Anjani Kumar Jha

Brief Research Achievements:

• Horticultural crops improvement/ Varietal development: Three (3 nos.) tomato varieties viz., Megha Tomato-3; RC Manikhamenashinba-1 and RC Manikhamenashinba-2 and one (01 no.) colocasia, Megha Taro-1 were developed / identified and released/ recommended by SVRC (Meghalaya and Manipur). These varieties are gaining popularity due to bacterial wilt and moisture stress tolerance. Megha Tomato-2 was recommended for registration as bacterial wilt resistant line by AICRP on Vegetable Crops. Also, a new Cytoplasmic Male Sterile (CMS) line in Local cauliflower of Meghalaya was identified and reported. Also, four (04) guava varieties viz.,  Megha Supreme, Megha Magenta, Megha Wonder and Megha Seedless, which have been released by the State Seed Sub-Committee for Release of Varieties of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops, Meghalaya. AICRP on Tuber Crops has identified Megha Taro-2 developed by us, suitable for Bihar, Jharkahand and Andman Nicobar Islands. Four (4 nos.) Gerbera lines viz., RCGH-12, RCGH-22, RCGH-114 & RCGH-117 developed by us are performing well in AICRP trials for open cultivation in mid hill conditions while RCGH-28 was identified as miniature gerbera suitable for growing in pot and as indoor plant.
• Germplasm conservation and maintenance: More than 700 genotypes (43 Ginger, 32 Turmeric, 74 Chow-chow, 96 French bean, 122 Chilli, 167 Dolichos bean, 35 Tomato, 42 Colocasia, 14 Sweet potato 38 Sweet gourd, 7 Sohiong, 10 Sohsang 15 guava and 30 Gerbera) were maintained in Field Gene Bank of ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya. IC Number for 125 genotypes (43 Ginger; 32 Turmeric; 17 Colocasia; 8 Sweet potato; 6 Citrus;  5 Gerbera; 4 Guava; 3 Tomato; 3 Spine gourd; 2 Elaegnus and 2 Brinjal) were obtained from ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi.These germplasm are being shared especially for students’ research works. Associated with the development of Citrus DUS guidelines notified by PPV & FRA, New Delhi and DUS testing of ginger and turmeric germplasm at Meghalaya as Co Nodal Officer.
• Nutrient uptake and its utilization mechanism in Onion revealed: Through radio-tracer techniques it was revealed that onion demands phosphorus (P) at all stages of growth and development. P uptake directly influences the sulphur (S) uptake which in turn improves the pungency and storability of the onion. First week of December transplanting along with 100 kg N/ha was recommended for onion in Manipur conditions.
• Ascertaining factors influencing curcumin content in Turmeric: Distinctive agro-climatic parameters for high curcumin content in Lakadong are elevation (980-1200 m MSL), annual rainfall (2550 mm), maximum monthly temperature ( 19-26⁰C) and minimum monthly temperature (6-19⁰C) , soil pH (6.83) ; P (56 mg/kg). Any deviation from these factors in different locations caused decline in curcumin content.
• Activation Tagging Mutagenesis (ATM) in Turmeric and Chilli: Our objective was to improve the production of active compounds present in turmeric and chilli which have potential value as drugs or nutrients using ATM at the cellular level, induced by Agrobacterium mediated transformation, to generate a large population of mutant cultures. These cultures were then selected in a concentration of methyl-viologen (MV) which was lethal to the great majority of non-mutant cultures. After selection, we compared the antioxidant activity of selected hairy root populations, using a DPPH radical scavenging activity assay. The mean anti-oxidant activity for the confirmed mutants which were MV resistant was almost double that of the wild-type control hairy roots. More importantly, some mutant hairy root clones from the resistant population have exceedingly high antioxidant activity well outside the range of control cultures. This is the first time that this “proof of concept” for mutagenesis and selection was shown in this way. These extreme over-producing clones were regenerated.