Role of ICRISAT plant quarantine laboratory in crop germplasm exchange

1. Role of ICRISAT Plant Quarantine Laboratory in
Crop Germplasm Exchange
Nov 2009
Introduction
International exchange of germplasm is critical to genetic improvement of crop cultivars to meet the ever-
increasing demand of food, feed and fodder.
International movement of seed material increases phytosanitary risks that involve introduction of exotic
insect-pests and pathogens.
ICRISAT’s Plant Quarantine Laboratory (PQL), in collaboration with the National Bureau of Plant Genetic
Resources (NBPGR) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), plays a major role in minimizing
such risks.
Plant Quarantine Regulations in India
Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage, Ministry of Agriculture
exports for research.
Outputs
Plant Quarantine Activities
intended for export at different growth stages
scientists
international export using appropriate seed health
testing methods
seed exports after examining the seed health test
results
material to be imported to ICRISAT for research
purposes
chemicals
Quarantine Isolation Fields or PQ greenhouse
for pest and pathogen inspection and release by
NBPGR
seed material of ICRISAT’s mandate crops.
Figure1. Number of germplasm samples of ICRISAT mandate
parenthesis are number of countries).
Figure 2. Number of important quarantine insects
pests and pathogens intercepted during import and
export from 1973-2008.
Procedures for International
Germplasm Exchange Fungial diseases:
Perenosclerospora sorghi
Sclerospora graminicola) in pearl millet from USA and Togo 2002
Fusarium udum
Pyricularia grisea)
Bacterial diseases:
Xanthomonas vasicola pv. holcicola
Pseudomonas andropogoni
(Burkholderia solanacearum) in wild Arachis
Viral disease:
Arachis