Annual Report 2013 - 14 §çNw EŒìœ ICAR Directorate of Sorghum Research Rajendranagar, Hyderabad 500 030, India http://www.sorghum.res.in ISSN -0972-6608 Correct citation Directorate of Sorghum Research 2014. Annual Report 2013-14. Rajendranagar, Hyderabad 500 030, India 105 p. Editors Dr. P Rajendrakumar Dr. K Hariprasanna Dr. KV Raghavendra Rao Dr. JV Patil Photo credits Mr. HS Gawali Secretarial assistance Mr. K Sanath Kumar Published by Director Directorate of Sorghum Research (DSR) Rajendranagar, Hyderabad 500 030, India Phone: +91-40-24018651 FAX: +91-40-24016378 Web: http://www.sorghum.res.in Designed & Printed by Sree Kalanjali Graphics # 3-5-323, Vittalwadi, Opp. Narayanaguda Water Tank Lane, Hyderabad 500 029, e-mail: [email protected] Ph: 040-6553 9831 Contents Preface 1 1. Executive Summary 3 2. Introduction 7 3. Research Achievements 9 A.Genetic Resources 9 B. Cultivar Development 9 (I) Kharif sorghum 9 (ii) Rabi sorghum 15 (iii) Forage sorghum 20 (iv) Sweet sorghum 20 C. Biotechnology 22 (I) Marker-assisted breeding and Genomics 22 (ii) Transgenics 24 D. Seed Science 26 E. Crop Health 28 (I) Pest management 28 (ii) Disease management 32 F. Crop Production 34 (I) Crop management 34 (ii) Abiotic stress management 37 G. Biochemistry 43 H. Basic Research 45 I. Value-addition and commercialization 48 J. Extension Research 51 K. Institutional Services 51 4. Education and Training 55 5. Awards and Recognitions 60 6. Linkages and Collaboration 62 7. Highlights of All India Coordinated Sorghum Improvement Project (AICSIP) 64 8. List of Publications 66 9. List of Approved Projects 79 10. IRC, IMC, QRT meetings – Significant Decisions 82 11. Participation of Scientists in Conferences, Symposia/Seminars, Workshops and Meetings 88 12. Field Days and Meetings 92 13. Distinguished Visitors 94 14. Personnel 95 15. Major Events 2013-14 98 16. Infrastructure Development 103 Implementation of Official Language at DSR 104 Preface Sorghum is an important crop of the dryland regions in our country. It is cultivated in rabi mainly for food purposes and in kharif for food, feed and fodder uses. In addition, it has immense potential as a high biomass and biofuel crop. Sorghum is gaining popularity as health food among the urban consumers and entrepreneurs involved in the processed and ready-to-eat food business due to the proactive initiatives of this Directorate in the development, popularization and commercialization of diverse sorghum-based food products. Sorghum is going to be an important crop under predicted climate change. Being a premier institute for sorghum research in our country, this Directorate with the major mandate to improve sorghum productivity, profitability and sustainability under rainfed eco-system has been a frontrunner in sorghum varietal improvement and hybrid development. DSR also coordinates multi-disciplinary multi-location testing of sorghum production technologies through All India Coordinated Sorghum Improvement Project (AICSIP) involving a network of testing centres across the country and provides effective linkage with seed production and developmental agencies. It gives me immense pleasure to bring out the Annual Report of the Directorate of Sorghum Research for 2013-14. During the reporting period, germplasm collections from Uttarakhand, Kutch region of Gujarat and Khammam regions of Andhra Pradesh were evaluated. Rabi sorghum variety SPV 1829 was released and notified as CSV 26 by Central Varietal and Release Committee for cultivation under shallow soils of rabi growing regions of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Seven lines with better semolina recovery (> 45%) were identified. Several promising lines for the development of grain (both kharif and rabi), forage and sweet sorghum hybrids were identified. SSG 226, a mutagenic derivative from the popular multi-cut forage sorghum variety, SSG 59-3 was registered with NBPGR with the number, INGR13055. Molecular marker studies helped in the identification of QTL for fertility restoration in the male sterile line 27A and distinguishing alternate cytoplasms as well as A and B lines through chloroplast SSR markers. Expression of heterosis-related genes of maize and rice were quantified in sorghum in relation to grain yield heterosis. Putative transgenic sorghum plants possessing a megaspore mother cell (mmc) -specific promoter (FM-1) isolated from Arabidopsis was developed through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Promising lines for shoot fly, stem borer, aphid as well as grain mold resistance were identified. Crop management studies involving tillage, INM and efficacy of plantozyme were conducted. Promising sources of post-flowering drought tolerance, seedling cold tolerance and salinity tolerance were also identified. Promising sorghum genotypes for antioxidant activity, starch, amylase, protein, fat, total phenol and polyphenol contents were identified. Basic research resulted in the identification of 2,35,009 SNPs using a reference set of 96 sorghum genotypes and also the identification of three somatic embryogenesis receptor kinase (SERK) genes in sorghum. Preparation of sorghum lassi and sorghum pasta (by blending soya protein concentrate and channa flour) was standardized. The extension activities, front-line 1 DSR | ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14 §çNw ERìS ICAR demonstrations, advanced training and entrepreneurship development programmes effectively helped in the transfer of technology. I am highly grateful to Dr. S Ayyappan, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR, and Dr. Swapan Kumar Datta, Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR for their dynamic leadership, constant support and guidance. My sincere thanks are also due to Dr. RP Dua, Assistant Director General (Food and Fodder Crops), ICAR for the timely advice and suggestions. I place on record our gratitude for the continued external funding from NAIP, DBT, NFBSFARA, ACIAR, DAC and Britannia Industries Limited. I also appreciate the Principal Investigators and the multi-disciplinary teams of sorghum scientists at AICSIP centres, voluntary centres and private sector participants for their contribution in making the nation- wide sorghum research network a success. I place on record my sincere thanks to the International, other Non-Governmental and Private organizations that have been supporting us in our endeavours. I wish to express my gratitude to the Research Advisory Committee, Institute Management Committee, all the Project Leaders, Scientists and other staff members of the Directorate for their efforts, support and help. I express my appreciation to Drs. P Rajendrakumar, K Hariprasanna and KV Raghavendra Rao for their efforts in compilation and editing this report, Mr. K Sanath Kumar for secretarial assistance and Mr. HS Gawali for photos and art work. I also extend my gratitude to all my colleagues who are directly or indirectly involved in bringing out this Annual Report in time. I welcome comments and suggestions to improve the reporting and research in future. Hyderabad June, 2014 [JV Patil DIRECTOR 2 1 Executive Summary A. Genetic Resources (ii) Grain sorghum - Rabi · Evaluation of 110 accessions collected from Uttarakhand · Varietal improvement: Rabi sorghum variety SPV 1829 was (30 acc.), Kutch regions of Gujarat (40 acc.) and released and notified as CSV 26 by Central Varietal Khammam regions of Andhra Pradesh (40 acc.) for 30 Release Committee for cultivation under shallow soils of agro-morphological indicated the presence of maximum rabi growing regions of Maharashtra and Karnataka. In variability for plant height and days to 50% flowering. grain yield, the variety SPV 1829 (1209 kg ha-1) was superior to checks Phule Maulee and M 35-1 by 22.5% B. Cultivar Development and 27.4%, respectively. For fodder yield, it (4244 kg ha-1) (i) Grain sorghum - Kharif gave 12.9% and 31.2% more yield than the checks Phule Maulee and M 35-1, respectively. · Hybrid development: The hybrids based on the male sterile line 2911A viz., 2911A × R44, 2911A × R48 and Evaluation of improved breeding lines in shallow-medium 2911A × R50 recorded more than 20% increase over CSH and deep soils separately, indicated that 30 promising 25 with bold grains and better grain quality and grain mold varieties (14 in shallow-medium and 16 in deep soil) were tolerance as compared to CSH 25. The hybrid, R93 × significantly superior to checks M 35-1/ Phule Maulee and C43, besides showing significant improvement over CSH CSV 22R for grain and fodder yields and grain quality with 25, recorded bold seed with 100 seed weight of 3.68g resistance to insect-pests and diseases. while it was 2.91g in CSH 25 and 3.36g in CSH 16. · Hybrid development: The hybrid SPH 1721 (2717 kg ha-1) · Varietal development: The advance breeding nursery line gave 6.4% more grain yield than the varietal check CSV PVT 2-13 recorded a significant improvement in grain 22R (2554 kg ha-1) in AVHT-Shallow soil. Over two years, yield over the check, CSV 20. It had bold seed with 100 the hybrid SPH 1721 was superior by 4.0% for grain yield seed weight of 2.86g. Three more genotypes (PVT 4-13, than the check CSH 15R. In IVHT, the hybrids SPH 1741 PVT 15-13 and PVT 1-13) recorded more than 20% and SPH 1742 were significantly superior to CSH 15R by increase in grain yield over CSV 20. Low grain mold score 18.0% and 14.9%, respectively. SPH 1741 gave more than was observed in PVT 5-13 (5.33), PVT 2-13 (5.67) and PVT 5% fodder yield over the check. 4-13 (5.67), while CSV 20 recorded 6.33 grain mold score. · Parental line development: Maintainer line improvement · Among the 60 sorghum genotypes including the selected led to selection of 23 B-lines out of 62 lines with rabi traits. germplasm lines the semolina recovery ranged from 19.8 Fifteen new CMS lines better than 104A in respect of grain to 47.8%. Seven genotypes recorded semolina recovery quality with resistance to insect-pests and diseases have of more than 45%. Semolina recovery was found to have been stabilized and are ready for commercial exploitation.