About Project
		Faculty Information
		Mandate
		Research Activities and Achievements
		Contact Information

About Project

The AICRP on linseed and sesame was established at main campus of Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola in April 1985. Subsequently this project was shifted to College of Agriculture, Nagpur from 1987 and AICRP on Rapeseed Mustard in June 2009. The work on the improvement of linseed in the Vidarbha region was started in the section of Economic Botanist, Nagpur in 1924-25 and one high yielding strain, EB-3 with higher oil content was developed. From 1934 to 1944, the work on this crop was done under the Oilseeds Research Scheme, Central Provinces, Nagpur and two improved strains, No-3 and No-55 possessing higher yield and higher oil content were developed. These strains though well suited to Vidarbha conditions were not resistant to rust. Attempts were, therefore made to develop rust resistant, high- yielding strains such as IP-135 and IP-328. As a result of hybridization and subsequent selection, one improved strain, C-429 was developed and released for cultivation in 1958. It combines high yield and high oil content No.-3 with rust resistance of IP-135. After the establishment of All India Coordinated Research Project on Linseed and Sesame in 1987 at Collage of Agriculture, Nagpur.

Sesame is the oldest indigenous oil plant with longest history of its cultivation in India. India is still the world leader with the maximum (25.8%) production from the largest (29.8%) area and highest (40%) export of Sesame in the world. Sesame is quality food, nutrition, edible oil, bio-medicine and health care, all in one. The international demand and market of Sesame has witnessed significant growth in the recent past. It has up-surged as a silver line in the agri-export of the country with its highest contribution of foreign exchange from the export of sesame seed. Sesame has remarkable antioxidant function due to the presence of lignans and tocopherol. The seed, highly rich in quality proteins and essential amino acids, especially methionine is considered rejuvenative and anti-aging for human body. Sesame seed is rich source of linoleic acid, vitamins E, A, B1, B2 & niacin and minerals including calcium and phosphorus. The seeds are used in the preparation of baby foods considered as the best substitute for mother’s milk to compensate the breast feeding. The oil with 85% unsaturated fatty acids, is highly stable and has reducing effect on cholesterol and prevents coronary heart diseases. Sesame is called as the Queen of oils. Sesame is grown in all seasons of the year and being a short duration crop, fits well into various cropping systems.
In Vidarbha, the Sesame crop is grown in Kharif, Semi-Rabi & Summer situation. Since the Sesame crop has less problem of pest & diseases in summer condition, it can be very well harvested. Now a days there are tremendous possibilities to extend the area under Summer sesame cultivation. Sesame had more preference from farmers because of low input required & high price of produce. The irrigation command area may be covered for summer cultivation of Sesame crop after harvest of paddy & early crop of Rabi. Area under summer Sesame is increasing in eastern part of Vidarbha especially in Bhandara & Gadchiroli districts.

The Sesame Research Unit was included in the AICRP w.e.f 1st April, 1987, with staffing pattern as one Jr. Breeder (Sesame) & one Agriculture Assistant at Nagpur. One Jr. Agronomist post sanctioned in this Unit in XIth plan. The Agronomy & pathology discipline’s work is being looked after by the Scientists born on the establishment of Linseed Research Unit.

Mandate

Sesame Breeding

• Breeding for high yielding varieties with high oil content.
• Breeding resistance for powdery mildew, gall midge fly & leaf roller / capsule borer.
• Maintenance & Evaluation of Germplasm.
• Development of extra white seed coat varieties.
• Breeding for earliness.

Sesame Agronomy

• To find out the response of Sesame to different sources and levels of Sulphur in term of seed and oil yield.
• To optimize the yield through natural inputs.
• To evaluate the efficacy of bio/natural inputs on yield and oil content of Sesame.
• To study the effect of micronutrients in-combination with organic manure on the yield of Sesame.
• To test the maximum possible yielding capacity of Sesame

Sesame Pathology

• To know the prevailance of Sesame diseases in the region.
• To evaluate Sesame genotypes / lines against major diseases.
• To manage Sesame soil borne diseases through bio-control agents.
• To test the efficacy of fungicide against fungal foliar diseases.
• To manage Sesame diseases through integrated disease management.

Research Activities and Achievements

The following varieties were released for commercial cultivation.

1. N-8
2. AKT-64 (Kharif) (1995-96)
3. AKT-101 (Summer) (2001)
4. PKV-NT-11 (Summer) (2009)

Variety : AKT-64
Year of Identification	1995-96
Parent	N-128 x C-50
Breeding Method	Pedigree
Recommended ecology	Suitable for kharif cultivation for Vidarbha region
Plant Height	30-135 cm
Varietal Character	3-4 branches, dull white seed colour, violet flower
Duration	85-90 days
Maturity Group	Early maturity
Reaction of Major Pest/Diseases	Resistance to alternaria blight, powder mildew, bacterial leaf spot, wilt and moderately resistant to phyllody, macrophomina stem/root rot diseases
Seed Colour	Dull white
Spacing	30 x 10 cm
Plant Population	2.5-3 lakh per hectare
Fertilizer Dose	40:25:00 NPK kg/ha
Seed Rate	2.5 kg/ha
1000 Seed Wt.	3-4 gm
Oil Percentage	47-48%
Average Yield	550-650 kg/ha

Variety : AKT-101
Year of Identification	2001
Parent	N-62-10 x R-19
Breeding Method	Pedigree
Recommended ecology	Summer cultivation were irrigation facilities are available
Plant Height	89 cm
Varietal Character	4-5 branches, white seed colour and violet flower
Duration	90-95 days
Maturity Group	Early maturity
Reaction of Major Pest/Diseases	Moderately resistance to phyllody, macrophomina root rot and bacterial blight
Seed Colour	White seed colour, violet flower
Spacing	30 x 5 cm
Plant Population	2.5-3 lakh per hectare
Fertilizer Dose	25:25:00 NPK kg/ha
Seed Rate	3-3.5 kg/ha
1000 Seed Wt.	3.8 g
Oil Percentage	48-49%
Average Yield	750-850 kg/ha

Variety : N-8
Year of Identification	—
Parent	—
Breeding Method	Selection
Recommended ecology	Suitable for Semi-rabi cultivation for Vidarbha zone
Plant Height	110-130 cm
Varietal Character	6-7 branches with light brown colour seed, violet flower
Duration	120 days
Maturity Group	Late
Reaction of Major Pest/Diseases	Resistant to macrophomina root rot/stem rot, wilt, bacterial blight, bacterial leaf spot, powdery mildew and phyllody
Seed Colour	Light brown colour
Spacing	30 x 10 cm
Plant Population	2.5-3 lakh per hectare
Fertilizer Dose	25:25:00 NPK kg/ha
Seed Rate	2.5-3 kg/ha
1000 Seed Wt.	3-3.5 gm
Oil Percentage	50-51%
Average Yield	400-700 kg/ha

Variety : PKV-NT-11
Year of Identification	2009
Parent	JLT-9 x NT-4
Breeding Method	Pedigree
Recommended ecology	Suitable for summer season : First week of February
Plant Height	Average 96 cm (74-125 cm)
Varietal Character	4-5 branches with white colour seed, violet flower
Duration	Average 99 days (86-109 days)
Maturity Group	Midlate
Reaction of Major Pest/Diseases	Resistant to phyllody and moderately resistant to root rot and bacterial blight, leaf roller & capsule borer
Seed Colour	White colour
Spacing	30 x 5 cm
Plant Population	2.5-3 lakh per hectare
Fertilizer Dose	25:25:00 NPK kg/ha + 15 S kg/ha
Seed Rate	3-4 kg/ha
1000 Seed Wt.	3.6 gm
Oil Percentage	51.99%
Average Yield	Average 800 kg/ha (600-1000 kg/ha)

Contact Information

Principal scientist and Linseed Breeder
All India Coordinated Research Project on Oilseeds (Sesame)
College of Agriculture
Nagpur – 440001 (Maharashtra)