Department of Seed Science and Technology

Department Profile

Seed is the basic and most critical input in agriculture and is considered to be the cheapest and most crucial component compared to other inputs like fertilizers, pesticides, water etc. The need to popularize the concept and use of quality seed is warranted for high crop productivity. The existing machinery in the state for production of quality seed, processing, storage and distribution, needs to be geared up to on scientific footing. This realization paved way for the establishment of Seed Technology Unit at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2013. The Unit at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara was later upgraded to the Department of Seed Science and Technology.  The activities in the Department have been conceived and coordinated to spur the growth of both seed Industry and agriculture production in the state of Kerala.

Objectives:

·         To undertake UG and PG courses in Seed Science and Technology as envisaged by ICAR to further strengthen and provide impetus to teaching, research and extension activities in seed technology

·         To undertake basic and applied research related to seed production and technology through multi-disciplinary approach

·         To undertake HRD/ training programmes related to Seed Science and Technology to officials of Agriculture Department, registered growers etc

·         To encourage seed production and post-production technologies to meet the need of the State

Mandate:

Teaching, research and extension in seed production and certification, processing, storage and testing of field crops, fruits, vegetables, plantation crops, spices, flowers, aromatic and medicinal plants

Facilities:

·         Seed complex housing the under-graduate and Post-graduate classrooms, library, germination room and laboratories

·         Well-equipped Seed testing laboratory and molecular analysis laboratory

·         Well laid out experimental fields with field laboratory, Net-house facility and processing and drying yards

·         Seed processing unit complete with high throughput machineries to process rice seeds

·         Medium term storage vault (MTS) designed to hold about 50,000 germplasm collections, which ensures longevity of stored seeds for 25-30 years

Awards/ Recognitions/ Positions:

·         Best Oral presentation award - Nishidha, C.T., Francies, R.M., and Bastian, D. 2019. Effect of foliar application of nutrients and growth promoters on seed mass and elemental composition of seed in okra. 9^th National Seed  Congress 2018-19 in Theme area: Quality seed: A key component for doubling the Farmers’ income; 19-21, February 2019, Nat. Seed Research and Training Centre, MOA & FW, GOI, Varanasi, UP., India and Dept of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Institute of Agrl. Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP., India.

·         Best Paper Award - Megha, L. M., Francies. R.M, Joseph. J., Raji, P. and Abida, P. S. 2019. Gene pyramiding for bacterial blight resistance in rice variety Uma. 31^st  Kerala Science Congress, 02-03 February, 2019 in Theme area: Agriculture and Food Science Feb 02-03, 2019, Fatima Mata National College, Kollam organised by Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram – 695004

 

Achievements:

a) Education:

·         Establishment of Department of Seed Science and Technology with instructional, laboratory and field research facilities at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara

·         [Proc. No. Acad/B2/39139/2011 dated 17/01/2013 of Director (Academic)]

·         Twenty Two students have successfully completed their post-graduate programme. (Intake of students for MSc per batch- four from 2013 onwards)

b) Research:

·         Collection and in situ conservation, characterization and purification of traditional rice varieties of Kerala and their large-scale multiplication of has been taken up under Framers participatory seed production mode.

·         Exploration and collection of traditional varieties of rice, op melon, ash gourd, pumpkin, bitter gourd, snap melon and tuber crops from various parts of the state have been done.

·         Iron toxicity tolerance of rice accessions can be delineated when toxicity level reaches 600ppm. Out of the 154 short duration rice accessions held by KAU, PGC 36 [Cul 8723 (IC 253584)] was found to exhibit tolerance at a higher toxicity level of 800ppm iron.

·         Backcross pyramids with three BB resistant genes xa5, xa13 and Xa21 have been developed in the background of two indica rice varieties Jyothy and Uma.

·         Paddy seeds packed in polyethylene bags 400G recorded superior seed quality parameters compared to seeds packed in jute bags.

·         Halogenation of paddy seeds with calcium oxychloride through carrier calcium carbonate @ 3 g/kg seed each, recorded superior seed quality parameters throughout storage compared to untreated seeds.

·         Storing of paddy seeds in polyethylene bags 400G after treatment with CaOCl₂+CaCO₃ @ 3 g/kg seed helped retain germination above MSCS for the longest period of storage (fourteen and ten months during rabi and summer 2013-14 respectively), indicating its superiority in prolonging seed longevity.

·         The viability retention among cowpea varieties varied with the genotypes

·         Bush types cowpea varieties (Sreya, Hridya and Bhagyalakshmi) registered a lower germination per cent compared to semi-trailing and trailing types.

·         The semi-trailing varieties (Anaswara, Kairali, Kanakamony and Kashi Kanchan) recorded the highest germination after ten months of storage followed by trailing type (Lola, Vellayani Jyothika and Vyjayanthi).

·         The varieties Kashi Kanchan and Kanakamony maintained germination per cent above minimum seed certification standards u pto six months of storage.

·         Bold seeded varieties like Vellayani Jyothika, Anaswara, Lola and Vyjayanthi exhibited a lower germination compared to other small seeded varieties.

·         Poor germination in seeds of ash gourd may be due to a water impermeable seed coat (physical dormancy) mainly owing to thickening of outer layer the testa. This can be overcome by invigoration treatment.

·         Pre-sowing seed invigoration in ash gourd with 50 mM CaCl2 for 12 hours or 24 hours, or Pf for 12 hours, or kinetin 10 ppm for 24 hours helps break seed dormancy in ash gourd.

·         Seed treatment with CaCl₂ 50 mM   for 24 hours in ashgourd helps retain the viability for the maximum period (7 months after extraction) compared to untreated seeds (2 months after extraction) under ambient storage.

·         Seed treatment with seed protectants viz., spinosad or neem based products (neem kernel powder, neem leaf powder and neem oil) or as oils (coconut oil and castor oil) were most effective in enhancing seed viability (by a period of one month over control), higher seed and seedling performance and proving protection from pulse beetle infestation and infection by microflora in cowpea.

·         Halogenation of  chilli seeds with CaOCl₂ + CaCO₃ @ 2g each per kg of seeds or  iodine crystal + CaCO₃ @100 mg each per kg of seeds or iodine crystal + CaCO₃ @50mg per kg of seeds or  CaOCl₂ + CaCO₃ @ 4g per kg of seeds were found to be effective in prolonging the viability under ambient storage.

·         Seed treatment in chillies using nano-size botanical enhanced seed quality and seed longevity when compared with the commercial grade botanicals.

·         Seed treatment with commercial grade botanicals, arappu @ 2g/kg, fenugreek @ 2g/kg, and fenugreek @ 0.5g/kg, were found to improve the storability of chilli seeds and to increase seedling vigour in the field.

·         Treatment of chilli seeds with nano size botanicals, viz., custard apple @ 0.5g/kg, fenugreek @ 1g/kg, and fenugreek @ 0.5g/kg, were found  to enhance the storability and seedling vigour

c). Seed production:

·          Since inception a total of 3770.16 tonnes of paddy seed has been produced and distributed from this centre as on 31^st Dec 2021. On an average 147 tonnes of truthfully labeled seeds of paddy are being produced and supplied from the centre every year. Apart from paddy, quality seeds of oilseeds (sesame), green manure crops (daincha), vegetables (cowpea, bhendi etc) are also being produced at the centre to cater to the need of farmers as well as distribution through Department of Agriculture, Kerala.

Courses offered:

Under graduate level:

Sl. No.	Course No.	Title of the course	Credit
1	Sdtec 3201	Principles of Seed Technology	2 + 1

Post-graduate level:

Sl. No.	Course No.	Title		Credits offered
1.	ST 501		Floral Biology, Seed Development	2 + 1
2.	ST 502		Principles of Seed Production	2 + 1
3.	ST 503		Seed Production of Field Crops	2 + 1
4.	ST 504		Seed Legislation, Quality Control, Seed Testing and Certification	2 + 1
5.	ST 505		Seed Production in Vegetables, Flowers and Tuber Crops	2 + 1
6.	ST 507		Seed Processing and Storage	2 + 1
7.	ST 512		Testing for genuineness & purity of cultivars	1 + 1

Extension Services:

 

·         The National Training on ‘Seed Quality Assurance’, February 19^th -23^rd, 2013 co-organized by NSRTC, Varanasi and KAU

·         The National Training on ‘Seed Quality Assurance’, January 06-10, 2014, co-organized by NSRTC, Varanasi and KAU

·         KAU – DOE –DAESI (Diploma in Agricultural Extension) Programme

·         Training of the registered seed growers and Agricultural Extension Officers in quality seed production, processing and storage

·         Diagnostic service for field problems by conducting visits to farmers’ fields and suggesting recommendations for management

·         A total of 258 Kg of traditional rice varieties were produced for distribution across the state during 2020-21. Popularisation of traditional varieties among farming community has been done by the initiatives like Crop diversity block at Kuttanad, Alappuzha, Rice diversity park at schools and through Farmer’s visit and interaction.

Projects

Completed

No.	Project	Period: Duration	Allocation (Rs in Lakh)	Funding agency
1	Strengthening production of quality planting materials and bio-inputs in KAU	2017-2018	8.00	GoK : Plan 18-Spill over
2	100 crore Development Grant Project: ‘Strengthening Research on Seed Science & Technology at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara	2013-2016	177.50	ICAR-DARE
3	Donor identification for tolerance to iron toxicity in rice (Oryza sativa L.)	2012-15	13.75	KSCSTE , Govt. of Kerala
4	Gene pyramiding to develop cultivars with durable resistance to bacterial leaf blight through marker assisted selection	2011-2014	37.3	Department of Biotechnology, Government of India
5	Network project on seed and nursery programme	2012-2020	13.11	GoK : Plan Project

Ongoing

No.	Project	Period: Duration	Allocation (Rs in Lakh)	Funding agency
1	‘Biodiversity and Local Germplasm Conservation and Promotion,’ at Department of Seed Science and Technology (Lead centre)	2017-2020	128.00	Department of Agriculture and Framers’ Welfare, GOK
2	Creation of Seed Hubs for increasing indigenous production of pulses in India	2018 onwards	6.00	ICAR
3	Paddy seed production and upland cultivation – RF	2009 onwards	180.00	Revolving Fund

Faculty

·         Dr. Dijee Bastian

Professor (Plant Breeding and Genetics)

 Controller of Examinations, Kerala Agricultural University

·         Ms. Fahida P.K.

 

           Assistant Professor (Plant Breeding and Genetics)