Main Oilseeds Research Station 

Junagadh Agricultural University

Junagadh- 362 001 (Gujarat)

(Year of Establishment : 1956)

Introduction :

The Main Oilseeds Research Station was established at Junagadh during the year 1956 in the state with the objectives to breed and develop high yielding, disease and pest resistant and better quality varieties of different oilseed crops like groundnut, sesame, sunflower, soybean and mustard. Currently, the centre is actively engaged in groundnut research work in the main areas like,

1. Crop breeding and genetics- Crop improvement

2. Agronomy- Crop production

3. Plant Protection : (a) Agril. Entomology, (b) Plant Pathology,

4. Plant Physiology

In addition to these, the station is also working as a testing center for Mustard, Castor, Sunflower and Sesame crops. The center also contributes the groundnut varieties for National level research programme and it is one of the centre for the All India Coordinated Research Projects on Groundnut, Castor, National Seed Project and Nematodes.

Mandate :

1. To develop early maturing groundnut varieties with high yield potential, better quality and high oil content.

2. To develop disease, pest, drought and aflatoxin resistant groundnut varieties with good export potential.

3. To evolve production technologies for newly developed and improved varieties.

4. To provide breeder seed of groundnut varieties to the agencies of Gujarat and India.

5. To disseminate information generated through research to farmers through front line demonstrations.

To solve problems regarding groundnut production through radio, TV programmes, popular articles, hand outs, personal discussion, night discussion, and by organizing farmers' day and week end training programmes etc.

Objectives :

1. To evolve varieties of groundnut crop with high yield potential, better quality, with fresh seed dormancy (in Spanish bunch group) and drought, disease and pest resistance.

2. To develop agro technology and plant protection measures for newly released variety.

3. To develop varieties of castor crop with high yield potential, better quality and disease and pest resistance.

4. To produce breeder seeds of groundnut varieties as per state and national indents.

5. To assess agronomic practices and plant protection measures for castor varieties / hybrids.

6. To manage root-knot nematode in groundnut through integrated approach, with special emphasis on non-chemical methodsand access economical losses due to nematodes at different places.

7. Preparation of database of aflatoxin in groundnut for Saurashtra region.

8. Farmers participatory research through on farm front line demostrations of groundnut and castor.

Farmers participatory research through on farm front line demonstrations of groundnut and castor.

Research Activities:

I. Breeding: 

A. Groundnut:

1. Crop Improvement

2. Experimental works in State and AICRP trials of summer and kharif seasons

3. Testing of breeding materials

4. Fresh crosses to generate breeding materials.

5.  Germplasm evaluation

6.  Seed multiplication of promising lines

7.  Seed production groundnut varieties

8.  Production of nucleus and breeder seed of groundnut as per the DAC indent received from Government of India and Govt. of Gujarat

B.  Castor:

1.  Crop Improvement

2.  Experimental works in State and AICRP trials of kharif seasons

3.  New crossing programme, Segregating materials and Maintenance of Inbred lines

4.  Development and maintenance of pistillate lines

5.  Evaluation of hybrids/varieties in different trials

C.  Sesamum: -    Varietal evaluation under state and national programme

D.  Soyabean: -    Varietal evaluation under state and national programme

E.  Mustard: -      Varietal evaluation under state and national programme

II.   Agronomy:

1.  Water, nutrient and weed management in groundnut and castor

2.  Intercropping studies on groundnut and castor

3.  Survey of agronomic practices in the area of summer and kharif groundnut cultivation

4.  Intercropping system of groundnut with castor, pearl millet, cotton and pigeon pea.

5.  Agronomic practices for AVT (bunch, semi spreading, spreading) entries and new trials as per AICRP technical programme

III   Entomology:

1.  Screening of groundnut entries / lines from PET, SSVT, SVT, IVT and AVT for resistance to insect-pests in kharif and Summer Groundnut, Sesamum, Castor and Mustard.

2.  Monitoring of S. litura using pheromone trap, pest incidence in kharif groundnut.

3.  Testing the bio-efficacy of certain insecticides in Groundnut and Castor

IV.  Pathology:

1.  Survey and Monitoring of various diseases of oilseed crops to find out the intensity and disease situation in Saurashtra region of Gujarat.

2.  Screening of Promising genotypes of oilseed crops against major diseases. 

3.  Integrated and ecofriendly management of major diseases of groundnut and castor.

4.  Integrated management of groundnut root-knot nematode.

V.  Plant Physiology:

Physiological parameters studies on different groundnut entries in early  maturity, greater partitioning of dry matter to pods during pod filling phase, presence of short term dormancy (7-15 days) in SB groundnut and drought tolerance.

Faculty Profile :

Research Projects & Schemes (Ongoing) : (Plan, Non plan, ICAR, GOI, Other agencies etc.)

Achievements: (High Yielding Varieties / Hybrids)

Groundnut :

Achievements : (High Yielding Varieties / Hybrids Recommended to Farmers)

Groundnut :

Castor :

Publications : (Research Papers, Extension literature, books etc.)

Research Papers in National & International Journals Year-2008-09 : 38

Popular articles : 38

Paper presentations : 30

Booklet Published : 6

Bulletins : 2

 Extension Activities :

I. Frontline Demonstrations : 

The government of India, while realizing the import dependency of the edible oils, established the technology mission on Oilseeds (TMO) in 1986 which adopted four pronged strategy for reaping production, processing and storage technologies for attaining self reliance in oilseeds. The series of farmer oriented policies through TMO made an impact on the vegetable oil production of the country to shift from a stagnation stage to swift growth stage. The Adhoc Project on “Frontline demonstrations in oilseed Crops” sponsored by Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Government of India was launched from Kharif, 1990-91. The above scheme amply provided opportunities to the researchers of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Oilseeds (AICORPO) actively in generation of location specific technologies for (1) demonstrating to farmers what they were advocating, (2) test their effect and viability, (3) obtain feed from the clients and (4) fine-tune the technologies to improve their acceptability and suitability to real farm situation.

Objectives of demonstrations:

            The primary objective of the project is to demonstrate, under real farm situation, the productivity potentials and profitability of the latest improved oilseeds crop production technologies including new profitable cropping systems involving oilseeds as well as component technologies, viz., improved varieties, seed treatment, fertilizer, Irrigation. Plant protection, etc. recommended for different agro-ecological and crop growing situations vis-à-vis prevailing farmer’s practices. 

II. Transfer of Technologies : 

a.   The technologies developed at this research station are being disseminated to the various extension agencies, N.G.O's, farmers and students in the following ways,

1. Organizing farmer's day / Agril. fair at the station

2. Participating in the 'Krushi Mela', farmer's days and Agril. Exhibition organized by University, other agencies and the state Department of Agriculture.

3. Educating Govt. officials in pre-seasonal training, diagnostic team visit and other training programme

4. Conducting demonstration plot and organizing field days on farmer's field.

5. Educating students during Kendra Nivas and to farmers during visit of this station

6. Through TV, Radio broadcasting, literature, press note, personnel/spot field diagnosis and letters etc.

b. Services to farmers and other organization:

Scientific and technical information as well as counseling was provided to farmers and visitors. Extension Officers of the State Department of Agriculture as well as farmers were imparted training. The scientists also delivered lectures from time to time under T&V programme and at Advance Training Centre for Oilseeds.

Awards / Significant Achievements of the Faculty :

           The best castor research center award was bestowed upon AICRP (Castor) at Junagadh. A cash award of Rs 5000 and plaque were received by Prof. B.A. Kunadia and Dr. R.H. Kavani.