ICRISAT Archival Report 2006 - The seedlings of success in the ...

Milestone: A.3.1.2: New/assembled germplasm characterized/evaluated for important traits to fill gaps in
characterization data (HDU, Annual)
In chickpea, we characterized 500 accessions for plant pigmentation and days to 50% flowering. In groundnut,
over 2000 accessions were characterized for updating 30 traits in the databases. In sorghum, 385 accessions for
which data was missing for days to 50% flowering and plant height were characterized during 2006 rainy
season. We characterized during 2005-2006 post-rainy season, 235 sorghum germplasm accessions representing
zerazeras and composite collections, for which data on important morpho-agronomic characters was incomplete.
A total of 512 pearl millet accessions planted during 2005 post-rainy were characterized for four traits (days to
50% flowering, plant height, panicle length, panicle thickness). In pigeonpea, characterized 640 accessions
during 2005 rainy season for which characterization data was incomplete and a total of 866 accessions were
planted for characterization during 2006 rainy season for collecting data on missing traits.
HD Upadhyaya
Milestone: A.3.1.3: New germplasm sources identified for target insect pests and diseases in different crops
(HCS/RPT/SP/HDU/CLLG, Annual)
Identification of new germplasm sources for resistance to diseases: Two hundred and fifty new germplasm
accessions were evaluated for resistance to ascochyta blight (AB), botrytis gray mold (BGM), dry root rot
(DRR) and collar rot (CR) diseases under controlled environment conditions and for fusarium wilt (FW) under
artificial epiphytotic conditions at ICRISAT-Patancheru. Standardized individual screening techniques were
employed to evaluate these accessions for individual diseases. Severities of AB, BGM and DRR were scored on
1-9 rating scale and the incidence of FW and CR was presented as percentage of mortality.
Resistance to AB: High level of resistance to AB were not identified in any the accessions evaluated, however,
eight accessions, ICCs 643, 1052, 1069, 1093, 1903, 1915, 2114 and 2142 were found moderately resistant (3.1
to 5 rating) to AB.
Resistance to BGM: Among these new accessions, 30 had moderately resistant (3.1 to 5 rating) reaction and
rest were found susceptible.
Resistance to DRR: Of the 250 new accessions evaluated for DRR resistance, two accessions ICCs 562 and
1600 had resistant reaction (3 rating) and 76 accessions were found moderately resistant (3.1 to 5 rating).
Resistance to CR: Resistance to CR was not observed in any of the accessions evaluated. Hence our quest
continued to identify resistant sources in the germplasm and breeding material.
Multiple disease resistance in new germplasm: No line was found resistant to all the four diseases tested.
Only one accession ICC 1915 was found to be moderately resistant to AB and DRR. Ten accessions ICCs 153,
1229, 1360, 1419, 1422, 1560, 1837, 2113, 2118 and 2202 had moderate resistance (3.1to 5 rating on 1-9 rating
scale) to BGM and DRR.
70 elite germplasm accessions are being screened in wilt sick-plot during 2006-2007. Data recording is in
progress.
S Pande, HD Upadhyaya and CLL Gowda
Milestone: A.3.1.4: Vegetable type pigeonpea germplasm evaluated for agronomic performance
(HDU/CLLG, 2008)
Identified 33 vegetable type pigeonpea accessions for further verification and evaluation. We are also testing a
few more accessions for higher seed number per pod.
HD Upadhyaya and CLL Gowda
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