Annual Report 2020 1 Citation ICAR – NRCB
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2020 ICAR - NRCB Annual Report 2020 1 Citation ICAR – NRCB. 2021. Annual Report 2020. ICAR – National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirappalli Editors Dr. P. Giribabu Dr. J. Poorani Dr. M. Mayil Vaganan Dr. C. Anuradha Dr. P. Ravichamy Published by Dr. S. Uma Director ICAR - National Research Centre for Banana Thayanur Post, Thogamalai Road Tiruchirappalli - 620 102 Tamil Nadu, India Designed by S. Ajith Kumar 2 ICAR - NRCB Annual Report 2020 CONTENTS 1 Preface 1 2 Introduction 4 3 Executive Summary 4 Research Achievements 14 4.1 Crop Improvement 26 4.2 Crop Production and Post-Harvest Technology 35 4.3 Physiology and Biochemistry 39 4.4 Crop Protection 46 4.5 Externally Funded Projects 57 5 Technology Assessed and Transferred 60 6 Education and Training 65 7 Awards and Recognitions 73 8 Linkages and Collaborations 76 9 Publications 87 10 Consultancy Services and Commercialization of Technologies 89 11 IRC / RAC / IMC Meetings 90 12 Human Resource Development : Training / Refresher Course/ Summer/ Winter Institutes/ Seminar/ Conference/ Symposia/ Workshop attended by the Scientists and other Staff 101 13 Workshops, Seminars, Farmers day, etc. organized at the Centre 104 14 Distinguished Visitors 106 15 Personnel 108 16 Other Informations 110 17 Success Stories 112 Annexure I 116 Annexure II ICAR - NRCB Annual Report 2020 3 4 ICAR - NRCB Annual Report 2020 PREFACE Since early 2020, the world and India have been facing the scourge of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, which has affected the economy and all spheres of life. We are facing the grim prospect of an impending second wave this year too. At this juncture, I am happy to present the annual report of the National Research Centre for Banana, Trichy, one of the top-rated National Research Centres of ICAR maintaining A+ status, for the year 2020. The ICAR-NRCB successfully hosted and conducted the International Conference on Banana (ICB-2020) during 23-25 February 2020, just in time before the calamity of Covid-19 and the resultant long lockdown came out of the blue. The conference was attended by more than 500 participants including international delegates from Australia, Belgium, France, Czech Republic, Turkey, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Philippines and Indonesia, besides scientists and other stakeholders from different parts of India, students, entrepreneurs and farmers. Scientific deliberations and discussions were held in 11 technical sessions and a satellite workshop on “Fusarium wilt, Tropical Race 4 (Foc-TR4)” was also conducted. From ICAR-NRCB, 85 research papers were presented in the ICB-2020. The Institute bagged one best thesis, 10 best oral and 9 best poster presentations. Despite the lockdown and other hurdles imposed by the restrictions imposed in the wake of COVID-19, the NRCB has reached remarkable research milestones. In the Crop Improvement section, hybrid progenies of different parental crosses were evaluated and progenies nos. 913, 940, 943 and 434 were found to be promising with respect to bunch yield and carotenoid content. Nendran based hybrid, NCR 17 performed well under ART at two locations. Our intensive screening efforts to identify sources of resistance to Fusarium wilt has led to the identification of 34 ITC accessions resistant to Fusarium wilt (Foc) Race 1 under sick plot conditions and few hybrid progenies were identified as immune to Foc Race 1. Mutation breeding for Foc resistance has also yielded a few promising mutant lines now under mass multiplication for further evaluation. Candidate resistant genes have been identified which are up-regulated upon Foc TR4 infection and genic SSR markers were identified for Foc Race 1 and TR4. One hybrid was found resistant to root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus coffeae. In Crop Production Section, nutrient dynamics studies were accomplished for cvs. Nendran and Grand Naine. In clump management studies, effect of number of suckers on crop cycle, fertilizer application on banana growth and yield was elucidated for cvs. Ney Poovan and Poovan. Few drought tolerant ABB cultivars were identified. Flavonoid compounds from the fruit peel and anthocyanidin compounds from the flower bracts of different cultivars were identified / quantified. Microencapsulation of anthocyanin compounds were attempted and analysed. In Post-Harvest Management, cultivars and season suitable for maximum leaf production were determined. Value added products like pizza, banana powder, low calorie stem juice, fruit syrup, pulp yogurt and edible cutlery were prepared and evaluated. In Crop Protection Section, the bagworm, Manatha albipes was identified as a major pest of banana for the first time. Fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda, an alien invasive pest in India, was found to affect banana in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Many hitherto unknown natural enemies of banana pests were identified and documented. A rapid, reliable screening protocol for root- ICAR - NRCB Annual Report 2020 5 lesion nematode, Pratylenchus coffeae was developed and validated. Race-specific primers were developed to differentiate the races of Fusarium wilt. A novel, rapid, accurate and cost-effective technique was developed for detecting Foc TR4. Promising biocontrol agents were identified and evaluated against Foc under pot conditions. PGPR isolates were isolated and identified. Outbreak of virus diseases viz, Cucumber Mosaic Virus and Banana Bract Mosaic Virus was reported from Maharashtra. Gene expression of BBTV, resistance to viruses, and virus-vector relationships were studied at molecular level. During 2020, the Centre signed MoA with Andhra Pradesh Food Processing Society, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh; Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing, Kancheepuram; National Design and Research Forum, Bangalore; Dr. YSR Horticultural University, Andhra Pradesh and K. Ramakrishnan College of Technology, Tiruchirappalli. During the lockdown, ICAR-NRCB organised a series of eight webinars covering all facets of banana production with lectures from experts for the benefit of banana stakeholders. Scientists of the centre participated in various virtual meets and trainings and shared their expertise. The Institute actively took part in social service and contributed to mitigate its impact on the vulnerable sections by distributing relief material. The staff of ICAR-NRCB contributed a day’s salary to the PM- CARES fund. The institute also distributed around 7000 banana fruits to 2700 sanitary workers in Trichy Corporation. In order to facilitate rapid testing of COVID-19 samples, ICAR-NRCB handed over an advanced version of RT-PCR machine to the Government Hospital, Tiruchirappalli. The Centre felicitated the doctors of Tiruchirappalli during Independence Day celebrations for their selfless and untiring service. I sincerely thank Dr. T. Mohapatra, Secretary-DARE and Director General, ICAR, for his valuable guidance and support. I profusely thank Dr. A.K. Singh, Deputy Director General (Hort. Sci.), ICAR, New Delhi, for his inspiring and constant encouragement. Our thanks are also due to Drs.V. Pandey and B. K. Pandey, I/c Assistant Director Generals (Hort. Science), ICAR, for their untiring support and guidance. Sincere thanks are due to the staff members of SMD (Hort. Science) for the continuous support and cooperation extended to ICAR-NRCB. I am also thankful to the Chairman and members of QRT, RAC and IMC for their guidance. I acknowledge the unstinting support from the Scientists, Technical, Administrative and Supporting staff of ICAR-NRCB who have stood by me in various institute activities at this difficult time. Finally, I thank the Publication Committee for compiling and shaping this document. (S.Uma) 6 ICAR - NRCB Annual Report 2020 2. Introduction The ICAR-National Research Centre for impact of covid-19 on the vulnerable sections Banana, Tiruchirappalli, has recently celebrated by distributing relief material. The staff of its silver jubilee year after it was established on ICAR-NRCB contributed a day’s salary to the 21st August 1993 by ICAR, New Delhi, with an PM-CARES fund. The institute also distributed aim to increase the production and productivity around 7000 banana fruits to 2700 sanitary of bananas and plantains through mission mode workers in Trichy Corporation. In order to basic and strategic research approaches. The facilitate rapid testing of COVID-19 samples ICAR-NRCB has contributed immensely for in Tiruchirappalli, ICAR-NRCB handed over the present production estimated at 30.2 MT an advanced version of RT-PCR machine to the from an area of 8.47 lakh hectares making India Government Hospital. The Centre felicitated the global leader in terms of production for the the doctors of Tiruchirappalli during the last three decades. The Centre has a research Independence Day celebrations. farm of 36.5 ha and a laboratory complex in 3.23 ha. The ICAR-NRCB also has a residential The Centre has 19 in-house research complex spread over an area of 0.80 ha in the projects and 30 externally funded projects city. This Centre is located at 11.50ºN latitude funded by various agencies like ICAR, and 74.50ºE longitude, 90 m above MSL and DBT, PPV& FRA, DAE, DST, Bioversity receives 800mm rain annually. The climate is International, etc. The Centre signed MoU warm and humid and the average minimum with VFPCK, Kerala for export of ‘Nendran’ and maximum temperature are 25 and 35ºC, banana to Europe. The Centre periodically respectively. conducts meetings of the Institute Research Council and Research Advisory Council to The Centre