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भा.कृ.अनु.प.- भारतीय चरागाह एवं चारा अनुसंधान संस्थान, झाँसी

ICAR - Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi

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Seed Technology Division — thrust areas, achievements, technologies, projects and staff.

Seed Technology Division

Thrust Areas

  • Economically viable quality seed production technologies in fodder crops, range grasses and legumes.
  • Seed standards and testing protocols in range grasses and legumes.
  • Quality seed production and eco-friendly safe seed storage technologies.

Working Groups

  • Seed Production Research
  • Seed Enhancement
  • Seed Biology
  • Seed Testing
  • Seed Processing

Brief Introduction

Division of Seed Technology carries out research in the areas of seed production, seed quality evaluation and enhancement, dormancy, storage, seed physiology and development of seed standards of forage crops. Keeping in view the seed production and research, the division is engaged in developing technologies on quality forage seed production.


Breeder seed monitoring

High density nursery of Bajra-Napier hybrid

Forage seed production


Major Achievements

  • Establishing seed standards for five temperate forages i.e. Timothy (Phleum pratense), Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), White Clover (Trifolium repens), Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), Persian Clover (Trifolium resupinatum).
  • Berseem seed coat colour dynamics in relation to seed ageing established: The berseem seed coat color (yellow to red and dark red) serves as a key indicator of seed quality. Seeds with darker coats exhibited elevated tannins, phenolics, flavonoids and electrical conductivity coupled with low antioxidants suggesting that changes in seed coat colour and ageing are associated with low seed germination and viability.
  • First report of Sclerotium rolfsii causing collar rot in berseem in India.
  • Guinea grass seed maturation: Technology for in vitro maturation of guinea grass seed using IAA (100 ppm) has been standardized.
  • Stem cuttings for better rooting in Bajra Napier Hybrid: Fresh stem cuttings (15–20 cm length, 7–9.5 mm diameter, 2–3 nodes) from the top 1/3rd portion of Bajra-Napier Hybrid plants exhibited the highest rooting percentage (90–95%) and superior field performance.
  • Physiological maturity for harvesting the berseem was identified to reduce the seed shedding during harvesting.
  • Breeder and truthfully labelled seed production of fodder crops and grasses: About 250 q breeder seed of fodder crops and 100 kg quality seed of grasses is produced every year.
  • More than 10.0 lakh rooted slips (planting material) of BN hybrid and grasses is supplied every year.

Major Technologies / Innovations / Methods / Tools Developed

  • Seed standards of Sevan ghrass (Lasiurus scindicus) developed
  • Seed standards of Aparajita (Clitoria ternatea) developed
  • Seed standards of Dashrath (Desmanthus virgatus) developed
  • Seed standards of Stylo (Stylosanthes hamata) developed
  • Seed standards of Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) developed
  • Seed standards of Orchard Grass (Dactylis glomerata) developed
  • Seed standards of Brome Grass (Bromus unioloides) developed
  • Seed standards of Rye Grass (Lolium perenne) developed
  • Seed standards of Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) developed
  • Smoke water machine developed; 1.0% smoke water improved germination in Cenchrus pedicellatus and Heteropogon contortus.
  • Stale seedbed technique standardized for weed control in berseem using pendimethalin + imazethapyr (0.75 kg a.i./ha).
  • Single eye bud technology developed for cost-effective BN hybrid multiplication using IBA (100 ppm).
  • High-density nursery technology standardized for easy uprooting and transport of BN hybrid planting material.

Ongoing Research Projects

Institute Funded Projects

Project Name Principal Investigator (PI) Time Frame
Development of seed standards in temperate forages S. R. Swami / Nakul Gupta 2023-2026
Study of berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) seed coat dynamics Prabha Singh 2020-2024
Role of smoke derived compounds in early establishment of forages Prabha Singh 2019-2024
Development of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) base prediction models for the assessment of seed viability and vigour in tropical grasses Maharishi Tomar 2021-2024
Evaluation of berseem gene pool for herbicide tolerance R. P. Saini 2020-2024

Externally Funded Projects

Project Name Budget PI Agency
Deciphering nitrogen use efficiency in sorghum deploying molecular and physiological interventions 47.10 Lakh Prabha Singh NLM
ICAR-Seed Project MSP Revolving Fund Awnindra Kr Singh ICAR
Assistance for quality seed production 121 Lakh Awnindra Kr Singh NLM
AICRP-Seeds (Crops) 10 Lakh / yr Awnindra Kr Singh ICAR

Seed Technology Division, ICAR-IGFRI is accredited in teaching and research of a PG course M.Sc. (Ag.) in Seed Science and Technology in collaboration with RLBCAU, Jhansi since the academic session 2023-24.


Staff Position

Scientific Staff

No. Image Name Designation Discipline
1. Dr. Awnindra Kumar Singh Principal Scientist and Head Plant Breeding
2. Dr. Nakul Gupta Senior Scientist Seed Science & Technology
3. Dr. Surendra Kumar Meena Senior Scientist Plant Physiology
4. Dr. Ravi Prakash Saini Scientist (Sr. Scale) Agricultural Biotechnology

Technical & Administrative Staff

No. Image Name Designation
1. Dr. Devendra Pratap Senior Technical Officer
2. Mr. Ganga Sagar Yadav Technical Officer
3. Dr. Vijay Kumar Gupta Technical Officer
4. Mr. Ravishankar Kumar Technical Assistant
5. Mr. Ajay Kumar Technical Assistant