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Guidelines for Testing Crop Varieties under the All-India Coordinated Crop Improvement Projects

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Title Guidelines for Testing Crop Varieties under the All-India Coordinated Crop Improvement Projects
Not Available
 
Creator J.P. Tandon(Ed.)
S.P. Sharma(Ed.)
J.S. Sandhu(Ed.)
D.K. Yadava(Ed.)
K.V. Prabhu(Ed.)
O.P Yadav(Ed.)
 
Subject Testing Crop Varieties and Hybrids
 
Description Not Available
India has witnessed a spectacular advancement in agricultural production and productivity during the
last four decades. Foodgrains production registered more than five-fold increase, from 50 million tonnes
in 1950-51 to 265 million tonnes in 2013-14, and productivity also increased by more than five times,
from 522 kg/ha in 1950-51 to 2,100 kg/ha in 2013-14. Since the early eighties, this has enabled the
country in achieving and sustaining self-sufficiency in grains production along with the adequate buffer
stock to meet contingencies, and more recently for exports. This transformation is attributed to the
development and adoption of high-yielding varieties/hybrids of several crops. The pace with which the
country has progressed in the crop improvement programme would have not been possible without the
simultaneous evolution of institutional system for crop breeding research and seed production.
Crop improvement research immediately after independence was augmented in phases through the
establishment of commodity-oriented National Institutes, National Research Centres and Project
Directorates under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. At present, there are 17 Crop Research
Institutes, 5 Project Directorates, 3 National Network Projects, one National Research Centre, one deemed
to be University for improvement of different field crops and one Institute for germplasm conservation.
Another major step of the ICAR was to launch crops oriented All- India Coordinated Crop Improvement
Projects, starting with maize in 1957; followed by wheat and rice in mid -sixties. Presently, there are 20
All-India Coordinated Crop Improvement Projects, ear-marked to research needs of different crops. In
addition, there are 44 State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and three Central Agricultural Universities
(CAUs) contributing towards crop improvement research in the country.
A multi-disciplinary approach for varietal improvement and crop production-related problems;
collective planning and testing; exchange of germplasm and breeding material; flexibility in operations,
cutting-across administrative and other boundaries and linkages with the International Research Centres
are some of the characteristics features of the AICCIPs. Conceptually, this testing system facilitates
generation of multilocation data within the shorter period of a few years.
This unique model of multi-disciplinary approach based on the multilocation testing facilitated rapid
generation and identification of appropriate high-yielding varieties and development of improved package
of practices for different agro-ecologies. More than 3,000 high-yielding varieties/hybrids of field crops
have been developed till 2014; combining desired levels of resistance to biotic/abiotic stresses, adaptation
to diverse agronomic variables and cropping systems. Meeting the prescribed quality standards in testing
and production have helped in revolutionizing crop production. The international nurseries and trials,
being organized worldwide by the CGIAR institutes, are basically modeled on the lines of AICCIPs.
In spite of the impressive mileage, the system has given across crops since 1957, there has been an
apprehension regarding its continued utility in the present form. There is a considerable scope to bring
in changes in view of the new technological advancements, changing production conditions and evolving
national and international policies and procedures. A set of uniform guidelines for plant variety testing,
identification, release and notification of crop varieties in the country was developed and published in
2002 as “Guidelines for Crop Variety Testing under All- India Coordinated Crop Improvement Projects”.
The system of identification and release of varieties as well as for the production of nucleus/breeder
Preface
seed and for on-farm verification trials are very well developed and standardized in crops like wheat and
pearl millet. However, in several other crops, the situation is not the same. In some of the projects, for
instance, the entries are subjected to specific zonal testings only without exposing them to other potential
zones. Very often plot sizes and number of replications do not commensurate with the minimum
requirements to properly assess genotypes for their yielding ability. In some cases, the number of testing
locations are also not adequate, while in some crops, sufficient information is not generated even on the
key components of yield, reaction to major diseases and insect-pests. In some cases no attempts are
made to study responses to agronomic variables and adaptation to abiotic stresses. Details of weather
parameters, and even occurrence and severity of stresses are not reported. Appropriate morphological
descriptors to establish distinct identity of the test material are also not developed. The existing testing
system is considered too rigid for variety identification and release with regard to the criterion of a
number of years of testing before a strain becomes eligible for consideration for identification, release
and notification. Although the AICCIP system is a proven success, there is unanimity that there is much
potential to give more mileage by taking into consideration new developments due to globalization of
agriculture and trade.
Large-scale adoption of new breeding techniques such as marker -aided selection, requires appropriate
consideration in varietal testing procedures. Genetically engineered varieties have become a reality in
several crops. Their development and introduction necessitate appropriate testing procedures for ensuring
bio-safety. The development of export-oriented agricultural produce, including foodgrains, is likely to
increase considerably with globalization of economy and trade. Another important development is
increasing role of private sector involvement in crop breeding, seed production and supply. This demands
for creation of a reliable and a transparent testing and evaluation system.
A Committee was constituted by the Council to critically review the existing guidelines and update
these by incorporating the present needs. A series of meetings were held by the Committee and suggestions/
comments from Directors/Project Directors/Coordinators were also sought. The draft was circulated
among all concerned, and it was discussed under the Chairmanship of Deputy Director General (Crop
Science) to bring out this document to its present form.
The Committee acknowledges the support rendered by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
Dr S. K. Datta, Deputy Director General (Crop Science) consistently facilitated in collection of
information and Dr J. S. Chauhan, Assistant Director General (Seeds) also supported in getting appropriate
inputs from all the Project Directors/Coordinators, which helped in bringing out this document in its
form. All the PD/PCs suggestions for improving this document are also thankfully acknowledged. The
Committee is also grateful to the Director, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, for
facilitating in logistics and in conducting meetings.
Not Available
 
Date 2017-10-08T05:19:59Z
2017-10-08T05:19:59Z
2015-02
 
Type Technical Bulletin
 
Identifier Not Available
Not Available
http://krishi.icar.gov.in/jspui/handle/123456789/5346
 
Language English
 
Relation Not Available;
 
Publisher ICAR-Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture Indian Council of Agricultural Research Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan I, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012