Plenary and concluding session of XXX Annual Group Meeting of AICRP - National Seed Project (Crops) on 05th April, 2015 at ICAR-DSR, Mau

ICAR-Directorate of Seed Research, Mau was organized meeting entitled “XXX Annual

Group Meeting of AICRP - National Seed Project (Crops)” during 3-5th April, 2015. A total of

200 delegates from various seed related organizations (public and private sector) were

participated in the meeting. During 03 days deliberations centre-wise and discipline-wise

presentations were held on progress of Breeder Seed Production (BSP) and Seed

Technological Research (STR) and same has been reviewed along with AUC and monitoring

report during meeting. Further, committee has recommended and finalized technical

programme of the year 2015-16. A special session on “Seed stakeholder’s scientist’s

interactions” was also organized under the chairmanship of Dr. S.K. Rao, Dean, JNKVV,

Jabalpur.

Plenary session was organized on 05th April, 2015, during which recommendations of

earlier technical sessions were presented, discussed and finalized. The session was chaired

by Dr. S.K. Rao, who stressed upon maximization of seed yield in various crops through

appropriate crop geometry and standardization of seed rate along with suitable sowing

time. New alternate area for seed production should be identified for hybrid rice and other

crops. It was decided to conclude the experiment on evaluation of genotypes for seedling

suitable for direct seeding in rice and to explore the possibility of application of SRI methods

for breeder seed production programme. He also suggested for identification of suitable

varieties/ hybrid specific SSR markers in rice. There is need for pulsed electro-magnetic field

treatment for enhancing seed quality for low volume crops like onion and tomato. It was

also suggested to take sincere efforts and meticulous planning to develop modified seed

storage technologies in groundnut in collaboration with DGR, Junagarh. It was insisted to go

for insight study for seed quality enhancement, vacuum packing methods for high value

seeds like onion. It was suggested to standardize the method for identification of significant

seed borne pathogen of various crops. Detection, transmission and management techniques

have to be standardized for sunflower seed. Highlighted the importance of modernization of

seed processing plant and to explore the possibilities of public-private or public-farmer

partnership for effective seed processing research and also the expertise from private sector

may be utilized for this purpose.

Laboratory and field visits of ICAR-DSR for dignitaries and delegates of the meeting

were also organized. An exhibition stall on ICAR-DSR achievements and private seed

companies were also displayed during meeting. XXX Annual Group Meeting of AICRP -

National Seed Project (Crops) 2015 ended with vote of thanks proposed by Dr. S. Rajendra

Prasad, Project Director, ICAR-DSR, Mau.