Technology Mission on Pulses

Programme 1 : Mass production of HaNPV through cell line culture

Present status : Technology for cell line culture of certain lepidopteran insects has been developed at few laboratories in India. This technology may be extended and perfected for cell line culture of Helicoverpa armigera for quick, economical and commercial production of HaNPV. This will enable to reduce the losses caused by the dreaded pest, pod borer. Traditional HaNPV production technique in highly labour intensive, requires lot of space and time. It is also prone to contamination often yielding substandard products or even complete loss of the culture.

Target: Generation and perfection of technology for cell line culture of H. armigera

Centre :  University of Poona

Linkage : Delhi University

Estimated cost : Rs. 50 lakh

Programme 2 : Improving shelf line of bio-agents and their delivery system

Present status : Usually solid state talc formulations of bio-agents are being used. Liquid formulations are reported to have better shelf life hence, more effective in disease management. Most of the bio-agents are applied as seed treatment. Their multiplication in soil is slow. Their delivery systems like charging irrigation water, use through compost, organic substances and other cheaper substances etc., may result in effective establishment and sustainability of bioagent inoculum in the soil.

Target : To develop efficient liquid based formulations and adjuvants for increase shelf life of bio-agents and to develop more efficient delivery system than seed treatment and identify cheaper and locally available substrates for multiplication of bio-agents.

Centre : PDBC, Bangalore

Linkage : TNAU, Coimbatore, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar

Estimated cost : Rs.50.00 Lakh

Chickpea is the most important pulse crop in India. Among biotic stresses that affect chickpea, fusarium wilt caused by F. oxysporum Schlechtend Fr. F. sp. ciceris has been reported as a major yield-limiting factor. The pathogen is either soil borne or seed transmitted and can survive in the soil in the absence of the host for at least six years. The most practical and economical method for controlling the disease is through the use of resistant cultivars. Seven physiological races (0-6) of the pathogen have been reported (Kraft et al., 1994). The existence of specific races of the pathogen has slowed progress in breeding programmes. Haware and Nene (1982) identified four races (1-4) in India.

To improve the stability of resistance to wilt, pyramiding of resistance genes from different sources through multiple crosses is essential. Recent reports that the genes for resistance to races 1, 4 and 5 of Fusarium wilt are located on linkage group 6 and the gene for resistance to race 0 is independent from them indicate clustering of several resistance genes (Winter et al. 2000). Identification of clusters of resistance genes would facilitate pyramiding of resistance genes to new cultivars. These markers can be used for marker-assisted selection for developing cultivars with durable resistance through gene pyramiding.

Target : To pyramid resistance genes in the agronomically superior Background

Nodal Centre : MPKVV Rahuri

Linked : IARI/IIPR, Kanpur

Estimated cost : Rs. 5 lakh

Programme 4 : Development of efficient Arhar thresher

Status:Threshing of pulse crops is crucial as none of thresher available in the market is specifically developed for pulses. With wide variation in size and characteristics of different pulse crops, no single thresher can be used for threshing of all the pulses. At present threshers developed for wheat and paddy are generally used for threshing of pulse crops also with suitable modifications. However, they leave significant amount of broken and dehusked grains when used for pulses. The task of threshing pigeonpea is still more complicated as its hard stalk part is difficult to be fed in conventional thresher. The plant biomass of pigeonpea has other utilization such as fuel and shelter for thatched houses. Thus, farmers do not want to loose the plant part as well to threshing. Presently only pigeonpea pods are fed in conventional threshers. Researchers are working to develop thresher exclusively for threshing of pigeonpea.

Pigeonpea thresher needs to be developed keeping farmer’s requirement in mind. It should be designed in such a way that stalk part of the plant remains intact during threshing so that they could be utilized for traditional purpose. This has to be carried out with least compromise to grain recovery.

Target : Development of thresher specific for pigeonpea threshing.

Centre : CIAE, Bhopal

Estimated cost : Rs. 10 lakh 

Programme 5 : Development of Ridge Planter

Status: The present day practice of sowing pigeonpea on flat beds results in plant mortality and attack of phytopthora blight in case of water logging. This problem is very acute in North-Eastern states. To overcome this problem ridge planting of pigeonpea crop has shown good potential. Ridge planters are useful for the crops with vigorous root growth. Among pulse crops this finds a suitable application for pigeonpea. This ridge planting system utilizes water more efficiently and requires less quantity of water to be applied. However, ridge planters are not available for pulse crops. Usually planting is done by seed drills and at later stage thinning is done to reduce plant population.

Ridge planters / planters need to be developed for sowing/planting of pulse crops. Effect of planter on yield recovery may be compared with planting with seed drill. Modifications in existing seed metering mechanism for pulse crops need to be incorporated.

Target : Development of ridge planter / planter for pulse crops.

Centre : CIAE, Bhopal

Estimated cost : Rs. 10 lakh