ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute Research Centre,Agali

The Agali Research Centre of ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore was established during 1995 in 30 acre State Govt.’ land leased to Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Govt. of India for 99 years. The Centre became operational from 7th April 1999. It is located at 11o9’8” North latitude, 76o41’6” East longitude in the Attapady hill range (altitude 490 m above msl) of Palakkad District, Kerala State (near to Thavakkal Estate, between Vallamari and Kalkandiyoor villages on Kottathara-Pudur Road). The Centre is about 45 km from the main institute Coimbatore. The soil is lateritic with neutral pH but low in Nitrogen. The annual rainfall is around 500-800 mm. The research farm gets water from Bhavani river flowing adjacent to it. The climatic condition prevailing at the location is suitable for sugarcane flowering and seed set. Due to the depleting water resources at main institute during 1990s, a need was felt to create an additional facility to house the parental clones maintained in the national hybridization garden of ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore. Hence, a research centre at Agali was established.

→To maintain elite accessions of sugarcane germplasm which are used in the hybridization programme.

→To undertake distant hybridization and to augment national hybridization programme in sugarcane.

→To serve as a National off-season nursery for the mandated crops of ICAR.

Maintenance of Germplasm of Sugarcane:

Click this link for Germplasm accessions maintained at maintained at Agali Centre

1. Flowering Behaviour of Sugarcane Clones

The core collections of S. officinarum, representing 200 clones are maintained at Agali Centre. Flowering pattern S. officinarumand Co clones at Coimbatore, Kannnur and Agali were compared. Some of the S. officinarum clones which did not flower at other locations have flowered at Agali. Most of the flowering officinarum clones flowers at Agali 10 to 20 days earlier than flowering at Coimbatore and 10-15 days later than flowering at Kannur. The extended flowering period is a great opportunity for the sugarcane breeders in India. At Agali condition, the symptom of flowering is visible during 1st week of September. Spikelet opening commence from 2nd week of October and last up to 3rd week of November. The early flowering (Oct 2nd & 3rd week) Co and Co allied clones are:- BO 32, BO 89, Co 617, CoJ 46, CoH 15, CoLk 7901, CoS 633. Among Erianthus arundinaceus, the early flowering clones are:- IK 76-99, IK 76-158 and IK 76-93. Among S. officinarum clones, IJ 76-316, IJ 76-315, 57NG 126, Awela 68 are flowering at early (3rd week of October). The late flowering (3rd week of Nov) clones are:- 79R 1207, Co 1305, Co 7214, Co 7219, Co 8341, Co 86010, Co 2001-13, CoA 7602, CoC 8201, CoH 98, CoS 92254 and CoS 96258

2. National Distant Hybridization Facility (NDHF) at Agali

Unlike the inter-varietal crosses through biparental mating, distant hybridization programme in sugarcane requires great attention to ensure the hybridity of the seedlings. There is wide difference among parents used in the wide-hybridization programme with respect to flowering time, propensity of flowering, pollen fertility and seed set. Right from planting of parental clones till the harvest of fluffs special attention and extra facilities are required. Realizing the need, a National Distant Hybridization Facility (NDHF) was established at Agali Centre and was inaugurated by the former Deputy Director General (Crop Science) of ICAR, Dr. Mangala Rai on November 3, 2000. It is a unique facility available in the country for distant hybridization in sugarcane. Every year, sugarcane breeders from different research Institutions in the country visit Agali Centre and make both inter-varietal and distant crosses suitable for their zone.

Research Stations in India which made crosses at Agali Centre during the last 5 years are given below.

1.  ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)

2.  Uttar Pradesh Council of Sugarcane Research, Shahjahanpur and Seorahi

3.  Sugarcane Research Station, Assam Agril. University, Buralikson

4.  Sugarcane Research Institute, Rajendra Agril. University, Pusa (Bihar)

5.  G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar

6.  Regional Research Station, Punjab Agril. Univeristy, Faridkot and Kapurthala

7.  Agricultural Research Station, CCSHAU, Uchani

8.  Zonal Agricultural Research Station, UAS, Mandya (Karnataka)

9.  Central Sugarcane Research Station, MPKV, Padegaon (Maharashtra)

10. Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI), Pune (Maharashtra)

11. Research Station on Sugarcane, OUAT, Nayagarh (odisha)

12. Regional Agricultural Research Stations, ANGRAU, Anakapalle and Vuyyuru (Andhra Pradesh)

13. Regional Sugarcane and Rice Research Station, PJTSAU, Rudrur (Telangana)

14. Sugarcane Research Station, TNAU, Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu)

15. Sugarcane Research Station, KAU, Thiruvalla (Kerala)

16. ICAR-SBI Coimbatore and its Regional Station, Karnal (Haryana)

The number of crosses made by sugarcane breeders in India at ICAR-SBI Research Centre, Agali during the last 5 years is listed below.

National off season nursery facility

The Centre serves as a National Off-season Nursery for the mandated crops of ICAR for seed multiplication and generation advancement. Since inception of the Centre, national institute like ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore (West Bengal) and ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirapalli (Tamil Nadu) are using the facility for off-season seed production, germplasm maintenance and generation advancement of the breeding lines of jute and banana.

DUS Test for Tropical Sugarcane Varieties

Scientist-In-Charge of the Centre

Dr.V.Sreenivasa
Senior Scientist (Plant Breeding)
Email: V.Sreenivasa@icar.gov.in
Office: 0422-2472621(EXt.245)

Address of the Centre

ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute
Research Centre,Agali
Near Thavakkal Estate, Attapady
Kottathara-Post, Mannarkad-Taluk
Palakkad-Dist (Kerala) Agali-678581