Inside BENEO’s new pulse plant: pioneering sustainable protein from faba beans
By using radiation-induced mutagenesis along with cross-breeding, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) team has developed two mutants of rice Trombay Raipur Rice-1 (TRR-1) and Trombay Konkan Kolam (TKKR-13) and one mutant of cowpea Trombay Cowpea 901 (TC901) which have been identified for release.
It has also developed several mutants of groundnut, mustard, cowpea, blackgram, greengram, soybean, rice and wheat, which are undergoing advance field trials in state agricultural universities. The major desirable traits in these crops include higher yield, seed size, improved agronomic and quality traits, early maturity and stress tolerance.
BARC has developed mutant crop varieties have high patronage from the farming community and are extensively grown in different states of the country. Popularisation is done by linkages established with state agricultural universities (through kisan melas, frontline demonstrations/exhibitions and awareness programmes).