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Vol. 20 January - March 2015 Issue. 1
From the Director’s Desk
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Management of oil palm plantations duringsummerIn India, most of
the oi l palm cult ivat ion isrecommended under irrigation, as the
rainfall is lessthan 2000 mm in most of the areas. It is
estimatedthat around 150 mm of water per month is requiredby oil
palm to meet evapotranspiration demands.When suff ic ient water is
not ava i lable forevapotranspiration, oil palm like any other
plantregulates the transpiration loss through closure ofstomata.
Once the stomata are c losed, thephotosynthetic activity will be
affected which in turnaffects both growth and yield. During the
summermonths, where the temperatures reach more than400C with a
relative humidity of less than 30 per cent,the evapotranspiration
rates may touch as high as7-8 mm; the adverse climate would affect
oil palmgrowth and yield. Water stress in oil palm could
beidentified with the presence of two or more unopenedspindles in
the crown.In this context, irrigation management is one of themost
critical aspects in oil palm cultivation. Irrigationis adopted to
supplement the soil water reserve atthe root zone and thereby meet
the evapotranspirationdemands of the crop. Deficit or surplus of
water wouldcreate stress to oil palm and adversely affect its
yield.Two sensitive phases of drought in oil palm are
sexualdifferentiation (approx. 30 months before harvest)and
abortion (approx. 10 months before harvest).To avoid the drought
situation, about 250-300 litresof water/palm/day should be provided
through microirrigation. Adoption of moisture conservation
practiceslike mulching could reduce soil temperature, conservesoil
moisture, improve physico-chemical and biologicalproperties of
soil, suppress weed growth and couldalso reduce the evaporation
losses. Dried leaves, maleinflorescences, empty fruit bunches,
pressed mesocarpfibre, nut shells, etc can be used for mulching.
Emptyfruit bunches and leaf shreds can be used for mulchingbasins @
250 and 150 kg/palm/year, respectively.Hence, to realize full yield
potential of oil palm,irrigation should be given to ensure adequate
moisturein the soil throughout the year in tandem with
otheragronomic practices.
P. KalidasDirector i/c
RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTSExploration and collection of elite
materialsfrom exotic oil palm plantations in IndiaGermplasm
exploration resulted in collection of threeaccessions viz. from
Mannargudi in Tamil Nadu;Belgaum & Marse in Karnataka. Bunch
analysis wascarried out and the seed processed, sprout developedand
sprouts were planted in primary nursery. Further,the sprouts from
the accession collected from CPCRIcampus, Kasargod, Kerala during
previous year arealso planted in primary nursery.New interspecific
hybrids and utilization ofidentified inter specific hybridsFive new
interspecific crosses were developed withElaeis oleifera palms
(female) using pollen fromP- 66 of E. guineensis (male) viz. Eo 16
x Eg 66,Eo 2 x Eg 66, Eo 7 x Eg 66, Eo 15 x Eg 66, Eo 22 x Eg66.
Progenies of seven interspecific hybrids areavailable at Palode and
are being evaluated. Basedon the growth and yield, required no. of
palms wereshortlisted. The crosses with respect to one self,
oneinter se and four back crosses were carried out usingidentified
interspecific palms. The parent palms willbe evaluated further
before field planting of progenies.Pollen quality in different
fruit formsThe pollen from three fruit forms of oil palm viz.,
Dura,Pisifera and Tenera was collected and studies wereconducted on
quality (viability and germination).Higher viability and
germination were found in pisiferafollowed by tenera and dura.
Pollen quality in all fruitforms after 1 and 2 months of storage at
-200C wasfound to decrease. Microscopical studies indicated awider
slit in the centre of the pollen grain of duracompared to the
pisifera and tenera. The lower storagelife of the dura pollen may
be attributed to thischaracter. It is proposed that the wider slit
causesloss of vital exudates which may in turn trigger settingin of
the process of senescence.Pollen quality of young (5 years) dura
palm has gothigher percentage viability as well as
germinationcompared to 14 years old. The loss in pollen
quality,however, was more in younger palms compared toolder palm
when stored at -200C. Pollen collected fromdura palm of Oil Palm
Seed Garden, Rajahmundryduring the months of November &
December 2014and January 2015 and stored at 40C. Quality testingof
this pol len revealed that the viabi l i ty andgerminability was
significantly less in the pollenproduced in the month of January
2015.This could bedue to extended winter (low temp) during
2014-15.
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Cryo-preservation of oil palm pollenCryo-storage (either 1 hour
or 10 months) of pisiferapollen at -1960C has no adverse effect on
its qualityand is at par with fresh pollen. Light microscopy aswell
as Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) studiesof the cryo treated
pollen from pisifera and tenerarevealed no significant
morphological changes.Molecular characterization of selected
palmsGenetic diversity of oil palm germplasm accessions(29 nos.)
from Palode have been analysed for diversityand relatedness using
SSR markers. The dendrogramshowed the two major clusters at 0.09
similaritycoefficient. Cluster I contained 4 samples belongingto
Elaeis oleifera and cluster II contained the 25samples of Elaeis
guineensis. Maximum similarity wasseen between G27 and G28 (0.96)
and minimum (0.07)between many offspring. There were six
distinctgroups based on 3D Principal Coordinate Analysis ofgenetic
identity viz., G23, G24, G25 & G26; G1, G22,G42, G36, G57 &
reference palms Pld1 and Pld2;G30,G45, G53, G54, G55, G56 &
G58; G38, G40, &G50; G52, G51, G35, G44, G47, G43 & G46;
G27 &
G28; and G59. The group I consisted of all the
oleiferaaccessions. Whereas E. guineensis accessions formedfive
groups. Second group consisted of Pld 1 and Pld2 along with Dwarf
identified from Nigerian collectionindicating the relatedness of
these genotypes. G27and G28 are the accessions belonging to
Dura-IIIpopulation and hence the close resemblance is
asexpected.Generation of advanced oil palm plantingmaterialsDxD
crosses (OPIL, Thodupuzha, PCKL, Athirappilly,IIOPR, RC, Palode,
Pedavegi and Rajahmundry) as wellas TxT crosses (High yielding
farmers plantation andat IIOPR, Pedavegi) made at respective
locations wereharvested, processed and are ready for planting inthe
primary nursery for proposed improvement trials/seed gardens at
various locations.Plant genetic resources developedRegistration of
oil palm germplasm (52 accessions)collected, evaluated and
maintained at IIOPR(Pedavegi & Palode) with NBPGR, New Delhi
wascompleted.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFEROfficers trained: Organised six training
programmes to 55 officers of State Department of
Agriculture/Horticulture and Entrepreneurs belonging to different
oil palm growing states.
S. Date Participants No. ofNo. from Participants
1 State Level Training January 6-7, 2015 Tamil Nadu & Kerala
10on Oil Palm Production
2 Soil and Leaf Nutrient January 21-23, 2015 Andhra Pradesh
8Analysis in Oil Palm
3 State Level Training February 12-13, 2015 Tamil Nadu &
Kerala 8on Oil Palm Production
4 Orientation Programme March 10-12, 2015 Department of 14on Oil
Palm Cultivation & Agriculture, AssamProspects of Oil Palm
Industry
5 State Level Training on Oil Palm March 23-24 & 25-26,
Tamil Nadu 15Production Technology 2015 (2 batches)
Total 55
A view of the training programme on soil and nutrient
analysisFarmers trained:
Organised six training programmes of one day durationon “Oil
Palm Cultivation” to 226 farmers of AndhraPradesh at IIOPR,
Pedavegi.
Organised seven one day on farm farmers trainingprogrammes on
“Oil Palm Cultivation” to 266 oil palmfarmers from Andhra Pradesh
and Telangana states.
Use of video conferencing for transfer oftechnology in oil
palm
Video conferencing system was set up to connect to25 locations
simultaneously under the externally
funded (NMOOP) project t it led “Use of VideoConferencing for
Transfer of Technology in Oil Palm”.Video conference was conducted
with oil palmstakeholders in the state of Mizoram on February
5,2015
Dissemination of oil palm technologies through‘Farmers Portal’
of DAC
During the quarter, 112 text SMSs & 95 voice messageswere
sent to 2.73 lakh & 2.61 lakh mobile numbers,respectively using
‘Farmers’ Portal’ on intercropping,ablation, weed management, pest
& disease controland disorders management in four languages
(English,Hindi, Telugu and Kannada) covering 12 states viz.,Goa,
Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh,Nagaland, Gujarat,
Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh,Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and
Karnataka.
National Seminar on Oil Palm
National Seminar on “Promotion of oil palm cultivationin India
through NMOOP” was held during February5-6, 2015 at Indian
Institute of Oil Palm Research,Pedavegi . Seminar was jo int ly
organised byDepartment of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC),
Govt.of India and ICAR-IIOPR, Pedavegi. Three technicalsessions’
viz., 1. Research on Oil Palm – Technologies
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and way forward, 2. Development efforts on oil palmcultivation
and 3. Oil palm product diversification andvalue addition were
held. Exhibition depicting variousactivities of oil palm
development programme,technologies, services and products available
withICAR, SAUs’, State Department of Horticulture/Agriculture,
input agencies were showcased. A totalof 150 participants
consisting of progressive oil palm
growers, officers from state department of
Agriculture/Horticulture, processing units staff, scientists from
SAUand ICAR from A. P., Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha,Chhattisgarh,
West Bengal, Mizoram, Nagaland andArunachal Pradesh participated.
On this occasion afield and factory visit was organised, book of
papersand farmers friendly handbooks in 5 languages
werereleased.
Oil palm production technologies. National seminaron promotion
of oil palm cultivation in India throughNMOOP, IIOPR-Books of
Papers, February 5-6, 2015published by DAC, MoA, GoI and
ICAR-IIOPR,Pedavegi, Andhra Pradesh. Pp: 11-19.
6. Kalidas P (2015). Oil palm protection technologies.In: Book
of papers, National seminar on promotion ofoil palm cultivation in
India through NMOOP, IIOPR-Pedavegi, Pp:21-31
7. Vidhan Singh T, Prasad M V, Annamalai S J K, RavindraNaik,
Sunilkumar K and Shinoj Subramanian (2015).Harvesting and
processing of oil palm. In: Book ofpapers, National seminar on
promotion of oil palmcultivation in India through NMOOP,
IIOPR-Pedavegi,Pp33-41.
8. Arulraj S (2015). Role of IIOPR in improving oil
palmproductivity. In: Book of papers, National seminar onpromotion
of oil palm cultivation in India throughNMOOP, IIOPR-Pedavegi, Pp:
59-66.
9. Mathur R K, Ravichandran G and Ramajayam D (2015).Species
utilization in oil palm. In National Meet on‘Distant Hybridization
in horticultural cropimprovement’ under the technical session on
“Distanthybridization in ornamental, medicinal, spices
andplantation crop” organized during January 22-23, 2015at
ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research,Bengaluru,
Karnataka.
10.Prasad M V, Kalidas P, Narsimharao B, Suresh K,Ramachandrudu
K, Praveena Deepthi K, Mary Rani KL, Saravanan L and Vajrala Raju K
(2015). Oil PalmSagu (Telugu) (Oil Palm Cultivation in English).
IndianInstitute of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi, P-66.
11.Mary Rani K L, Prasad M V, Sanjib Kumar Behera,Suresh K,
Manorama K, Ramachandrudu K and KrishnaHemanth G (2015). Nutrient
deficiencies, disordersand their management in oil palm. CD-ROM.
Vers.1.0. Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi.
12.Prasad M V, Kalidas P, Narsimharao B, Suresh K,Ramachandrudu
K, Praveena Deepthi K, Mary Rani KL, Saravanan L and Vajrala Raju K
(2015). Oil PalmCultivation. Indian Institute of Oil Palm
Research,Pedavegi, P-66.
13.Prasad M V, Kalidas P, Narsimharao B, Suresh K,Ramachandrudu
K, Praveena Deepthi K, Mary Rani K
Research Publications1. Singh N V, Abburi V L, Ramajayam D,
Kumar R, Chandra
R, Sharma K K, Sharma J, Dhinesh Babu K, Pal R K,Mundewadikar D
M, Saminathan T, Cantrell R,Nimmakayala P, Reddy U K. (2015)
Genetic diversityand association mapping of bacterial blight and
otherhorticulturally important traits with microsatellitemarkers in
pomegranate from India. Mol GenetGenomics. DOI
10.1007/s00438-015-1003-0(Published online: 13 February 2015).
2. Sunilkumar K, Mathur R K, Sparjanbabu D S and PillaiR S N
(2015). Evaluation of interspecific oil palm hybridsfor dwarfness.
J. Plantation Crops 43(1):29-34
3. Murugesan P, Ravichandran G and Shareef M. (2015),Effect of
mechanical seed scarification on germinationand seedling growth of
inter specific hybrids of oil palm(Elaeis oleifera). Ind J. Agric.
Sci. 85 (3): 374–7
Technical Publications1. Arulraj S, Suresh K, Prasad M V,
Bhanusri A, Behera S
K, Naveen Kumar P, Ravichandran G, Ramajayam D(2015) Book of
Papers, National seminar on promotionof oil palm cultivation in
India through NMOOP,February 5-6, 2015 published by DAC, MoA, GoI
andICAR-IIOPR, Pedavegi, Andhra Pradesh. P- 104
2. Manorama K, Behera S K, Suresh K, Prasad M V,Ramachandrudu K
and Rao B N (2015). Oil palmthotallo matti namuna sekarana;
Extension Folderpublished in Telugu (No.1/2015) (on soil sampling
inoil palm plantations).
3. Mathur R K, Murugesan P, Ravichandran G, NaveenKumar P, Mary
Rani K L, Sunilkumar K and RamajayamD (2015). Oil palm seed garden
and quality plantingmaterial. In: Book of papers, National seminar
onpromotion of oil palm cultivation in India throughNMOOP,
IIOPR-Pedavegi, Pp1-6.
4. Narsimha Rao B, Suresh K, Behera S K,Ramachandrudu K and
Manorama K (2015) Watermanagement in oil palm. National seminar
onpromotion of oil palm cultivation in India throughNMOOP,
IIOPR-Books of Papers, February 5-6, 2015published by DAC, MoA, GoI
and ICAR-IIOPR,Pedavegi, Andhra Pradesh. Pp: 07-10.
5. Ramachandrudu K, Narsimha Rao B, Behera S K,Manorama K,
Ravichandran G, Ramajayam D (2015)
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Edited by :DrDrDrDrDr. M. V. M. V. M. V. M. V. M. V. P. P. P. P.
Prasad, rasad, rasad, rasad, rasad, DrDrDrDrDr. P. P. P. P. P.
Naveen K. Naveen K. Naveen K. Naveen K. Naveen
Kumarumarumarumarumar,,,,,DrDrDrDrDr. K. K. K. K. K. Sunil K. Sunil
K. Sunil K. Sunil K. Sunil Kumar umar umar umar umar and Mrs. A.
Bhanusriand Mrs. A. Bhanusriand Mrs. A. Bhanusriand Mrs. A.
Bhanusriand Mrs. A. Bhanusri
Published by :DrDrDrDrDr. S. S. S. S. S. Arulraj. Arulraj.
Arulraj. Arulraj. Arulraj
Director, Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research,Pedavegi - 534
450, West Godavari District., A. P.
Phone: 08812 259532/259524; Fax: 08812
259531.e-mail:[email protected] ; Web site: http://dopr.gov.in
Printed atM / s . M / s . M / s . M / s . M / s . E LE LE LE LE
LU R U O F F S E T P R I N T E R SU R U O F F S E T P R I N T E R
SU R U O F F S E T P R I N T E R SU R U O F F S E T P R I N T E R
SU R U O F F S E T P R I N T E R SR R Pet ELURU - 534 002.
244543
L Saravanan L and Vajrala Raju K (2015). Oil PalmChin Dan (Mizo)
(Oil Palm Cultivation in English). IndianInstitute of Oil Palm
Research, Pedavegi, P-66.
14.Prasad M V, Kalidas P, Narsimharao B, Suresh K,Ramachandrudu
K, Praveena Deepthi K, Mary Rani KL, Saravanan L and Vajrala Raju K
(2015). Tale BilaKrishi (Kannada) (Oil Palm Cultivation in
English).Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi, P-66.
15.Prasad M V, Kalidas P, Narsimharao B, Suresh K,Ramachandrudu
K, Praveena Deepthi K, Mary Rani KL, Saravanan L and Vajrala Raju K
(2015). Tel Tad kiKheti (Hindi) (Oil Palm Cultivation in English).
IndianInstitute of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi, P-66.
Invited papers/lectures in National seminar onpromotion of oil
palm cultivation in India throughNMOOP, organized at February 5-6,
2015 at IIOPR-Pedavegi1. Mathur R K, Murugesan P, Ravichandran G,
Naveen
Kumar P, Mary Rani K L, Sunilkumar K and RamajayamD (2015). Oil
palm seed garden and quality plantingmaterial.
2. Narsimha Rao B, Suresh K, Behera S K,Ramachandrudu K and
Manorama K (2015) Watermanagement in oil palm.
3. Ramachandrudu K, Rao B N, Behera S K, ManoramaK, Ravichandran
G, Ramajayam D (2015) Oil palmproduction technologies.
4. Kalidas P (2015) Oil palm protection
technologies.Participation in Symposia/
Seminar/Workshop/ConferencesDr. P. Kalidas, Principal Scientist
participated in the ExpertMeeting to discuss and revise the IPM
practices for oilpalm at National Institute of Plant Health
Management(NIPHM), Hyderabad on March 24, 2015.Dr. S. Arulraj, Dr.
P. Kalidas, Dr. R. K. Mathur, Dr. B. N.Rao, Dr. M. V. Prasad and
Dr. K. Suresh participated in thefirst convocation of Y S R
Horticultural University,Venkataramannagudem, West Godavari Dist.,
A. P. onMarch 27, 2015.Sri Rakesh Bhowmick, Scientist
(AgriculturalBiotechnology), has attended a Professional
AttachmentTraining programme on “Tissue Culture of Perennial
Crops:Oil Palm, Date Palm and Coconut” at Plant Tissue
CultureLaboratory, Anand Agricultural University, Anand
during24.11.2014 to 23.02.2015Awards and RecognitionDr. P.
Murugesan has been conferred with Fellowship ofIndian Society of
Plantation Crops (ISPC) for his substantialcontribution in the
field of research in plantation crops.Memberships in
Committees/Expert teamsThe Expert Team consisting of Drs. R. K.
Mathur, P. NaveenKumar, G. Ravichandran, D. Ramajayam and S. K.
Beherain the consultancy project on ‘Feasibility study and
DPRpreparation for establishment of Oil Palm seed garden inOdisha’
(funded by Govt. of Odisha) visited the proposedsite in Odisha for
feasibility study in March, 2015.Dr. P. Murugesan visited Arasu
Rubber Corporation Ltdduring February 23-24, 2015 and feasibility
for oil palmcultivation was studied and expert report
submitted.Transfers / New appointmentsSri Rakesh Bhowmick,
Scientist (AgriculturalBiotechnology), transferred to VIPKAS,
Almora andrelieved at this Institute on 28.02.2015.
Dr. B. Kalyan Babu, Scientist (Agricultural Biotechnology)has
been transferred from VIPKAS, Almora and joined atIIOPR, Pedavegi
on 27.03.2015.Sri P. Anil Kumar, Technician, transferred to IIOPR,
RC,Palode and relieved on 28.03.2015.Sri V.V.S. Krishna Murthy,
Technical Assistant (Library)w.e.f. 19.09.2014 and Sri P.R.L. Rao,
Technical Assistant(Driver) & Sri E. Perayya, Technical
Assistant (Driver) w.e.f.01.04.2014, respectively were promoted to
next highergrade pay.Sri G.S.N. Babu, Smt. N.V.S. Lakshmi, Sri K.
Satyanarayanaand Sri Ch. V. Durga Rao, Skilled Support Staff,
weregranted financial up-gradation under Modified AssuredCareer
Progression Scheme w. e. f. 21.01.2015.Sri G.S.N. Babu, SSS has
been promoted to the post ofLower Division Clerk (LDC) w.e.f.
03.03.2015.Dr. S. Arulraj, Director of the Institute superannuated
on31.03.2015.Felicitation to Dr. S. Arulraj, Director, IIOPRIn the
light of superannuation of Dr. S. Arulraj, Director,IIOPR on
31.03.2015, the scientists and staff of IIOPRfelicitated and gave a
farewell to the outgoing Director.On this occasion, the Society for
Promotion of Oil PalmResearch and Development (SOPOPRAD) also
felicitatedDr. S. Arulraj for his outstanding contributions for
thedevelopment of oil palm sector in the country. Earlier
on07.02.2015, the Project Coordinator & staff of AICRP onPalms,
Kasargod also felicitated Dr. S. Arulraj.
Others if any,IIOPR has signed an MOU with K L
University,Vaddeswaram for guiding Post Graduate and Ph.
D.students.
Felicitation by scientists & Staff of IIOPR on
31.03.2015
Felicitation by SOPOPRAD on 31.03.2015
