ICAR-SBI, ICRISAT explore collaboration on climate-resilient sugarcane breeding
ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute and ICRISAT are exploring collaboration on advanced genomics, artificial intelligence, precision phenotyping and climate-resilient sugarcane breeding. ICAR-SBI-developed Co varieties cover over 80% of India’s sugarcane area, while three new varieties were released last year for different agro-climatic zones.
The ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute (ICAR-SBI), Coimbatore, and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, are exploring collaborative efforts to strengthen sugarcane improvement through advanced breeding technologies and climate-resilient research, The Hindu reported.
The proposed areas of cooperation include advanced genomic technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), precision phenotyping and climate-resilient breeding, Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, said while addressing the Foundation Day celebrations of ICAR-SBI.
Highlighting the institute’s contribution to India’s sugarcane sector, Pathak said more than 80% of the country’s sugarcane area is cultivated with ICAR-SBI-developed ‘Co’ varieties, reflecting its significant role in strengthening the country’s sugar security.
He noted that the agricultural research landscape has changed considerably, with scientists increasingly expected to develop innovative and practical solutions to address emerging challenges facing the sector.
During the celebrations, Pathak also presented the Sir T. S. Venkataraman Awards to students in recognition of outstanding theses and research in sugarcane agriculture.
P. Govindaraj, Director of ICAR-SBI, said the institute had released three sugarcane varieties during the previous year, targeting different agro-climatic requirements.
These include Co 18003, a high-quality variety developed for Peninsular India; Co 21003, a high-yielding variety suited to Tamil Nadu; and Co 18022, a mid-late maturing variety developed for the North West Zone.
The proposed collaboration with ICRISAT could strengthen the application of modern breeding tools in developing sugarcane varieties better suited to changing climatic conditions and evolving production challenges.
To Read more about Sugar Industry continue reading Agriinsite.com
Source : ChiniMandi
