Cowpea Germplasm Field Day

16^th October, 2019, Bangalore

The ICAR-National Bureau of Plants Genetic Resources, New Delhi and University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore jointly organized the “Cowpea Germplasm Field Day” at the Gandhi Krishi Vigyan Kendra Campus, UAS, Bangalore today.

Dr. S. Rajendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, UAS, Bangalore inaugurated the Field Day. Dr. Prasad highlighted the pulses’ importance as a good source of protein regular diet in the country. He stressed on the need for developing the high yielding varieties in minor pulses like cowpea for which the initial evaluation, characterization and development of corset of Germplasm for different traits is essential. He urged the cowpea breeders for observing and choosing the good genotypes for cowpea improvement programme. Dr. Prasad also opined for identifying the suitable genotypes for earliness, fodder purpose and vegetable types.

Dr. Y.G. Shadakshari, Director of Research, UAS, Bangalore presided the function.

Dr. Ashok Kumar, Principal Scientist & Head, Division of Germplasm Evaluation, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi briefed on the importance of “Germplasm Field Days” in the enhanced utilization of germplasm by the breeders.

All the cowpea germplasm accessions available in the National Gene Bank numbering 3,720 were grown for characterization and evaluation at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi under the DBT funded Project on “Genetic Enhancement of Minor Pulses”.

The various Senior Officials from ICAR and State Agricultural Universities participated in the programme.

(Source: ICAR-National Bureau of Plants Genetic Resources, New Delhi and University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore)