Interception of Plant Viruses in Exotic Germplasm Imported During 2000-04

Abstract

Germplasm of different crops is imported into India every year for crop improvement programmes. As per the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 the imported germplasm material including transgenics are subject to quarantine processing at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi. During 2000-2004, a total of 27,632 samples comprising cereals (23912) and legumes (3720) were imported from different countries. CerealscomprisedofHordeum vulgare (5536), Triticum spp. (17400) and Triticale (976), and legumes includeA.sparagus spp. (1), Glycine spp. (1700), Phaseolus spp. (1281), Pisum sativum (53), Vigna radiata (177), V. unguiculata (360), Vicia faba (136) and Vicia spp. (12). They were grown in post-entry quarantine nursery and greenhouses for screening against exotic viruses or strains thereof.