FEATURE
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Regional
Sidelines
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M. V. S. Prasad*
A huge amount of energy is released by splitting an
atom. This energy can be utilized for various peaceful applications. 'Nuclear
agriculture' is one such important sector having a major societal impact.
Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division (NABTD) of the Bhabha Atomic
Research Centre (BARC) is involved in broad based research programme in
agriculture and allied areas. Nuclear agriculture involving mutation and
recombination breeding is one of the core areas of such research. Development
of biopesticides for integrated pest management, nutrient formulation for
improved fertilizer use efficiency, research on bioregulators, biosensors, and
agro-processing are some other areas of research.
Improved
Crop Varieties
Using
radiation induced mutations and hybridization, 41 crop varieties such as
groundnut, mungbean, blackgram, pigeonpea, soybean, cowpea, mustard, sunflower,
rice and jute have been developed and released for commercial cultivation in
different agroclimatic zones in the country.
These
varieties are endowed with one or more of improved characters such as higher
yield, earliness, large seed size and are stress-resistant. Mutation and
recombination breeding in wheat and rice is also being carried out to improve
yield and disease resistance. A late flowering mutant in Sesbania has been
developed with the potential to produce more biomass under short day conditions
and is an excellent material for green manuring.
The
deployment of crop technology and large scale production of breeder seeds of
these released varieties is being undertaken through linkages with various
Central and State Government Institutions, seed corporations and NGOs. The
societal impacts of these varieties are reflected in terms of their enhanced
popularity, productivity and extensive cultivation.
Plant
Biotechnology
Micropropagation
protocols have been developed for banana, sugarcane, grapes, pineapple, potato,
turmeric and ginger. Technology for tissue culture production of banana has
been transferred to Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Puducherry and the Maharashtra State
Seed Corporation, Akola.
Enzymes
and Micro-biotechnology
Research
and development is undertaken on techniques for immobilization of biocatalyst
and multi-enzyme complex, production of enzymes and downstream processing,
biosensors, bioremediation of organic and inorganic pollutants like heavy
metals, radionucleides, nitrate, phenol and TBP besides bio-nanotechnology and
molecular dynamic simulations for understanding protein solvent interactions.
Soil
Science and Insect Pest Management
Farmer
friendly soil organic carbon detection kit for the analysis of soil organic
carbon on field has been developed and technology transferred for commercial
production. Phosphorus fertilizer formulation using single super phosphate,
phosphoric and bio-sludge of molasses based distilleries and zinc fertilizer
formulation using zinc sulphate heptahydrate and bio-sludge of molasses based
distilleries having slow desorption as compared to most prevalent fertilizers
like single super phosphate and zinc sulphate have been developed.
‘Nisargruna’
Biogas Technology
A biogas plant named "Nisargruna" has been
developed to process kitchen waste. Digested slurry from this plant has good
fertilizer value for crops. The biogas plant has the ability to process other
forms of organic wastes like pre-soaked grass and even shredded paper. Various
Nisargruna plants have been commissioned across the country and are functioning
satisfactorily. The biogas technology is rapidly gaining popularity and
acceptance from the municipal corporations for disposal of municipal waste.
(PIB Features.)
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*Director, PIB, Chennai
With inputs from BARC
SS-133/SF-133/12-12-2013
RTS/HSN