceptible

to many fungal diseases (Rhizoctonia solani,

Phytopthora fragariae) is highly salt-sensitive.


Torsa–A high-yielding, early-maturing Motihari tobacco

An early-maturing, high-yielding, superior quality

Motihari tobacco variety Torsa was released in 2008 by

the tobacco variety release committee of West Bengal

for northern

districts of West

Bengal, covered

under terai region.

The variety was

evolved by mass

selection from local

landrace to replace

traditional early-

maturing, low-

yielding Bitri. Cured

and first grade leaf

yield of Torsa

registered 29 and

33% increase over

the traditional Bitri.

Torsa attains height of 45-47 cm under topped

condition. After topping, 8-9 leaves can be retained in

the variety as against 7-8 leaves in Bitri. It possesses

moderately medium large-sized leaves with pungent

taste and sweet aroma, and higher gumminess and

satisfactory chewing strength. Cured leaf exhibits

desired reddish brown colour, thick texture with higher

gums and oil. Leaf lamina of torsa contains on average

5.7% nicotine, 0.3% reducing sugars and 1.3% chlorides

while for Bitri, it is 4.6% nicotine, 0.19% reducing sugars

and 1.3% chlorides. The variety is found moderately

resistant to brown spot (Alternaria alternata), showed

pest infestation by aphid (4.5%), leaf eating caterpillar

(4.5%) and cut

worm (5.5%), which

was low under field

condition.

In contrast to 1,598

and 1,203 kg/ha

yield of cured and

first grade leaf yield

obtained in Bitri,

Torsa produces

2,423 and 1,598 kg/

ha. Its NPK

requirement is

125:50:75 kg/ha

along with 10

tonnes FYM/ha. The

benefit: cost ratio of growing Torsa was 1:1.91 as against

1:1.43 of Bitri. The new variety fits well in the existing

cropping system of Jute-Aman paddy (rainfed) -

Tobacco or Boro Paddy (irrtheigated) - Aman paddy-

tobacco.

S. Amarnath, V. Krishnamurthy,

K. Deo Singh, S. Roy and R.L. Arya

Central Tobacco Research Institute Research Station

Dinhata, Cooch Behar District (West Bengal)

Transgenic strawberry lines have been generated in

which osmotin gene was introduced. Transgenic plants

produced with enhanced ability to grow under long

period of NaCl exposure will provide a way of achieving

a significant yield gains in salinity affected areas.

Somatic embryos of strawberry have been regenerated

at a high frequency of 26 ± 0.82 per explant. And their

efficiency of germination into plantlets has been as

high as 48%. This is the first report where shoot

regeneration in the strawberry cultivar Chandler has

been achieved simultaneously through somatic

embryogenesis and shoot-bud formation. This system

can therefore accelerate introduction of improved

clones into commercial production, since somatic

embryos can be encapsulated and handled as artificial

seeds. And variability in embryogenic cultures is

relatively less than that of organogenic cultures, and

hence it can serve as a very promising system for

regeneration of genetically transformed cells, and

avoiding chimeras.

Amjad M. Husaini

Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and

Technology, Jammu and Kashmir


SPECTRUM

16ICAR NEWS

Uttarakhand, which often witness

dead hearts problem by stem

borer, should be closely monitored

for grass-fly presence. So, correct

identification of the grass fly is a

must for adopting suitable management measures.

Identification through taxonomic and

morphological characters. Bring rice hills showing

dead hearts to laboratory and keep them as such in

plastic jar containing water, then wrap the jars with

white cloth to notice emergence of black flies. See

these flies under the microscope to notice broken

costa only near Sc or R1, absence of anal cell

(where basal cell and discal cell unite to form

Dead hearts by grass fly

Coastal break (1), absence of anal cell (2)

Ocellar triangle between eyes

Grass fly, a new rice pest

Recently, many states are going for rice: cereals

cropping systems and so they may share same pests,

and their spread may also be fast and disasterous.

A grass fly is a new insect pest of rice reported in

July-August 2008 from four districts (Ghaziabad,

Bulandshahar, Aligarh and Mathura) of Uttar Pradesh,

which are part of the basmati belt. This pest is

dipteran fly, Anatrichus erinaceus Loew, belonging to

Chloropidae family.

This pest shares nature of damage and symptoms

(dead hearts) with that of rice stem borer, so it may

have been unnoticed earlier. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar,

Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa,

Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and

single cell) on wings and the large

black ocellar triangle between two

compound eyes on the head.

Morphological characters which can

be easily seen with naked eyes are

black adults with thorax full of

vertically directed whitish yellow

hairs with black tip, and hind tibia

of both the sexes with black-dot

marking.

Management. Grass fly is an

internal feeder and attacks crop in the early stage, so

systemic insecticides are advised. Carbofuran

granules at 0.75 kg ai/ha are recommended at the

time of planting to contain this new pest.

Sachin Suresh Suroshe1, R D Gautam2,

and G K Mahapatro2

1ICAR Complex, Barapani , Meghalaya 793 103.2 Division of Entomology, IARI, New Delhi 110 012.


Thorax with vertically directed

whitish yellow hairs

Black dot marking

on tibia

Grass fly

SPECTRUM

2

1


Ber fruit ripens at different times even on a single tree

and look golden yellow when fully ripe. The shelf-life

of ber is very short, hardly 2-4 days in the ambient

conditions, which leads to market glut. Considering

this and the fast increasing area under ber cultivation

with high-yielding varieties, its preservation and

processing technology and diversification of existing

food processing industries for ber products are needed

to regulate price of fresh fruits.

Pre-harvest and post-harvest management practices of

ber fruit/produce including harvesting, sorting, grading,

storage, disorder and disease management have been

standardized. The processing techniques have been

developed and standardized for making various value-

added products like ber preserves, ber osmo-air dried

products, squashes, ber shreds, ber chuahara, jam and

jelly along with their effective packaging and storage.

Since the equipment and machinery required is similar

to the one used for jam, jelly and preserve-making from

other fruits, these technologies can be easily adopted

for commercial production by the existing food-

processing industries. The ber preserves without peel

and the osmo-dehydrated products like ber cubes and

rings developed were found highly acceptable, shelf-

stable with very high ascorbic acid content (45-50 mg/

100g). These products can be stored in glass jars up to

4 months at ambient conditions and for 180 days at low

temperature (8-10ºC).

Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana) seed oil can be used for

production of biodiesel. The average oil yield has been

reported as 4.9 kg oil/tree or 1,371 kg oil/hectare; hence

this tree can also meet fuel oil requirement if its

processing activity is properly organized.

Central Institute of Post-harvest Engineering

and Technology

PAU Campus, Ludhiana (Punjab) 141 004


Subsurface drain envelope materials for

waterlogged vertisols

The cost of the subsurface drain envelope materials

varies from 25 to 30% of the total cost of the subsurface

drainage (SSD) system, depending upon the type of

commonly used synthetic envelope materials.

In vertisols, during laboratory test and field

performance evaluation studies, the SSD system with

non-woven geotextile fabric envelope resulted into

82% and 60% increase in subsurface drain flow,

compared to SSD without envelope. No sediment in

drained water was found for the tested envelope

materials. Sediment concentrations in subsurface water

drained through SSD without envelope was 156.6 g

per m2 surface area of the drain pipe.

The maize crop yield increased by 40% and 22% over

the control (3.5 tonnes/ha) under the SSD system with

envelope and without envelope, installed at 20-m

drains’ spacing and 1.0 m drain depth. The one with

envelope SSD system resulted in 12% increase in yield

of subsequent wheat over control. In heavy clay soils

(vertisols), envelope materials use is suggested for

increasing subsurface flow through pipe drainage and

effective drainage of temporary waterlogged areas.

The hydraulic performance of the coconut-coir fibres

and non-woven geo-textile fabrics is on a par. However,

due to limited life of coconut fibres and long-run higher

cost as compared to geo-textile fabrics (more than 25

years), the non-woven geo-textile fabrics are suggested

as envelope material for the SSD system under vertisols.

Ramadhar Singh and KVR Rao

Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering

Nabi Bagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal 462 038

e-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

Ber value-addition for regulating its fresh-fruit market

SPECTRUM

18ICAR NEWS

Effect of solar eclipse on behaviour of goats

A near full solar eclipse (85%) was observed on 22

July 2009 at some places in India. At the Central

Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom,

Mathura, solar eclipse had started at about 0530 hr

and reached 85% for 5 min at 0615 hr. By 0725 hr,

the eclipse was over.

An experiment was designed to study the effects of

solar eclipse on goat’s physiological, behavioural and

biochemical responses. The observations were

recorded on 24 kids and 24 adults (12 males and 12

females) of Barbari breed. One group of 12 animals

was kept in the shed protected from solar rays and the

other was in corrals outside the shed. Feeding and

watering for the animals were done as per the standard

practices followed at the farm.

The recordings were carried out on 19, 20 and 21July

(before eclipse), on the day of eclipse (22 July) and a

day after the eclipse (on 23 July). As the eclipse started,

there was sudden drop of 1.6 °C in the ambient

temperature, and considerable dimness of the light

was observed.

Marked changes were noticed in the behaviour of adult

animals, but not in the kids. Adult goats moved inside

the shed and were seemingly afraid. However, kids

moved around the corrals freely. Rumination was

absent in most of the adult animals. The goats had

stopped taking feed, fodder and water during solar

eclipse.

S. P. Singh, Vijay K. Bharti, Puneet Kumar,

R.P. Misra and M.C. Sharma

Environmental Physiology Laboratory

Central Institute for Research on Goats Makhdoom,

P.O. Farah, Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) 281 122


Adult Barbari goats Kids of Barbari goat

Sediment enzymes as indicators of riverine pollution

Microbial enzymes are known indicators of production

in soil and show alterations in response to pollution. A

simple-and-rapid spectrophotometric protocol and a

microplate-based fluorometric protocol were

standardized for assessment of impacts of industrial

effluents on riverine microbial funcitions. The sediment

dehydrogenase and phosphatase activities were

assessed using these protocols in river Damodar, highly

impacted by iron-and coal-based industries, sand-

mining and by damming. Activities of enzymes were Sediment enzymes activities in river Damodar

SPECTRUM


Potassium is the most important dietaryelectrolyte. Potassium is essential for conversionof blood sugar into glycogen; the storage form ofblood sugar in the muscles and liver. A potassiumshortage results in lower levels of storedglycogen. Because exercising muscles useglycogen for energy, potassium deficiencyproduces great fatigue and muscle weakness; thefirst signs of potssium deficiency.

Fish powder, fish soup powder, ready-to-use frozenblocks, dressed chilled fish, freshwater fish chunks,ready-to-eat snack items, dried fish products utilizingsmaller size fishes such as silver bellies, goat fish, ribbonfish, sciaenids, etc have been prepared incorporatingpotassium chloride at 1% level. Potassium chloride isrecognized as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe)compound by the USFDA and an approved foodadditive by the European Union (E number - E 508).The potassium supplemented fish powder can beadded to any curry preparations and thus will be

Potassium (K) levels in fish and shellfish

Fish/Shell fish Sodium Potassium(mg%) (mg%)

Freshwater FishCommon Carp 146 633Silver Carp 150 986Grass Carp 302 1358Mirigal 148 985Rohu 205 1232Catla 273 1038Marine FishPomfret 474 1580Silver bellies 451 1563Mackerel 259 1763Ribbon fish 208 958Rainbow sardines 163 1849Sea bass 961 1249Kawa Kawa 451 1563CrusataceansTiger prawn (cultured) 562 1327Freshwater prawn 371 1236(reservoir)Squilla 196 1044CephalopodsSquid body meat 882 588Squid body meat 604 705(deep sea)

Cuttle fish 546 1478

Salt (NaCI) is used both in traditional fish processing(curing) and in modern fish/shrimp processing(treatment with salt and sodium tripoly phosphate ornon phosphate). Medical research has linked over-consumption of dietary sodium with health problemssuch as high blood pressure. Nowadays people whoare having hypertension want to reduce consumptionof sodium chloride salt. Hence, there is an urgent needto reduce sodium in fish processing by substitutingNa+ ion with another positively charged ion to developlow sodium fishery products. Numerous studies haveshowed that sodium restriction alone does not reduceblood pressure in most people; it must be accompaniedby a high potassium intake.

Potassium plays a major role in : water balance anddistribution; acid-base balance; muscle and nerve cellfunction; heart function; kidney and adrenal function.

K supplemented fish products to address hypertension

beneficial with additional nutrients like fish proteins,calcium, phosphorus. Popularization and use ofpotassium supplemented fish products will go a longway in improving health of the people, especially thosesuffering from high blood pressure.

D. Imam Khasim, B. Madhusudan Rao andA.K. Chattopadhyay

Visakhapatnam Research Centre of CIFT(Andhra Pradesh) 530 003


markedly reduced in the river stretches receivingindustrial effluents, with recovery of microbialfunctions in downstream non-polluted sites (Panagarhand Jamalpur). The methods standardized are not veryexpensive and can be performed in a day havingreaction time of only one hour. The microbial

assessments along with other indicators can be appliedeffectively for generating valuable information ofecological status and pollution status to microbialfunctions in different river systems of India.

Sanjib Kumar MannaCentral Inland Fisheries Research Institute

Barrackpore (Kolkata) 700 120

SPECTRUM

Contd. from previous page

20ICAR NEWS

Enhancing pig productivity at farm-gate level

using superior germplasm

Pig is the most preferred and important livestock

species in the north-eastern hills region. In spite of

considerable pig population and interest of people to

rear pig, the pork production is inadequate to meet

the demand. This is mainly due to poor productive and

reproductive abilities of local pigs and non-availability

of quality germplasm. And supplying superior breeding

male to every village was a costly affair. The mating

cost in pig is also very high due to early castration of

male pigs for fattening purposes. Therefore, artificial

insemination is the most suitable and viable option.

A total of 68 pigs were inseminated in different villages

and pregnancy was diagnosed by Doppler method

using trans-abdominal probe after 50-60 days at

farmer’s field. Pregnancy rate of 79.4% and farrowing

rate of 77.8% with average litter size of 8.2 was

observed.

The beneficiaries could save on mating cost of Rs1,000-

1,500 and transport cost of females to boar pen (Rs

300). The adopted farmers also got additional litter

size (2-3 piglets); thus enhancing their income of

Rs 3,000-4,000 through sale of piglets. Besides this,

they also saved on the maintenance cost of boar

(approx. Rs 5,000) including manpower. The

technology of artificial insemination using improved

germplasm has resulted in improving productivity and

economic returns to pig rearers. Therfore, 80% of tribal

farmers adopted this technology for pigs in selected

villages.

Training of village youth in AI technology would ensure

continuity of the programme with less dependency

on the government machinery thereby generating

employment opportunities besides enhancing pig

production.

G. Kadirvel, R. K. Bardoloi and S.V. Ngachan

ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region

Umroi Road, Umiam (Meghalaya) 793 103

AI at farmer’s field

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For obtaining copies:

Business ManagerDirectorate of Information and Publications of Agriculture

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SPECTRUM


The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi

announces following ICAR Awards

• Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award 2009:

To recognise best performance in Agricultural Research and

Education, three Awards of Rs five lakh each will be given to

two ICAR Institutes/NRCs/Project Directorates and one to State

Agricultural University.

• Chaudhary Devi Lal Outstanding All-India Coordinated

Research Project Award 2009: To recognise the outstanding

performance of the All-India Coordinated Research Project and

its cooperating Centres, one award of Rs one lakh is given. All-

India Coordinated Research Projects, which have been in

operation for at least 10 years, can apply for the award.

• Jawaharlal Nehru Award for P.G. Agricultural Research

2009: To promote high quality doctoral thesis research in

priority/frontier areas of agriculture and allied sciences, ICAR

has instituted 18 awards of Rs 20,000 each to be given annually

for outstanding original research work in agriculture and allied

sciences. All postgraduate students who have obtained Ph.D.

degree during 2008 in India in agriculture or allied sciences are

eligible to apply.

• Panjabrao Deshmukh Woman Agricultural Scientist

Award 2009: All women scientists working in ICAR Institutes/

State Agricultural Universities are eligible for the award. Two

awards of Rs 50,000 are given annually for the significant

contributions made during their career as agricultural scientists.

• Vasantrao Naik Award for Research Applications in

Dryland Agriculture 2009: All scientists or extenstion workers

who have made outstanding contribution in Water

Conservation and Dryland Farming in India shall be eligible for

the award. One award of Rs 100,000 is given annually for the

work done during the preceding five years of the award.

• Jagjivan Ram Kisan Puruskar 2009#: To recognise the

outstanding contributions of innovative farmers in agriculture

and allied activities, one annual award of one lakh is given to a

practising farmer (he/she) whose creative approaches and

initiatives should result in (i) new knowledge/packages of

practices/management strategies/additional information to the

existing one (ii) additional income to individual farmer/farming

community (iii) saving in resources/inputs (iv) prevention of

outbreak of diseases and pests and in breaking technology

transfer barriers.

• N.G. Ranga Farmer Award for Diversified Agriculture

2009#: To recognise outstanding contributions of innovative

farmers for diversified agricultural activities, one annual award

of Rs one lakh is given to a practising farmer (he/she) whose

creative approaches and initiatives should result in (i) new

entrepreneurship/enterpr ises/management strategies/

additional information to the existing one in diversification of

Indian agriculture (ii) additional income to the individual

farmer/farming community.

• Chaudhary Charan Singh Award for Excellence in

Journalism in Agricultural Research and Development 2009:

To recognize excellence in journalism and to create awareness

among the farmers and policy makers for the enhancement

and promotion of Agricultural Research and Development in

the country, one annual award of Rs one lakh is given to a

journalist for his outstanding contributions in Journalism in

agriculture and allied sciences.

• Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Award for Agricultural Research

in Tribal Areas for the biennium 2007-2008: All scientists

working in tribal areas and engaged in applied research and its

application aimed at improving productivity, profitability and

sustainability of tribal farming systems are eligible for the award.

Two prizes of the value of Rs 50,000 each are given biennially

for outstanding original research in agricultural sciences and

animal sciences. The number of associates in a single application

should be restricted to two only, if any.

• ICAR Awards for Outstanding Team Research for the

Biennium 2007-2008: These awards are exclusively meant for

inter-disciplinary teams of scientists jointly planning and

implementing an integrated programme/project of system

based research dealing with an inter-disciplinary problem. Team

membership should be restricted to 8 members. A total of 9

individual prizes of Rs 100,000 each are given once in two years

in agriculture, horticulture, natural resource management,

engineering & technology, animal husbandry and fisheries.

• Bharat Ratna Dr C. Subramaniam Award for Outstanding

Teachers for the Biennium 2007-2008#: All faculty members

engaged in undergraduate or postgraduate teaching for at

least 5 years in deemed universities, ICAR Institutes and State

Agricultural Universities shall be eligible for the award. Eight

awards of Rs 50,000 each are given once in two years in crop

science, horticulture, natural Resource Management,

Engineering & food technology, veterinary science, fishery

science and social science.

• National Krishi Vigyan Kendra Award 2009: All KVKs in

the country that have completed five years of operation after

the year of the establishment are eligible for the award. Three

awards of Rs 100,000 each are given every year to the KVK in

the field of research and training. A KVK winning the award will

be eligible to apply again after the lapse of 5 years.

• Dr Rajendra Prasad Puruskar for Technical Books in Hindi

in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sciences for the

Biennium 2007-2008: The award is open to Indian authors

including Editors of multi-authored books. Both published

works and manuscripts proposed to be published by its author

will be accepted provided that such a work is written originally

in Hindi and does not infringe copyright of any other person.

The publication must have been written and published during

the last three years preceding the year of the award. Eight

awards of Rs 50,000 each are to given once in two years.

# Awards by nomination.

General Instructions

The prescribed proforma for applying these awards may be

obtained from the ICAR on or before 31.10.2009 by sending a

self-addressed stamped envelope or it can be downloaded

from the ICAR’s website www.icar.org.in . Six copies of

applications with complete documents should be sent to the

Assistant Director-General (Co-ordination), ICAR, Krishi

Anusandhan Bhavan I, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012, so as to

reach him on or before 30.11.2009. The last date for candidates

in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, States/

Union Territory in the North Eastern Region, Ladakh Division of

J&K State and Sikkim is 15.12.2009. The candidates are

required to submit six copies of applications/documents

failing which application will not be considered. The Council

will retain the award winning application/thesis for record. Each

candidate will be judged on the basis of the originality and the

applied value of the investigations as revealed in the documents

submitted by him. In all matters relating to the award, the

decision of the Council shall be final and no correspondence

on this account will be entertained.

ICAR Awards 2009

22ICAR NEWS

Dealing with erratic monsoons and droughts: The Way ForwardErratic monsoons and droughts of various intensities

are a recurrent phenomenon in India. It is the fifth

time since 1991 that India is under pressure due to less

than normal rainfall. Further, the impact of the same

deficiency in rainfall is going to rise due to shrinking

availability of water from natural sources and rising

demand for water from all sectors. We must reckon

that droughts and rainfall deficiencies can’t be avoided,

rather they are expected to become more frequent in

future due to ecological disturbances and on-going

climate change. What matters is how we can deal with

such situations to minimize their adverse effects on

the society and economy. For this, India needs to

develop an effective and appropriate response. Such

response requires three approaches: One, area specific

crop/agriculture plan for different scenarios of rainfall

distribution; Two, strategy, mechanism and resources

to implement alternative plans; Three, reliable and

advanced information about rainfall pattern and its

distribution at disaggregate level. Technology, rainfall

forecast and institutional mechanism form an integral

part of the response to deficient rains.

Monsoon forecasts by the IMD provide only the broad

idea about the amount of total rainfall, and there is a

probability associated with these forecasts. The actual

rainfall received during a fortnight or a month is likely

to show more deviation from its long-run average than

the deviation of the total rainfall (June to September)

from its LPA. The IMD must develop database and a

new model for disaggregate level, state or region within

large states, and by fortnight rather than four months.

It is particularly important to have a separate rainfall

forecast for the sowing period.

The next step is to quickly work out crop plans

according to rainfall forecasts for sowing period, and

disseminate this information to farmers in a given area.

We have paddy varieties which can be grown in short

duration, and we have aerobic rice varieties which

require much less water than common varieties.

Similarly, the ICAR has developed short-duration

varieties of other cereals, pulses, oilseeds, which can

be taken as an alternative to normal crop in the event

of delay or deficiency of rains. These alternate crop/

varieties generally give lower yield than normal season

varieties/crops but they are certainly a better option

in stress. Timely distribution of seed-kits of such

varieties with appropriate extension can check decline

in area sown and reduce damage due to crop failure.

Implementation of such plans entails keeping

adequate seed of those varieties and crops ready which

can quickly replace normal duration crops/varieties.

Effectiveness of such plans requires very close co-

ordination between states and central governments

and agencies. Agriculture being a state subject, any

plan to combat drought is to be implemented by state

governments. While adverse effects of the drought/

floods can be reduced to a large extent by effective

use of already available technologies, more emphasis

would be needed to develop new strains that are hardy

and have wider adaptations to climate aberrations.

Sometimes the severity of such events is so large that

moderate decline in domestic production is bound to

take place. At macro level this can be dealt with stocks

and scientific management of inventories and imports.

However, adverse effects of events like drought on

farmers require action at the local level. This involves

strengthening of metereological capacity in the

country to get timely and reliable forecasts on rainfall

at disaggregate level, dovetailing crop plans to weather

forecasts, and mechanisms to implement alternative

crop plans at farmers’ fields. It is a challenging task.

Ramesh Chand

NCAP, New Delhi 110 012, e-mail : rc@ ncap. new. in

IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY

Published by Dr T.P. Trivedi, Project Director, Directorate of Information and Publications of Agriculture, Indian Council of Agricultural

Research, New Delhi 110 012. Lasertypeset by M/s Print-O-World, Shadipur, New Delhi 110 008, and printed in India at M/s Royal Offset

Printers, A-89/1, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase I, New Delhi 110 028.

Editing : Dr R.P. Sharma and Shashi A. Verma Design & Production : V.K. Bharti and Punit Bhasin

EDITORIAL BOARD

Chairman

Dr Mangala Rai

Secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR

Members

Dr S Ayyappan, DDG (Fisheries & Anim. Sci)

Dr S P Tiwari, DDG (Education)

Dr A K Singh, DDG (NRM)

Dr H P Singh, DDG (Horticulture)

Dr M M Pandey, DDG (Agric. Engg.)

Dr K D Kokate, DDG (Agric. Ext.)

Dr S Datta, DDG (Crop Sciences)

Dr Mruthyunjaya, ND (NAIP)

Dr N B Singh, ADG (Co-ordination)

Dr T P Trivedi, Project Director (DIPA)

THE LAST PAGE

T he World Summit on Sustainable Development

in Johannesburg (2002) declared water as themost critical resource in the twenty-first century withincreasing demands and diminishing supplies. This isof great concern to India as per capita availability ofwater is declining progressively over the years owingto increasing demands of burgeoning human andanimal populations. And also because of irrigationneeds of crop-plants, that would continue to be themajor consumer of water; though its share wouldreduce by 10-15% by 2025 due to competing demandsfrom domestic, industrial and energy sectors.

Realizing the importance of this resource, theGovernment has wisely contemplated to bring 10 Mhaadditional area under irrigation as a component ofBharat Nirman initiative. However, the gap between thepotential created and utilized is widening with time;has reached to a level of 20%. This is a cause of seriousconcern. Even after achieving full irrigation potential,more than 40% of the total cultivated area of thecountry would remain rainfed. Studies indicate that ifrainwater is suitably stored, about 30% of it is likely tobe available for rabi crops (70 BCM to provide one pre-sowing supplemental irrigation of 5-cm depth to 60million hectares and one pre-sowing and oneprotective irrigation to about 35 million hectares). Anadditional yield of about one tonne per hectare couldbe realized through supplemental irrigation undermultilocational projects undertaken by the ICARInstitutes. Thus, additional foodgrains production of60-65 million tonnes can be easily realized throughwater harvesting and recycling techniques. For thesuccess of the water-harvesting programme, concertedefforts are needed. Flagship programmes like NationalRural Employment Guarantee Scheme and BharatNirman have already included waterharvesting as oneof the key activities under their fold. What is urgentlyneeded is an effective utilization of scarce resources toensure creation of an asset in a harmonized manner ?

Conjunctive use of water also plays an important roleto control waterlogging and salinity in canalcommands. Sinking of tubewells along the canal aftertaking into account requirement for their spacing andcapacity, will provide necessary drainage relief andlower water-table. In areas of salinity, mixing of canalwater with saline groundwater would mitigate effectsof salinity. Strengthening of knowledge base ongeology and aquifer characteristics, hydrology ofsurface and groundwater, and existing surface andgroundwater facilities is required to developappropriate conjunctive-use system.

Along with improving use-efficiency of existing waterresources will be crucial to relax supply-sideconstraints. So development of technologies andmanagement systems that enhance water-useefficiency (WUE) warrants high priority. And alsoidentification, development and adoption of water-useefficient crop varieties for dryland and salineenvironments are other important aspects. Availableestimates indicate that by 10% increase in WUE,country can gain more than 50 million tonnes offoodgrains from the existing irrigated area. Andadditional 14 million hectares can be brought underirrigation with the existing irrigation facilities.Researchers have already identified traits and genes fordrought and salt-tolerance in a number of crops andlivestock, and new programmes are being undertakenin gene discovery and allele-mining.

In the present scenario, with the increase of food trade,the importance of virtual water at global level is likelyto be felt more. In the water scarce areas, the transferof virtual water embedded in the food being tradedwould become an important component of watermanagement. Therefore, assessment of virtual water interms of its value over space and time, and itsconsideration at agricultural and water policy levels isalso of paramount importance.

To conclude, for proper water resources management,Geographical Information System, simulation tools andremote sensing are required to be an integral part ofthe scientific management of irrigation networks, waterdistribution, crop planning, watershed activities andrelated operational activities, as they will enable systemmanagers to take corrective and timely decisions forefficient and economical water utilization.

(M(M(M(M(Mangala Rangala Rangala Rangala Rangala Rai)ai)ai)ai)ai)e-mail: [email protected]

Dr Mangala Rai, Secretary (DARE) and Director-General (ICAR)

shrink-wrapping high-value temperate fruits for enhancing shelf-life

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