Seed Technology Research, GKVK, Bengaluru

AICRP Scheme : Seed Technology Research Centre, AICRP on Seed (Crops)

Location: AICRP on Seed (Crops), GKVK, Bengaluru-560 065

Year of Start:1980-81 under NSP Phase-II

Mandate:

· Development of technologies for maximizing seed production and productivity of crop varieties and hybrids
· Standardization of seed testing protocol, identification of DUS characters etc., for seed certification purpose
· Use of biochemical and molecular markers for characterization of varieties / hybrids for seed genetic purity test
· Identification of suitable seed treatments/ materials / methods for safe and prolonged seed storage
·Identification of suitable locations for quality seed production
· Safe technology / methods / treatments for control of storage insects / pests
· Exploitation of pollinators for higher seed production and quality
· Standardization of sieve sizes, for grading, seed drying and storage technologies for different crop seeds
· Application of second-generation seed treatments like seed pelleting / coating / colouring technology/ nanoparticle’s etc., for seed quality enhancement and improve shelf-life of seeds.
· Identification of local seed related problems and addressing them through systematic research

Seed Technology Research, GKVK, Bengaluru
Research Programmes: Experiments conducted

List of experiments
A. Seed production and Certification (06)
1.	Optimization of organic seed production systems in Finger millet	Ø Evaluation of crop varieties for their suitability under organic seed production systems Ø To study the influence of organic nutrient sources on seed yield and quality attributes under organic production systems
2.	Optimization of organic seed production systems in Paddy	Ø Evaluation of crop varieties for their suitability under organic seed production systems. Ø To study the influence of organic nutrient sources on seed yield and quality attributes under organic production systems.
3.	Optimization of seed rate for enhancing seed yield and recovery of pure live seed Crop : Chickpea	Ø To determine the optimum seed rate for maximizing seed yield and quality.
4.	PGPR mediated seed coating for quality seed production Crop : Soybean	Ø To study the effect of seed coating with PGPR formulations on seed yield and quality.
5.	Evaluation of liquid bio-fertilizers in enhancing seed yield and quality Crop:Soybean	Ø To evaluate the effectiveness of liquid biofertilizers on seed yield and quality.
6.	Enhancing seed yield and quality in off season soybean through application of Plant growth regulators Crop:Soybean	Ø To identify the suitable planting time for promoting quality seed production in off- season.
B. Seed Physiology, Storage and Testing (07)
7.	To reaffirm the validity periods of certified seeds of field crops (as per the IMSCS regulations) Crop : Finger Millet	Ø To study the planting values of seeds to examine the prescribed periods of validity of seed lots of some major field crops
8.	Hybrid purity testing using molecular markers in public sector hybrids of field crops Crops: Maize & Sunflower	Ø To validate the identified markers for establishing hybridity in different hybrids of various field crops To assess the efficiency of molecular markers in hybrid purity testing in comparison to the grow-out test in various field crops. To identify microsatellites markers for establishing hybridity in additional/new hybrids of various field crops
9.	Physiology studies and development of priming technologies for enhancing planting value of seed in field crops under optimal and sub-optimal conditions A. Standardization of priming technologies for enhancing planting value of seed under optimal and sub-optimal conditions in selected field crops Crop: Sunflower	Ø Standardization of priming technologies for enhancing planting value of seed under optimal and sub-optimal conditions in selected field crops.
10.	Physiology studies and development of priming technologies for enhancing planting value of seed in field crops under optimal and sub-optimal conditions B. Demonstrations of validated priming technologies to be repeated in a minimum of 500 sqm for validated treatment along with control/s in the specified stress conditions Crop: Redgram	Ø Demonstrations of identified priming technologies in different field crops for sub-optimal/stress conditions
11.	Influence of terminal heat stress on seed set, seed yield and quality in field crops Crop : Finger Millet	Ø To validate the standardized treatments for mitigations of adverse effects of heat stress in finger millet
12.	Development of Digital weed seed atlas: ready reckoner for weed seed identification Crops: Maize Sorghum, Chickpea, Pigeon pea, Groundnut, Safflower and Sunflower	Ø Easy identification and improve efficiency of STL in identifying weed seeds
13.	Evaluation of seed quality attributes and storage potential of bio-fortified varieties in major field crops Crop: Maize	Ø To study storage potential of bio fortified varieties
C. Seed Entomology (05)
14.	Survey and evaluation of seed health status of farmers’ saved seed with respect to insect infestation. Field crops: Cowpea, Field bean, Chikpea and Horsegram	Ø Survey and evaluation of seed health status of farmers’ saved seed with respect to insect infestation
15.	Demonstration of studies on the effect of insecticidal seed treatment on seed viability during storage under ambient condition. Crop: Cowpea	Ø To demonstrate the efficacy of spinetorum against major storage insect pests damaging seeds. Ø Study the storability of treated seeds.
16.	Studies on the effect of entomopathogens and inert dust on storage insect pests and seed viability during storage under ambient condition Crops: Cowpea and Blackgram	Ø To evaluate the effect of entomopathogens and inert dust against major storage insect pests damaging seeds. Ø Study of the storability of treated seeds.
17.	Studies on efficacy of plant based neutral silica on storage insects and seed quality during storage under ambient condition. Crops: Greengram and Blackgram	Ø To evaluate the effect of plant based silica against major storage insect pests damaging seeds Ø Study of storability of treated seeds.
18.	Studies on the effect of insecticidal seed treatment on seed viability during storage under ambient condition Crops: Cowpea and Blackgram	Ø To evaluate newer molecules against major storage insect pests damaging seeds Ø Study of storability of treated seeds.
D. Seed Processing
19.	Optimum sieve size and type of screen for grading seeds of different crop varieties and hybrids including their parents. Crops: Pigeon pea, Maize , Finger millet, Fieldbean& Sunflower	Ø To standardize the sieve size and type of screen for grading seeds of different crop varieties and hybrids including their parents

Research Accomplishments: Technologies developed- 24 nos

Sl. No.	Technology developed	Year of development
1.	Seed dormancy in Stylosanthushamatacan be overcome by scarifying the seed with mechanical scarifier for 10 min. by using sand paper	2006-07
2.	Pre-showing seed treatment of Groundnut kernel with hydration @ 1:1 ratio (wt/volume) for 16 hours followed by shade dried and dry dressed with thiram @ 2.5 g/kg.	2006-07
3.	Treating the seeds of maize by using Nimbicidine 300 ppm @ 5.0 ml/kg of seed is recommended for the control of storage pests of maize under ambient conditions.	2008-09
4.	Treating the seeds of cowpea by using Econeem 10,000 ppm @ 5.0 ml/kg of seed is recommended for the control of storage pests of cowpea under ambient conditions.	2008-09
5.	Freshly harvested groundnut pods can be mechanically dried for seed purpose using a convective dryer. The maximum drying air temperature should not exceed 40 ^oC for a pod bed thickness of 5 cm and it required 44 hours of drying to bring down the initial seed moisture content of around 45 per cent to the safe storagemoisturelevelof<9percent.Thesemechanicallydriedseedpodscanbe stored satisfactorily upto 12 months.	2009-10
6.	Freshly harvested sunflower seeds can be mechanically dried for seed purpose using a convective dryer. The maximum drying air temperature should not exceed 40 ^oC for a pod bed thickness of 5 cm and it required 21 hours of drying to bring down the initial seed moisture content of around 40 per cent to the safe storagemoisturelevelof<9percent.Thesemechanicallydriedseedpodscanbe stored satisfactorily upto 12 months.	2009-10
7.	Maize seeds treated with spinosad 45 SC @ 0.04 ml/kg help to prevent seed storage insect pests upto nine months of storage	2010-11
8.	Cowpea seeds treated with spinosad 45 SC @ 0.04 and emamectin benzoate 5SG @ 40 mg/kg help to prevent pulse beetle upto twelve months of storage	2010-11
9.	The primers RM 206 and RM 276 could be effectively used for identification of contaminants in hybrid seed production of paddy KRH-2, which is rapid and reliable to detect impurities in hybrid and their parental lines and thus it can supplement the conventional grow-out- test (GOT)	2010-11
10	Eight sunflower hybrids (KBSH-1, KBSH-41, KBSH-42, KBSH-44, KBSH-53, RSFH-1, RSFH-130 and DRSH-1) were easily differentiated uniquely through SSR and EST primers	2012-13
11	Treating groundnut pods with deltamethrin 2.8 EC @ 1 ppm (0.04 ml) or thiodicarb 75 wp @ 2 ppm (2.70 mg) or Spinosad 45 EC @ 2 ppm (0.04 ml) by diluting in 15 ml of water, shade drying and storing the pods in gunny bags for management of groundnut pod borer under ambient conditions upto nine months without affecting the seed quality parameters.	2013-14
Sl. No.	Technology developed	Year of development
12	The groundnut pods packed in High Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE) bags treated with deltamethrin 2.8 EC @ 100 ppm (3.5 ml/litre) or Spinosad 45 SC @100 ppm ().2 ml/litre) for management of pod borer Caryodon serratus (Olivier) upto nine months of storage under ambient conditions without affecting the seed quality Parameters.	2013-14
13.	Treating the groundnut pods with deltamethrin 2.8 EC @ 1ppm (0.04 ml) or thiodicarb 75 WP @ 2 ppm (2.70 mg) or spinosad 45SC @ 2 ppm (0.04 ml) by diluting in 15 ml of water, shade drying and storing the pods in gunny bags for management of groundnut pod borer under ambient conditions upto nine months without affecting the seed quality parameters	2013-14
14.	Groundnut pods packed in High Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE) bags treated with deltamethrin 2.8 EC @ 100 ppm(3.5ml /liter) or spinosad 45SC @ 100 ppm (0.2ml/liter) for management of pod borer Caryodon serratus (Olivier) upto nine months of storage under ambient conditions without affecting the seed quality parameters	2013-14
15.	The genetic purity of paddy varieties (16) and hybrid (KRH-4) can be tested in laboratory through SSR molecular markers in short period. This is in agreement with that of conventional grow out test. It is cost effective and a quick method. The samples can be tested immediately after production and helps in early seed distribution to farmers. This is already being used extensively as a supportive technology in our laboratory. This has been approved in the ZREP zone-5 workshop held during April, 2015.	2015-16
16.	The groundnut pods stored under modified storage atmosphere of 50% carbon dioxide (CO2) treatment could provide best management of storage insect pest of groundnut pod borer Caryodon serratus (Olivier) up to 12 months of storage under ambient conditions without affecting seed quality parameters.	2016-17
17.	Soybean seeds stored in super grain bag could help to extend the storability up to 18 months under ambient storage without significant loss of viability and vigour and also provides protection against pests and diseases.	2016-17
18.	Cowpea seeds treated with of Acorus calamus formulation @10 ml/kg of seeds and stored in gunny bag can prevent the storage insect pest of cowpea up to 12 months of storage and seed quality parameters were above minimum seed certification standards. This botanical seed treatment is performing similar to that of insecticidal seed treatment and can be used as organic seed treatment	2018-19
19.	Cowpea seeds treated with Azadirachtin (10000 ppm) @ 7.5 ml/kg and stored in gunny bag can prevent storage insect pest with minimum seed infestation upto 12 months of storage without altering the seed quality standards.	2019-20
20	Spraying emamectin benzoate @0.3g/l at 50% pod maturity and maturity (full pod) can control field infestation of pulse beetle (Callosobruchussp) and also can store the seeds upto a month without any treatment.	2020-21
Sl. No.	Technology developed	Year of development
21.	Soybean seeds stored under super gain bag with zeolite beads will help to maintain the seed quality parameters upto 12 months by absorbing the moisture content during storage. Compared to silica gel, zeolite beads have good water holding capacity, ability to regenerate beads 10,000 times without loss of capacity, non-toxicity and low cost. Hence, Zeolite beads can be recommended to farmers for soybean seed drying and storage.	2020-21
22.	Seed priming with 20 % liquid Pseudomonas fluoresces enhanced the field emergence by 8.83 percent and yield of proso millet cv. TNAU-145 by 12.15 percent. Besides, yield, priming enhanced the resultant vigour of the seeds. The highest vigour index was reported in P4 (1599) which accounts to an increase of 10.13 percent against control. Hence, priming could be adopted to obtain uniform emergence, potential yield and quality in proso millet crop.	2020-21
23	Treat the pulse seed with spinotorum 11.7% SC @ 2.5ml/kg seed + 5 ml water/kg seed and shade dry for four hours and store the seed in gunny bag. It protect the treated pulse seeds from pulse beetle infestation up to 9 months of storage. It also helps in maintaining the seed quality parameters.	2021-22
24	Treat the pulse seed with flupyradifurone 200SL @ 0.04 ml/kg seed+ 50 ml water/10 kg seed. Shade dry the treated seed for 3 to 4 hours and store the seed in gunny bag. It protect the treated pulse seeds from pulse beetle infestation up to 9 months of storage. It also helps in maintaining the seed quality parameters.	2022-23

Awards / Recognitions:

Received certificate of excellence- In recognition of Best performance in Seed technology Research under AICRP NSP (Crops) for the year 2015-16 during XXXI Annual group Meeting, 19th -21^st April, 2016 at Kerala, Agriculture University, Thrissur, Kerala.
Best Stall Award for National Seed Project in Krishimela, organized at GKVK, UAS, Bengaluru from 24^th -27^th October 2019 and 03-06^th November 2022.
Vishwanath, K. and Dr. Nethra, N. received the certificate of merit award for having received grants of Rs. 409.00 lakhs for bringing externally funded project to the University during the year 2021-22 as Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator for the project entitled “Development of demonstration and business model for soil-less agriculture production system” funded by RKVY, Ministry of Agriculture and co-operation, GOI, New Delhi. The certificate was given on the occasion of the Foundation day of the University on 11^th October 2022.
Vishwanath, K received Certificate of Merit certificate of merit for Generating Funds through “Pulse Hub” as Associate Leader issued during Foundation Day of UAS, Bangalore on 11^th October, 2022
Vishwanath, K received certificate of merit for Generating Funds through “Mega Seed Project” as Associate Leader issued during Foundation Day of UAS, Bangalore on 11^th October, 2022

Facilities Available:

Seed quality testing and grow out test for seed certification or other purpose in notified seed testing laboratory.
Characterization of varieties / hybrids for seed genetic purity test using biochemical and molecular markers
Testing of germination paper and other seed germination media quality testing

Other Activities:

Imparting training to the farmers and personnel’s from seed industry regarding seedproduction, testing and storage.

Externally Funded Projects in Operation

No.

Project Title

Principal Investigator

Funding agency

Year of Start

Year of Completion

Total budget

(Rs. in lakhs)

Significant Outcome

Development of demonstration and business model for soilless agriculture production system(ABAC No. 8914)

Dr. Vishwanath, K. (PI)

Dr. Nethra, N.

(CO-PI)

RKVY

2021

2023

409.00

Study come out with water and space and nutrients saving technologies for any agriculture production system and to narrow the uncertainty in agriculture.

Providing proper technical knowledge to rural youths to attracted them to modern agriculture methods and it in turn reduce the unemployment problem as well.

Established art of facility of the soilless agri demonstration plot with all the models throughout the year.

Understanding the bio-chemical composition of seed coat in different crops to develop biodegradable membrane for encapsulation. (ABAC 5371)

Dr. Nethra, N.

M/s TRuCapsol LLC

2020-21

2023-24

12.56

The results of seed coat of soybean contrast colour showed that black genotypes performed better than white in storage. This we have shown mainly due to the black seed coat’s physical and chemical properties. The seed coat composition of white (JS 335) and black (Bhatt) soybean with differential water permeability show variations in their chemistry and metabolite diversity.

Staff Profile

A.Scientific staff:

Dr. K. Vishwanath

Designation Seed Research Officer
Academic Qualification M.Sc. (Agri.), Ph.D (SST)
Area of Specialization Seed Science and Technology
Date of joining duty at UAS, Bangalore 22-07-2009
Date of Joining Scheme /Unit 01-06-2022

srostrc@gmail.com
vishwakoti@gmail.com

080-23620494
+91 9108925969

Dr. C. Manja Naik

Designation Assistant Seed Research Officer
Academic Qualification M.Sc. (Agri.), Ph.D in Agril. Entomology
Area of Specialization Agricultural Entomology
Date of joining duty at UAS, Bangalore 24-01-1996
Date of Joining Scheme /Unit 02-04-2018

naik196710@yahoo.com

080-23620494
+91 9480773978

Dr.Nethra Nagarajappa

Designation Assistant Seed Research Officer
Academic Qualification M.Sc. (Agri.), Ph.D(SST) , Post-Doc (USA)
Area of Specialization Seed Science and Technology
Date of joining duty at UAS, Bangalore 24-10-2011
Date of Joining Scheme /Unit 24-10-2011

nnethra@uasbangalore.edu.in
nethraharsha@gmail.com

080-23620494
+91 9900244735

B.Technical staff

Mrs. B.L. Jyothi

Designation Senior Technical Officer
Academic Qualification M.Sc. (Seri.)
Area of Specialization Sericulture
Date of joining duty at UAS, Bangalore 21-10-2010
Date of Joining Scheme/Unit 21-10-2010

jyothibl@yahoo.co.in

080-23620494
+91 9481245045

Dr. J. Lakshmi

Designation Senior Technical Officer
Academic Qualification M.Sc. (Agri.), Ph.D (SST)
Area of Specialization Seed Science and Technology
Date of joining duty at UAS, Bangalore 01-12-2010
Date of Joining Scheme/Unit 17.02.2018

lakshmi_jagannatha@rediffmail.com

080-23620494
+91 9880992523

Mrs. SumalataByadgi

Designation Technical Officer
Academic Qualification M.Sc. (Home-Science)
Area of Specialization Home-Science
Date of joining duty at UAS, Bangalore 17-02-2018
Date of Joining Scheme/Unit 17-02-2018

suma.b549@gmail.com

080-23620494
+91 8792953645

C. Supporting staff:

Mr Chikkegowda

Designation Field Assistant
Academic Qualification PUC
Date of joining duty at UAS, Bangalore 01-01-1990
Date of Joining Scheme/Unit 01-04-2013

+91 9844423901

Mr. H.C. Ramachandra

Designation Field Assistant
Academic Qualification SSLC
Date of joining duty at UAS, Bangalore 01.02.1992
Date of Joining Scheme/Unit 01-04-2013

+91 9964797692

Mr. G.S. Subramanya

Designation Field Assistant
Academic Qualification SSLC
Date of joining duty at UAS, Bangalore 10.10.1993
Date of Joining Scheme/Unit 01-12-2010

+91 8147323543