Central Horticultural Experiment Station(CHES), Bhubaneswar

Dr. Gobinda Chandra Acharya

Principal Scientist  & HEAD, 

Central Horticultural Experiment Station 

(Regional research station of ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru),

Aiginia, Bhubaneswar - 751019

Odisha, INDIA

Central Horticultural Experiment Station, Aiginia, Bhubaneswar a regional station of  ICAR -Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore was established on 6th November 1992. The Station is located in Aiginia which was founded and inaugurated by Dr. Balram Jakhar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Co-operation, Govt. of India and President, Indian Council of Agriculture Research. The station has approximately 40 hectare area. Ever since the station has progressed substancially in achieving its mission and mandates. The station is primarily working on genetic resource management, production, protection technology and transfer of technology. The station is also working on many externally aided projects to bridge the identified gap in achieving the objectives. The Station has developed different varieties and technologies to suit the agro-climatic conditions of the eastern region and propagated them in best possible mechanisms available to different parts of the State of Odisha and other parts of Eastern India as per the mission of “Development and dissemination of sustainable technologies for enhanced horticultural productivity, quality and profitability”. Now the station has office and laboratory, research farm under micro irrigation system, ATIC, training hall and nursery unit.

Vision

Technological excellence for nationally competitive horticulture in eastern region

Mission

Development and dissemination of sustainable technologies for enhanced horticultural productivity, quality and profitability.

Mandate

• To conduct applied & strategic research to enhance productivity, quality, utility and sustainability of horticultural crops including future vegetables and mushroom for Eastern region.
• To act as a repository of horticultural genetic resources and their management required for the region.
• Transfer of technology, impact assessment and human resource development in Horticultural Crops

Research Achievements

A. Plant genetic resource

Collection, conservation, evaluation and utilization of germplasm of fruits and vegetables as well as identification of varieties and hybrids suitable for the region were important activities of the station. The numbers of germplasm lines and varieties have been collected, maintained and being evaluated at the station.

Crops	Total collection
Fruit crops
Mango	122
Jackfruit	37
Bael	11
Annona sp.	11
Underutilized fruit crops	31
Sub-total	212
Vegetable crop
Ivy gourd	18
Pointed gourd	20
Spine gourd	40
Teasel gourd	80
Bitter gourd	48
Sweet gourd	01
Melothria	07
Chilli	106
Moringa	10
Beans	40
Leafy vegetables	50
Sub-total	420
Grand total	632

 

• IC numbers for 81 mango germplasm, Solanum melongena-2 and Momordica suboica-1 have been obtained.
• Capsicum chinense:  IC 553688 (INGR 13068) a unique Germplasm has been registered with NBPGR.
• Coccinia grandis: (INGR 09126) a unique germplasm of ivy gourd has been registered with NBPGR.

Establishment of Mango Gene Bank 

 A mango gene bank has been jointly established by CHES (IIHR), Bhubaneswar and Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Odisha at the State Horticulture Farm, Dhenkanal.  The gene bank will act as a repository of mango germplasm and varieties.  The station will transfer all its mango germplasm (103) and varieties (51) to State Horticulture department following the Material Transfer Agreements (MTA) norms.  The ex situ establishment of gene bank is first of its kind in which State Department and ICAR jointly perceived the need of conservation of germplasm for their better exploitation.  The germplasm will also be available to the scientists for their research purposes.

B. Technologies

a) Varieties released

Following varieties have been developed at CHES (ICAR-IIHR), Bhubaneswar.

A. FRUITS

Crop	Variety	Breeding tool used	Specific Characters	Photograph
Mango	Arka Neelachal Kesari	Clonal Selection	Extra early (ripening in March), Colour, high yield and fruit fly free in coastal Orissa
Custard apple	Arka Neelachal Vikram	Clonal Selection	High yield, low seed content, high keeping quality.
Rose apple	Arka Neelachal Akshay	Selection	High fruit weight pulp content, low incidence of fruit fly

 

B. VEGETABLES

Chilli	Arka  Neelachal Prabha	Mass Selection	Upright growth, heavy fruiting, dark green fruit, also suitable for red chilli
Brinjal	Arka Neelachal Shyama	Mass Selection	High yield, round light purple fruit with soft pulp suitable for frying.
	Arka Neelachal Yodha	Mass Selection	High yielding, good quality, green, oblong fruit
Spine Gourd	Arka Neelachal Shree	Selection	High yield,  good appearance, high market preference
	Arka Neelachal Shanti (Hybrid)	Selection	The variety exhibits plant and flower morphology more similar to teasel gourd while its fruit morphology is more close to spine gourd.
Teasle gourd	Arka Neelachal Gaurav	Selection	High yield, soft seed, high market preference.
Ivy gourd	Arka Neelachal Khunkhi	Selection	Extra-large fruit, soft texture, high yield, suitable for salad also.
	Arka Neelachal Sabuja	Selection	High yield, hardy plant type,   tolerance to bruishing.
Pointed Gourd	Arka Neelachal Kirti	Selection	High yield, solid core, soft seed, high market preference.
Dolichos Bean	Arka Neelachal Pushti	Selection	Bold seeded, high yielder as rich in protein content and micronutrient
Amaranthus	Arka Neelachal Ruchitha	Selection	Resistant to white rust, multi-cut, green and fleshy stem
	Arka Neelachal Vrichitha	Selection	Resistant to white rust, pulling type, green with purple blotch
	Arka Neelachal Bainishi	Selection	Resistant to white rust, pulling type, green with purple with pink stem

C) MACHINERIES:

Items	Name of machinery	Specific Characters	Photograph
Jackfruit peeler	Arka Neelachal Raw jackfruit peeler	The semi-manual machine hastens the process of peeling of raw jackfruit as compared to the manual traditional peeling using knife. Peeling of 3-4 kg weighing jackfruit can be completed in less than five minutes.
Fertreedrill	Arka Neelachal Fertreedrill	Suitable for fertilizer applications in fruit crops. Delivery rate: 4-10 kg/ minute -Coverage: 1-2 ha/day -Cost effectiveness: › 200 % -Labour efficiency: › 500 %

c) Promising fruit varieties identified for the region

d) Production technologies

S.No.	Technology	Brief description
1.	Mango-based intercropping models	Sweet potato-cowpea-amaranth and cowpea-tomato-okra combinations as intercrop were found to be the best in terms of economic returns. Miniature fruit crops like pine apple grown in 50-60% inter space in young mango orchard has also been found equally remunerative.
2.	Fertigation in Banana	75% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF*) *RDF=200 : 80 : 220 g NPK / plant 3:2:1 (NPK ratio) and 75:20:27.5 (NPK dose) for vegetable growth.
3.	Nutrient management in guava	Different doses of NPK influenced the growth and fruit yield of guava variety Allahabad Safeda after 7th year imposition of treatment
4.	Single trellis system for cucurbits	Suitable for pointed gourd, bitter gourd, spine gourd, teasel gourd, ivy gourd

 

        

e) Protection technologies

On-going externally aided projects

• Tribal Sub-plan on Promotion of Horticulture for Tribal Livelihood (TSP)
• Development of National database on mango (DBT funded project)
• Consortium Research Platform (CRP) on Borers (ICAR)
• All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Vegetable crops (ICAR)
• All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Fruits (ICAR)

Extension activities

• Planting material supply of new varieties / hybrids of the fruits and vegetables to farmers / state government.
• Farmers group visits
• NGOs sponsored trainings
• Government sponsored trainings
• On-campus training to Government officers
• On campus training
• Off campus training
• Kisan Ghosti/ day /Mela
• Stall for demonstration of technologies
• Publication of extension literature
• Trellis technology has been adopted by State government.
• IPM scheme in mango implemented.      

Human Resource Development in the Horticulture Sector

100 students in 7 batches (Horticulture vocational) have completed their one year practical training.  Six M Sc (Biotechnology) students of Trident Academy of Creative Technology (affiliated to Utkal University) carried out their project work at CHES, Bhubaneswar.

Other activities at CHES

• Farm advisory services, demonstrations, technological support to State department of horticulture, farmers, NGO’s, officers from different institutes, other entrepreneurs etc.

Facilities created

Infrastructure : Office cum Laboratory Building, Conference hall, Central laboratory, Exhibition hall, Library, ATIC, Training hall, Farm unit, Net/poly house, Potting shed, Vermicompost unit, Bore well and Water harvesting ponds etc.

Equipment/Machinery : HPLC, Spectrophotometer, PCR machine, Gel documentation unit, Stereozoom microscope, Autoclave, Electronic weighing balance, Laminar flow cabinet, Generator, Tractor/power tiller, Hedge pruner/weed cutter etc.

Events Organized

       

Publications

Research papers:98, Popular Articles / News:68, Book chapters:18, Extension bulletins:12, Extension Folders:19, Books:13 and Paper Presented in Seminar/Symposium:146

Linkages

Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Odisha, RC-CTCRI, Bhubaneswar, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, CIFA, Bhubaneswar, CISH, Lucknow, CIWA, Bhubaneswar, AICRP (Fruits), IIHR, Bengaluru, AICRP (Vegetables), IIVR, Varanasi, Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi, NABARD, National Horticulture Board

Prominent visitors: Many distinguished personnel have visited the station like