Training Programme

Hybrid Seed Production Technology

Background:

Hybrid seed production is the major concern in the Division of Seed Science & Technology,and the efforts so far have been put on the hybrid seed production in rice and high valuevegetables such as tomato, brinjal, cauliflower and bitter gourd. Here is the illustration ofthe hybrid seed production in rice. High cost of hybrid seed is one of the major constraintsin the adoption of the hybrid rice technology. This is primarily attributed to the low hybridseed yield which is around 1-1.5 t/ha. It is necessary to enhance the seed yield level to morethan 2.5 t/ha in order to economise the seed cost. In the Division, a programme onstandardization of hybrid rice seed production technology in the main kharif season wasundertaken. Concerted research carried out for more than a decade resulted in thedevelopment of an economically feasible technology for north India. The primary benefit ofthis technology is that the hybrid seed is harvested, processed and tested in November/-December and stored for a short period up to March under cool and dry conditions. Thisseed is available to the farmers by April-May. Growing the hybrid seed in kharif season alsoallows sufficient time to undertake hybrid purity testing through grow out test duringDecember-March. Cost of the female parental lines of rice are based on wild abortive (WA)cytoplasm due to which about 25 -33 per cent of the spikelets are enclosed in the flag leafsheath making them unavailable for pollination. Foliar application of GA at the start ofpanicle emergence has been widely adopted as an essential technique for enhancing panicleexcretion.

A B

Demonstration of hybrid seed production technology in rice (A) and bitter gourd (B).

Eligibility

Agricultural Researchers, Extension officers, University teachers and entrepreneurs.

Training Programme

Course Contents

To provide a comprehensive knowledge and practical exposure to hybrid seed production infield crops and vegetables. Utilisation of heterosis in agriculture, pre-requisites for hybridseed production, mechanisms and management of pollination in autogamous andallogamous crops, techniques of hybrid seed production, use of self-incompatibility,maintenance of A, B and R lines, use of chemical hybridising agents, salient features ofhybrid seed production in rice, sorghum, bajara, maize, sunflower, cotton and other majorvegetables