ICAR-NBPGR organizes Germplasm Diversity Day - 2021

20th February, 2021, New Delhi

The ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi organized the “Germplasm Diversity Day - 2021” at ICAR-NBPGR Farm, Issapur, New Delhi today.

In his inaugural address, Dr. Tilak Raj Sharma, Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR stressed on utilizing the Crop Wild Relatives (CWRs) and landraces in Indian breeding programme and establishing collaborative linkages with crop based Institutes for better utilization of the germplasm. During his interaction with the concerned scientists and participants, Dr. Sharma appreciated the Bureau’s efforts for large scale germplasm characterization and establishing the Field Gene Bank of minor fruits and multi-purpose tree species of subtropical and semi arid regions.

In his address, Dr. Kuldeep Singh, Director, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi emphasized on using modern phenotyping tools including digital field book and drones to generate large scale characterization data in time bound manner.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. Ashok Kumar, Head (Division of Germplasm Evaluation), ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi outlined the germplasm activities being carried out at the Issapur Farm. He also outlined the large scale characterization of germplasm through different projects.

Around 10,000 Germplasm Accessions of different field crops were shown to the crop experts belonging to the ICAR-IARI, ICAR-IIPR, ICAR-IIWBR, ICAR-CSSRI, BISA, PAU and ICAR-NBPGR during the occasion.

(Source: ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi)