Import/ Introduction of germplasm Every year over 20, 000 accessions of germplasm and 50, 000 samples of trial material are being received. Introduction played pivotal role in the establishment of large number of crops and development of improved varieties Targeted introductions in harmony with various international agreements are being pursued to benefit the national crop improvement programmes. Registered germplasm and other trait specific introductions were made to combat climatic changes, adapted to diverse agro- climatic conditions. Introduced crops like apple (USA), buffalo gourd (USA), bull oke (Australia), french bean, kiwi fruit (New Zealand), guayle (USA), peach, pepper mint (Russia), prickly pear (Mexico, & USA), seabuckthorn (Russia & China), sugarbeet (European countries), tomatillo (USA) became major crops. Further, it was the introduced germplasm that enabled soybean and sunflower to become major field crops.

Germplasm introduced for Abiotic stress resistance/ tolerance traits traits

• Submergence, Salinity, Zinc deficiency, Phosphorus deficiency, Iron toxicity, Aluminium toxicity, QTL, Aerobic, Drought (Rice)
• Frost, Lodging, Low temperature, Diverse climatic conditions, Cold, Good pre harvest sprouting, Blue aleurone- a strong xenia effect (wheat)
• Acid soil tolerant (maize)
• Drought tolerant (barley)
• Lodging Drought heat tolerant lines (Soybean)
• Siff stem, Lodging (Pea)
• Lodging (Linseed)
• Heat, Cold, Humidity (Tomato)
• Heat, Cold, Drought, Humidity (Chilli)
• Cold tolerant lines (Cauliflower)
• Lodging resistance (Sunflower)

Germplasm introduced for Biotic stress resistance/ tolerance traits

• Brown Plant Hopper, Bacterial blight, Tungro virus, Blast, Kernel smut, Rice water weevil, Rice stalk borer, Multiple disease, Stem borer, Grassy stunt virus, Necrosis virus, Root rot, Sheath blight, Bacterial panicle blight (rice).
• Sawfly, Powdery mildew, Stripe rust, Leaf rust, Yellow rust, Brown rust, Black rust, Fusarium race-1, Barley yellow dwarf virus, Net blotch, Scald, Covered smut, False loose smut, Common root rot, New version lines carrying genes resistant to Ug 99, Hessian fly (wheat)
• Thrip, Stripe rust, Barley yellow dwarf virus, Powdery mildew, Net blotch Scald, Leaf rust, Surface borne smuts (barley).
• White fly, Downy mildew, Stem canker, Soybean mosaic virus, Southern stem canker, Soybean cyst nematode, Reinform nematode, Sudden death syndrome, Frog eye leaf spot, White fly transmitted gemini virus, Bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, Tomato mosaic virus, Gray leaf spot pathogen (Soybean).
• Ascochyta blight, Fusarium wilt, Leaf minor, Bruchids, Cyst nematode (chickpea).
• Downey mildew, Loose smut, Aphids (Sunflower).
• Anthracnose, Bacterial wilt, Bacterial black spot, Potato virus Y, Pepper venial mottle virus, Chilli veinal mottle virus (Chilli)
• Powdery mildew, Downy mildew (muskmelon)
• Root knot nematode, Bacterial wilt, Tomato mosaic virus, Fusarium wilt Gray leaf spot, Tomato leaf curl virus (Tomato)
• Leaf spot, Leaf scorch, Powdery mildew, Red stele, Botrytis, Verticillium wilt, Spotted spider mite, Fruit rot (Strawberry)
• Fire blight, Apple scab (Apple)

Germplasm introduced for Agronomic traits

• Early flowering, Early maturing, Weed competitive (Rice)
• High grain yielding (Wheat)
• Early maturing (Maize)
• Early maturing, High yielding, High grain yielding, Low Shattering (Barley)
• Early flowering (Chickpea)
• High yielding, Low shattering (Soybean)
• High yielding (French bean)
• Early maturing (Tomato)

Value Added

• Low phytic acid, Gold hull, New Plant Types (reduced number of litters, all tillers are fertile, increased no. of grains per panicle and larger parcels size) Good aroma, Cooking quality of Basmati 370, Long grained, Superior parboiling, Canning quality, High iron content (Rice)
• Exceptionally High grain protein content, High grain weight, Superior bread baking quality, Excellent end use qualities for bread and noodle production, Strong gluten, Waxy, Lower sucrose retention capacity (Wheat)
• Higher plump seed percentage (Barley)
• High amylose content, High lysine content, Waxy germplasm, Higher seed protein (Maize)
• Low lipoxygenase, Less than 5.5% linolenic acid (Soybean)
• Cayenne type large thick red, Non pungent, Longer shelf life, Ornamental types, Excellent culinary applications (Chilli)
• High TSS content, Orange fleshed, Netted exterior (Musk melon)
• High beta carotene rich, High lycopene content (Tomato)
• Large fruited, Good flavor, Outstanding fruit quality (Strawberry)

Lines for heterosis exploitation

• Monogenic lines, Introgression lines, Isogenic lines, Pyramided lines, Mutant lines, CMS, Maintainer, TGMS and Restorer lines (Rice)
• Maintainers of the A1, cytoplasmic genetic male sterility system
• Restorers of the A1, cytoplasmic genetic male sterility system (Wheat)
• Male sterile, Restorers (Chilli)
• CMS Lines; Male fertile line (Cauliflower)

National Supply: One of the important activities is catering to the germplasm needs of different researchers/scientists working in various research organizations in the country.
Facilitating Access to germplasm and information to other countries

• Access to germplasm and information under the new regime in India has to take into account the established institutional mechanism and various acts in force relating to agrobiodiversity. The supply is facilitated under different collaborative research projects approved by Govt. Department State or Central Government, or MoU/ Workplan and other relevant agreements.

Recent Trait specific material imported/introduced:

Wheat: Core set from Iran and Mexico; Variety with an important source of increased amylose and starch Yellow rust NIL lines genetic stocks for analysis of pathotypes in rusts, powdery mildew, stem rust, brown/leaf rust, yellow rust genes from CIMMYT, Mexico;

Maize: Core set of maize varieties protected by U.S. Patent and/or the U.S. Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA) DH based CMLs: Drought, heat stress, water logging and Low N tolerant, resistant to Turcicum leaf blight (TLB), common rust (PS), Maize streak virus (MSV), Gray leaf spot (GLS), Tar spot complex (TSC), Southern corn leaf blight (SCLB), Ear rot and foliar diseases from CIMMYT, Mexico; Inbreds with high/low oil and protein content; Traditional cultivars and landraces ; Rice: Lines resistant to bacterial blight, salinity and drought tolerant High yielding lines; Multiparent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) wild parents; Wild species of wheat, barley, rice not available in genebank.

Almond varieties Ferragnes, Ferralise, Tardy large size, late flowering and smooth skinned

Pomegranate: Large and deep purple-red; very sweet, virtually seedless; large red fruit is sweet with a hint of acidity, double flowered; medium pink sweet fruit with very soft seeds; Yarrow (Achilea alpina)- Improved Ornamental variety; Casabanana (Sicana odorifera): Varieties Melocoton and Pavi- fruits brilliant flaming red, bright orange flesh used in drinks, jellies and other desserts; Huge vines are ornamental from Guatemala; and Bolivia

Cotton: High yielder, high GOT, bigboll, long linted and short duration and resistant to Cotton leaf curl virus cotton germplasm from USA. New species Gossypium ekmaniaum from USA Core and mini core set of ICRISAT mandate crops were also procured (Proso millet (102), Little millet (56), Kodo millet (72), Barnyard millet (87) and Mini core of sorghum (242), Pearl millet (238), Chickpea (211), Pigeonpea (146), Groundnut (184), Finger millet (80), Foxtail millet (35) received.

Exchange of Plant Genetic Resources status (1976-2023)

Year	Import			Export			National Supply
	Germplasm	Trials	Total	Delhi	Hyderabad	Total
1976	4,244	81,672	85,916	7,685		7,685	3,284
1977	4,037	70,398	74,435	10,686		10,686	2,397
1978	10,451	1,06,828	1,17,279	8,697		8,697	2,052
1979	9,860	1,20,334	1,30,194	5,287		5,287	2,976
1980	6,341	45,565	51,906	1,917		1,917	6,558
1981	5,573	47,691	53,264	2,260		2,260	6,889
1982	5,998	3,665	9,663	1,748		1,748	5,681
1983	7,611	43,181	50,792	2,683		2,683	6,213
1984	9,064	29,928	38,992	3,843		3,843	4,438
1985	14,429	70,688	85,117	1,355		1,355	5,867
1986	16,128	36,640	52,768	5,535	19,409	24,944	12,726
1987	16,740	35,902	52,642	2,260	52,918	55,178	10,578
1988	18,115	35,514	53,629	2,168	55,788	57,956	11,828
1989	15,205	35,331	50,536	3,310	53,345	56,655	17,650
1990	16,176	40,559	56,735	1,221	44,186	45,407	13,113
1991	17,872	32362	50234	1,844	44,750	46,594	16,582
1992	13,463	39,162	52,625	4,488	45,001	49,489	23,938
1993	28,553	42,036	70,589	1,846	49,577	51,423	27,081
1994	8,486	45,036	53,522	2,016	39,063	41,079	21,103
1995	7,816	66,512	74,328	1,506	44,672	46,178	12,865
1996	10,357	42,495	52,852	1,870	25,818	27,688	20,775
1997	12,432	56,931	69,363	610	15,201	15,811	27,022
1998	18,304	50,873	69,177	174	12,092	12,266	23,313
1999	24,052	65,571	89,623	1,345	7,908	9,253	11,064
2000	20,279	71,779	92,058	179	12,338	12,517	9,714
2001	23,268	76,149	99,417	356	10,046	10,402	10,771
2002	22,193	77,606	99,799	771	11,913	12,684	15,274
2003	24,140	72,381	96,521	413	8,532	8,945	15,487
2004	13,805	60,874	74,679	123	7,834	7,957	12,370
2005	15,486	46,023	61,509	76	4,654	4,730	9,419
2006	16,146	46,186	62,332	151	7,689	7,840	3,537
2007	18,030	82,439	1,00,469	77	9,374	9,451	11,596
2008	25,450	54,183	79,633	811	18,458	19,269	9,681
2009	30,589	44,064	74,653	1320	19,906	21,226	13,391
2010	26,732	58,853	85,585	887	15,815	16,702	11,946
2011	31,548	90,165	1,21,713	1303	7,731	9,034	4043
2012	37,018	79,883	1,16,901	1,773	7,491	9,264	6,961
2013	33,856	1,00,733	1,34,589	1,261	13,787	15,048	9,991
2014	40,976	78,899	1,19,875	992	14,773	15,765	10,025
2015	34,615	1,41,065	1,75,680	–	3,305	3,305	12,192
2016	27,664	90,260	1,17,924	641	6,639	7,280	8,430
2017	35,047	1,43,574	1,78,621	1,062	45,005	46,067	11,949
2018	37,516	1,19,888	1,57,404	1,558	18,415	19,973	21,909
2019	55,926	1,36,825	1,92,751	2,599	45,813	48,412	11,117
2020	39,315	1,43,021	1,82,336	745	30,061	30,806	16,981
2021	34,031	1,26,108	1,60,139	700			13,448
2022	52,072	1,47,713	1,99,785	1,747			10,573
2023	43,319	1,61,025	2,04,344	2,052		2,052	12,129
Total	10,40,328	34,94,570	45,34,898	97,951	8,29,307	9,24,811	5,57,331

      Policy Inputs

International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA): GEPU prepares agenda items from India as well as national positions for the governing body meetings. Scientists participate in the governing body meetings, working group meetings and other consultations. Also works on accessions notified under the multilateral system of ITPGRFA.

Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA): GEPU scientists provide inputs for Regular Sessions CGRFA. The Unit successfully completed the first and second phases of Global Plan of Action. Inputs were provided on the agenda items for the Eighth Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (IGTWG-PGRFA). Scientists participate in the Regional Consultation on the State of Asia’s Biodiversity for the preparation of the country report. The finalized report was submitted to FAO. Information for 2015 to 2017on the second GPA was submitted to FAO for inclusion in the WIEWS Reporting System.

National Advisory Committee on Management of Genetic Resources (NACMGR) National Advisory Board on Management of Genetic Resources was constituted by ICAR in October 2012 for a period of three years. Five meetings of the Board were organized and recommendations were made to fulfil the desired objectives. The Board was further reconstituted as the National Advisory Committee on Management of Genetic Resources (NACMGR) to deliberate and recommend for national policy setting of agro-biodiversity conservation, management and sustainable use in May 2017 and first meeting of NACMGR was held on April 26, 2018. GEPU manages the agenda, organization and reporting of the meetings.

National Biodiversity Authority (NBA): Comments/ views were provided for the cases under consideration by NBA for export of horticultural varieties to Vietnam and other countries for trial purposes. Inputs provided regarding checkpoint and draft notification/orders to implement the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit sharing. Further information on capacity building requirements for implementation of Biological Diversity Act, 2002 provided for interface meeting of NBA, MoEF and ICAR. Comments/ inputs/ views were provided for the agenda under consideration by NBA for Authority Meetings, Expert Committee meetings on ABS.

Convention on Biological Diversity: Information compiled for submission of Fifth and Sixth National Report on NBT-7; analyzed the agenda items and prepared for India’s position for CoP 14, CoP-MoP 3 and Nagoya Protocol on Access and benefit sharing.

ICAR/DARE/DAC: Inputs on Memorandum of Understanding between Indian Ministry of Agriculture and Global Crops Diversity Trust for Cooperation with GCDT for technical guidance; Draft Biosecurity Bill 2016 regarding establishment of a Biosecurity Board instead of an autonomous Authority. PRA for new species of for their import for the first time by NBPGR. Risk involved in import of several agricultural commodities, certain insect cultures and other biocontrol agents. Scope of Cooperation in the MoU signed India and United Arab Emirates in Agriculture and Allied Sciences and identified areas for cooperation on various phytosanitary issues; identification of export zones for producing export quality potatoes in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat

MEA: Cooperation and assistance with particular focus on strengthening cooperation and assistance on Article X of BWC. Possibility of India making a contribution to the BWC Article X database on offers for assistance with other(s) of assistance. This could include opportunities for participation in training, seminars/ workshops, collaborative research, access to literature etc. Updates on international cooperation and assistance activities especially on bio-safety and bio-security aspects being provided by India; Strengthening National Implementation of BWC.

IPPC: As member of the International Quarantine Forest Research Group Strategy Working Group under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) provided scientific analysis on global phytosanitary issues, implications on trade etc., questionnaire developed for National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs).

Workshop/Group meeting/Trainings organized

• ICAR-NBPGR together with The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA) jointly organized a Workshop on Capacity building of the implementation of ITPGRFA in India from 17-18 November, 2014 at Deendayal Research Institute, Chitrakoot.
• A workshop on Redefining Priorities in the National Action Plan for Genetic Resources Management in India (Based on the Revised Global Plan of Action for Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture of the FAO-CGRFA) was jointly organized by ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi and National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), New Delhi from December 23-24, 2014 at NAAS, New Delhi 110012
• Workshop on Exchange/ transfer and sharing of knowledge/biological/genetic resources with outside and foreign agencies held on June 8, 2017
• Brainstorming workshop on procedures related to Seed movement and Quarantine in collaboration with Alliance for Agri Innovation (AAI) on July 31, 2018
• Asian Regional Workshop on the Preparation of the National Reports on the Implementation of the International Treaty was hosted by ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi, India from 11-13 December 2018. The workshop was attended by 29 participants from 12 countries.