BP Singh

Promising Introductions in Horticultural Plants(Fruits, Ornamentals) and Oil SeedsB.P. SinghIntroductionThe Division of Germplasm Exchange of the National Bureauof Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) over. the last sixteen years(1976-1994) has introduced 3,81,982 accessions of different agrihorticultureand agri-silviculture crops from over 25 countries ofthe world, strictly under phytosanitary conditions. Some of thesenotable introductions have been highlighted earlier (Paroda et al.,1986, Singh et aI., 1989, Singh and Rana 1993). However, abrief account of some of the significant introductions ofhorticultural plants (fruits), ornamentals and oilseed crops havebeen discussed here.'I. Horticultural Plants (Fruits)In fruit plants over 3125 accessions of different fruit plantshave been introduced during the period 1976-1994. These indud~dtropical! subtropical and temperate fruits.(a)Tropical and subtro'pical £rui~s(i) Banana (Musa paradisica) : The cultivar Lady finger (EC:-160160) reported to possess resistance/tole~ance to bunchy topvirus which is a serious problem in banana, had been introducedas tissue culture raised plants from Australia and is underevaluation at IIHR, Bangalore and TNAU, Coimbatore. The otheruseful introductions include cultivar 'Grand Nain MS (EC-27237)from France and 'Valery' from West Indies. In recent years more