Around 1404 accessions are being maintained in the field gene bank and the germplasm conservatory was enriched with three new Curcuma longa and five Curcuma sp. from Andaman Islands.
155 accessions, eight varieties and four GIs (Erode turmeric, Sangli turmeric, Waigon turmeric and Kandhmalhaldi) were characterized for different quality parameters and their curcumin content varied from 0.6 to 5.2%.
Twenty TFs belonging to the classes bHLH, WD 40, NAC, WRKY and bZIP that showed differential expression with respect to curcumin were identified through comparative transcriptome analysis.
Evaluation of different management systems indicated that organic system (100%) recorded maximum yield (34.78 tjha) followed by integrated system (50%+50%)(31.8 tjha). Among the twelve varieties, Suguna recorded highest yield (40.8 tjha) followed by Pragati (38.6 tjha).
A novel spice mix formulation with turmeric, ginger and cinnamon was developed for turmeric milk preparation; one as ready to serve flavoured turmeric milk and the other one as turmeric milk instant mix powder. The technologies were commercialized to MILMA.
Spraying of low risk insecticides viz., chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide and spinosad at fortnightly intervals rather than spraying at monthly intervals is more effective in controlling the shoot borer.
An entomopathogenic fungus was isolated from Conogethes punctiferalis and identified as Metarhizium pingshaense based on morphological characteristics and molecular studies.
Effect of cold storage of rhizomes on lesion nematodes indicated that nematode infested rhizomes stored in a cold storage (4-8DC) for 35 days resulted in 100% mortality of nematodes compared to room temperature