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ndo-American Hybrid Seeds (IAHS) was establishedin 1965 by Dr. Manmohan Attavar with an aim to

introduce modern agricultural techniques in the production

of hybrid vegetable and flower seeds in India. Over theyears it has grown significantly and has proved to be a

pioneering institution of its kind in India. The company,

which is currently engaged in the production of hybridvegetable seeds, flower seeds, oilseeds, cotton seeds,

ornamental plants, biotechnology products, construction

of greenhouses, and landscape architecture, exportedagri-horticultural products worth US$5 million during

1998-99.

The IAHS has an export oriented unit consisting of 140greenhouses built with in-house technology for production

and export of F1 hybrid capsicum seeds to the US. The

project, which consists of 504 000 sq.ft. greenhousecovered area, is the largest unit in Asia. The tissue

culture laboratory of IAHS, the largest tissue culture

production laboratory in Asia with a capacity toproduce about 10 million plants annually, has been

INDO-AMERICAN HYBRID SEEDS INDIA PVT. LTD. AT A GLANCE

Anil Kush*

producing micropropagated disease free plants of

banana, papaya, teak, cardamom, vanilla and other

floriculture related plants for over a decade. The company’sresearch laboratory is well equipped for work in genetic

engineering and plant molecular biology. Scientists here

carry out research into developing disease tolerantvegetables and vegetables with higher nutritive values using

modern tools of plant transformation and recombinant

DNA technology. There are also separate research facilitiesfor other areas of studies including micropropagation,

somatic embryogenesis, biochemistry, immunology,

virology and plant health. The biotechnology division ofIAHS is equipped with modern instruments and technical

know-how required for undertaking custom research

involving somatic embryogenesis, immunology, virology,as well as molecular and cellular biology recombinant DNA

technology.

Some of IAHS’ achievements are:

• First to introduce commercial horticulture in India

• First to export hybrid Petunia seeds to the US

• First to cultivate horticultural crops in climatically

controlled greenhouse

• First to release its own F1 hybrid vegetable seeds of

tomatoes namely ‘Karnataka’ and F1 hybrid seeds ofcapsicum namely ‘Bharath’ as early as in 1973.

In 1994, IAHS initiated a cotton improvement program

and released the first two high yielding F1 hybrid seedsnamed ‘Gouri’ — suitable for growing as irrigated crops

and ‘Sanju’ — suitable for growing under rainfed

conditions. The company has produced several superior F1

hybrids of brinjal, cabbage, capsicum, cauliflower,

*Vice-president, Indo-American Hybrid Seeds.

I

IAHS Corporate Office and Biotechnology Centre, Bangalore.

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130 APBN • Vol. 4 • No. 6 • 2000

cucumber, ladies finger, muskmelon, tomato andwatermelon. In addition, it has the major share of the F1

hybrid tomato seed market in India.

The IAHS has revolutionized the floriculture industryin India, and is a leading exporter of flower seeds, including

the F1 hybrid seeds of antirrhinum, geranium, impatiens,

nicotiana, petunia and ornamental chilli produced in climatecontrolled greenhouses, to the US and other countries.

Besides this, open pollinated seeds of several important

flowering crops are produced and supplied to domesticand foreign customers. IAHS also initiated the ‘Sunflower

Improvement Program’ in India and through this, has

released three F1 hybrids namely ‘Arun’, ‘Ravi, and‘Aditya’ which have become popular throughout the

country because of their high yield. These hybrids besides

exhibiting good tolerance to diseases like downy mildewand rust diseases, also have higher oil content.

The IAHS has played a significant role in improvingthe well-being of rural population. It conducts regular

practical training programs on modern cultivation practices

for farmers. In addition, it also publishes product manualsand a scientific magazine, called ‘Vatika,’ to update farmers

on the latest developments in agriculture seeds. Besides

this, IAHS also offers intensive short duration training andextension programs on modern crop management, plant

protection and biotechnology. It also conducts regularpractical training programs on modern cultivation practices

for the farmers. As a part of its customer service, IAHS

markets its seeds in convenient packets with informationon modern production techniques. Its highly qualified and

trained sales staff and customer service team work hand-

in-hand to fulfill customer needs.

Through thoughtful planning, IAHS hopes to develop

superior hybrids in all the important horticultural crops forvarious agro-climatic regions in the country. It will also

continue to identify, conserve, and multiply superior

germplasms of important horticultural, agricultural andforest plant species through biotechnology; develop superior

varieties/hybrids for specific traits using cellular and

molecular biotechniques to help conventional breeders.

F1 hybrid tomato. The IAHS was the first to introduce andpopularize F1 hybrid vegetables in India. The first

F1 hybrid tomato was released in 1973.

F1 hybrid sunflower. The IAHS initiated the SunflowerImprovement Program in 1988 and released the first two

high yielding and disease tolerant F1 hybrids in 1990.

”

“ IAHS has played a significant role in

improving the well-being of rural

population. It conducts regular practical

training programs on modern cultivation

practices for farmers.

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