Plant Quarantine services
A total number of 2, 04, 274 samples [67,343-imports & 1, 36, 931-exports] were received for quarantine processing during the period under report. Pseudomonas syringae on tomato from Taiwan and USA, Botrytis cinerea on Sunflower from  Argentina and Serbia and Montenegro, Alternaria porii and B. allii on onion from USA, Peanut mottle virus on groundnut from Niger and USA, Rotylenchulus reniformis on mustard from Australia, Tilletia barclayana on paddy from China and Vietnam, Peronospora manshurica on soybean from Canada, Drechslera setariae on Pearl millet from Niger, Aphelenchoides besseyi on paddy from Indonesia and Philippines were the major pathogens intercepted from the imported germplasm. The healthy accessions were released after giving necessary salvaging treatments. Quarantine service was extended to more than 50 organizations in South India. In all, 673 phytosanitary certificates were issued. Crop germplasm (14,505 accns) grown in the post-entry quarantine isolation area (field and glasshouse) of ICRISAT (8,285 accns), NBPGR greenhouse (1,301) and Private companies (4,916 accns) was inspected from time to time for the presence of exotic pest incidence.

Plant genetic resources management activities        

A total of 57 explorations were undertaken for the collection of agri-horticultural crops which include cereals and pulses, pillipesara bean, small millets, oilseeds, leafy vegetables, onion, buckwheat, French bean, wild legumes, tuber crops, cotton, palmyrah palm, Pongamia,  Ivy gourd, spine gourd and neti donda in the South East Coastal zone in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and also Arunachal Pradesh in NEH region resulting in the collection of 4,654 accs. of diversity. 

A total of 13, 407 aaccessions of mandate and other crops including sorghum, small millets (fingermillet, little millet, foxtail millet, kodomillet, barnyard millet),  Pulses (blackgram, greengram, horsegram wild legumes), oilseeds (sesame, linseed), vegetables (brinjal, tomato, yardlong bean, cowpea) and spices (chilli) were characterized and evaluated.  Promising lines were identified and registered.  Six germplasm field days (Sorghum, small millets, sesame, green gram, blackgram and other pulses) were organized for the benefit of researchers.

More than 1,270 accessions of various crops sorghum, small millets, pulses, oilseeds, brinjal, tomato, pongamia were sent for Long Term Storage in the National Gene Bank for conservation.

A total of 2,210 germplasm accessions of various crops (Cereals, millets, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables and spices, wild legumes etc.) were distributed to researchers involved in various crop improvement programmes in the country.

More than 110 herbarium specimens of variation in Sorghum, pillipesara bean, brinjal, Canavalia ensiformis, Dolichos bean etc. were prepared and added to the NHCP, New Delhi.

Contributed to release of the improved varieties from germplasm with state agricultural universities/Research institutes as listed below

• Sudha, a pure line selection of rainfed coriander developed from a collection from Prakasham district of AP. The variety developed and released in 2006 in association with ANGRAU yields upto 15 q/ha under irrigated conditions.
• APHU Dhania-1, Coriander germplasm accession SH-3466 (LCC-170/ NIC-18231/ IC-574503) was released by Dr.YSRHorticultural University based on mass selection.
• Arka Mangala, An accession of Yardlong bean, IC582850, collected from Jeypore, Orissa in an exploration survey undertaken in 2009 in collaboration with IIHR was approved for release as a variety  at the institute level from IIHR. 

Several promising lines as listed below have been registered with ICAR having potential for crop improvement – more information click here

• Chilli (INGR 08097)-Source of resistance to thrips and powdery mildew
• Chilli (INGR 08095)-Source of resistance to thrips and mites
• Cowpea (INGR 08084)-Source of resistance to Black eye cowpea mosaic virus; 
• Jatropha curcas (INGR 08086& INGR 08087) High oil content (40-42%)
• Lycopersicon peruvianum (INGR 08094 and 08096)-Source of resistance to root knot nematode.
• Linseed (INGR 10127 and 10128) High oil content (42.6%) and high oleic acid content (32%)
• Bottlegourd (INGR 10064) Unique spindle shaped fruits with hard rind.
• Pongamia pinnata (INGR 10134) Four seeded pod
• Dolichos bean (INGR 11031I) (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet) Field resistant to Anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc. And Magn.) Scrib.) and Aphids (Aphid craccivora Koch.)

Registration of a farmers’ variety: a success story
This regional station in its endeavour to secure recognition to the farmers work in plant genetic resources, encouraged and guided Mr. K. Ramesh, a farmer from Visakhapatnam district for registering a unique chilli genotype developed by him with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.  NBPGR Regional Station, Hyderabad has taken initiatives in registering the farmers’ variety. 
 

Smart delivery of pesticides by seed coating through electro-spun nano-fibers/particles
A novel seed coating protocol was standardised in which systemic pesticides were incorporated into a biodegradable nano-polymer system and coated on the surface of seeds using electro-spinning / electro-spraying process with an aim to improve the delivery system of the pesticide by controlled-release mechanism. I midacloprid, a systemic insecticide and tebuconazole, were incorporated into polymer system involving PLA and PLGA nano-fibers / particles and further coated onto the cotton and wheat seeds by the electro-spinning / electro-spraying. By virtue of their nano-scale diameter and very large surface area, electro-spun-?bers/ particles offer a number of additional advantages like enhanced bioavailability of the pesticides, improved specificity, improving the timed release of pesticide molecules and ease and safety in handling. The morphology of the pesticide loaded electro-spun-fibres collected on the surface of the seed was observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) (Gemini LEO 1550).The size of spun fibres ranged from 130 nm to 210 nm in diameter and the coating thickness ranged from 18.6 µm to 20.49 µm on the seeds. The seed coating process by electro-spinning and electro-spraying did not affect the germination of seeds in both wheat and cotton.

Capacity building
Scientists from this station are guiding post-graduate and Ph.D students of State Agricultural Universities/other traditional universities.
Training imparted to Ph. D student of Agricultural University, GKVK, Bangalore and trainees of NIPHM, Hyderabad on Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Six germplasm awareness days (Field days) were organized for the benefit of researchers involved in various crop improvement programmes.
Organised an “Orientation programme to SRFs” under the NAIP biodiversity project on 17.06.2010.
A one day training workshop on “second phase of the project on establishment National Information Sharing Mechanism for monitoring the implementation of Global Plan of  Action  for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGFRA)’ was organized at NBPGR Regional Station, Hyderabad on 9th July 2010. Fifty participants from ICAR institutes (22), SAUs (8), NGOs (3), CGIAR institutes (3) and Pvt Companies (6), State/National Institutes (6), individual progressive farmers (2) attended the programme.

Grassroot level training programme on Plant Genetic Resources

NBPGR RS, Hyderabad has been instrumental in creating awareness among tribal men and  womenfolk of SEC zone on several aspects viz., collection, conservation and utilization of crop genetic resources. NBPGR has held a“ Biodiversity Fair cum Grassroot Level Awareness Programme on Plant Genetic Resources Conservation” in collaboration with Sanjeevini – an NGO, on 23rd January, 2011 at Arakuvalley, Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. The programme was organized with the financial assistance from Tribal Support Project.