Significant Research Achievements

Section A

Genetic Enhancement in Pulses

• Genetic enhancement for yield and quality

  The breeding efforts at ICAR-IIPR have led to release of 46 varieties of different pulses with increased yield level (1–1.5 tones) along with enhanced resistance against major biotic and abiotic stresses.

• Exploitation of heterosis in pigeonpea

  IPH15-03 and IPH 09-5 short duration, high-yielding, multiple disease-resistant pigeonpea hybrids released for cultivation in the NWPZ.

• Machine harvestable varieties in pulses

  Developed machine-harvestable chickpea variety IPC 2015-132 (Kundan) for NEPZ. Research ongoing to develop machine-harvestable pigeonpea, mung, urd, lentil, and field peas.

• Integrated pre-breeding approach

  Established a wild garden for chickpea, pigeonpea, vigna, lentil, and cowpea. A total of 443 accessions of 35 species of pulses are maintained. Several wild species have been used for generating pre-breeding lines.

• Genomics-enabled pulse crop improvement

  MAS used to develop wilt-resistant chickpea IPCMB19-3 (Samriddhi) and drought-tolerant IPC MAS-1. Similar efforts underway in pigeonpea for wilt-resistant varieties.

• Biofortified pulse varieties

  Chickpea: IPC 2005-62 (high protein). Lentil: IPL 220 (high Fe & Zn).

• Breeding for drought & temperature tolerance

  Developed 32 registered donors and multiple mapping populations in pulses.

• Maintenance breeding & seed production

  Released 56 varieties (2014–2025) — Chickpea (13), Pigeonpea (6), Mungbean (7), Urdbean (7), Lentil (10), Fieldpea (13). Maintains nucleus and breeder seeds as per DAC indent.

• IP generated

  32 PPVFRA registrations; 23 copyrights; 11 patents filed/published; 1 patent granted; 10 trademarks; 3 designs; 2 microbial strains; 14 ICAR-certified technologies.

• Technology commercialization

  75 technologies commercialized — Varieties (59), value-added products (7), machinery (5), microbial strains & consortia (4). MoA signed with 25 industry partners.

• PGR management

  Working collections maintained across 11 crops, 10,761 accessions in all:

  • Chickpea 2,035
  • Pigeonpea 2,000
  • Mungbean 800
  • Urdbean 510
  • Lentil 1,480
  • Fieldpea 750
  • Rajmash 1,205
  • Cowpea 570
  • Horsegram 240
  • Lathyrus 871
  • Mothbean 300

• Mapping populations available

  Pigeonpea wilt

  Bahar / ICPL 20096

  Fieldpea rust

  HFP 4 × FC 1

  Mungbean YMD

  SML 832 × V. glabrescens, SML 832 × TCR 7, IPM 2-14 × TMB 37, PDM 139 × TMB 37, etc.

  Urdbean YMD

  IPU11-02 × PM-6, LBG645 × DPU88-31

  Chickpea heat tolerance

  ICC 15614 × ICC4567, DCP92-3 × ICC1205

  Chickpea nutritional quality (Protein)

  Several mapping populations (e.g., IPC04-98 × 39-1, JG16 × T39-1)

  Dry Root Rot resistance

  IPC05-28 × BG212, JSC37 × BG212

  Ascochyta blight resistance

  L 550 × IC 117744

Pulses varieties developed during 2014–2025

56 varieties across 6 crops.

Donors registered (2014–2024)

31 registrations, in the groups the institute publishes them under.

Three things about this table are the source’s, and are carried as published. The serial numbers run to 32 but only 31 rows are listed — 1 number is skipped (31). Rows 6–9 are Cajanus cajan, which is pigeonpea, but sit under the Chickpea heading. And INGR 22046 appears against two different donors.

Section C

Crop Protection

Microorganism Registered

• Four Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains deposited at NAIMCC-NBAIM, Mau: F1.IIPR (NAIMCC-B-03049), F4.IIPR (NAIMCC-B-03050), F5.IIPR (NAIMCC-B-03051), and F6.IIPR (NAIMCC-B-03052).
• Microbial Strain registered with ICAR-NBAIM, Mau for uniqueness characters/trait: Trichoderma asperellum (IIPRTh-31) (Reg. No. NAIMCC-R-5), and Trichoderma afroharzianum (IIPRTh-33) (Reg. No. NAIMCC-R-6).

Diagnostics and characterisation

• First reports of GBNV in pea, rajmash, and wild Vigna; MYMIV in wild Vigna; and mixed infections of MYMIV, MYMV, and HgYMV in mothbean, urdbean, and V. stipulacea.
• New viruses (RhYMV, BpYMV, CsYMV) and new host associations (FbSLCV, FbLCV, ToLCGV) identified in pulses.
• Alternate weed hosts of MYMIV identified for the first time in India.
• Developed PCR and full-genome amplification protocols for major YMD viruses and three rapid diagnostic kits (LYMVs PCR, Direct PCR, and Mplex).
• Standardized a low-cost DNA extraction method enabling virus detection from a single whitefly.
• Complete genome of Spilosoma obliqua NPV assembled and characterized.
• Stem rot of pigeonpea caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum reported first time from India.
• More than 500 isolates of Fusarium udum were collected from major pigeonpea-growing regions across the country and characterized using seven wilt differentials. Based on their pathogenic reactions, the isolates were classified into five distinct F. udum races prevailing in India.
• Fifty isolates of Phytophthora cajani were identified and characterized using ITS and COX gene primers from major pigeonpea-growing areas, and the sequences have been submitted to NCBI.

Bioecology

• Characterized, for the first time in India, the major bruchid species (C. maculatus, C. analis, C. chinensis, C. theobromae, A. obtectus) and mapped their distribution across regions and storage systems.
• Reported, for the first time, the resistance status of Indian bruchid populations against phosphine — the only recommended fumigant for pulse storage.
• Worked out the economic threshold levels (ETL) of gram pod borer (H. armigera) in chickpea and pigeonpea; one larva was found capable of damaging 20–25 pods.
• Demonstrated that Heterodera cajani infestation reduces urdbean yield by 50.9% and lowers grain protein content, with cyst eggs remaining viable for over three years in soil.
• Documented 12 nematode genera from chickpea and 11 from pigeonpea rhizospheres in Bundelkhand, with Tylenchorhynchus, Pratylenchus, and Heterodera as the predominant groups.

Biological control — characterization, conservation and formulation development

• Identified and characterized native Bt strains (F8.IIPR, Ak2.IIPR) and viral isolates (SpobMNPV, HearNPV-IIPR05) for eco-friendly management of Helicoverpa armigera and Spilosoma obliqua.
• Achieved biogenic synthesis of Zn, Ag, and Fe nanoparticles using Trichoderma isolates for disease management.
• Characterized five entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema siamkayai) and ten strains of Purpureocillium lilacinum as potential biocontrol agents against H. armigera and Meloidogyne incognita.
• Identified seven isolates of Pasteuria penetrans, an obligate bacterial hyperparasite of root-knot nematodes.

Pest Management

• Among 11 bio-rationals / chemical insecticides evaluated against M. vitrata, the lowest pod damage (4.8%) with high-cost benefit ratio was recorded in Indoxacarb 14.5 SC treated plots followed by Spinosad 45SC (5.2%) as against 15.4% in untreated control.
• Prophylactic treatment for bruchid management: Mix 120 grams of Deltamethrin 2.5% WP powder in 3 liters of water and spray this entire solution to 100 square meters area on empty areas in and around storage rooms, gunnage and gangways.
• Curative control of bruchids: Fumigation of stored grain/seeds with Aluminium phosphide 56 % W/W @ 3 tablets (3-gram tablets) or one tablet/pouch (10-gram tablet or pouch) per tonne under complete airtightness for seven days is recommended to eliminate the bruchid infestations, completely.
• One to two foliar sprays of carbendazim 50 WP @ 0.025% or thiophanate methyl 70% WP @ 0.05% have been found very effective in controlling Cercospora leaf spot disease in mungbean.
• Field sanitation + seed treatment + intercropping/mixed cropping of sorghum and use of moderately resistant cultivars has reduced wilt incidence in pigeonpea.
• Intercropping of mustard with chickpea has been found effective in management of gram pod borer and root knot nematode.

Distribution map of yellow mosaic disease causing viruses

Section E

Outreach Activities