Variety release.pdf

Variety release
Plant breeding
K Vanangamudi
TNPSC AO, HO, ADH, AAO, AHO EXAMS
ICAR AIEEA JRF & SRF for PG admissions exams
ICAR NET, ARS & STO (T-6) exams
IBPS – AFO exams
Official release of the varieties at Central and State levels
Procedure for release of the varieties at Central level
Organizational setup of Varietal Identification Committee (VIC)
Central Seed Committee (CSC)
Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Varieties for Agricultural Crops
Notification of varieties
Procedure for release of State variety
State Varietal Identification System
State Seed Subcommittee for Agricultural Crops

1. PLANT BREEDING
VARIETAL RELEASE


Dr. K. Vanangamudi
Formerly Dean (Agriculture), AC & RI, Coimbatore,
Dean, Adhiparashakthi Agricultural College, Kalavai,
Professor and Head - Seed Science and Technology,
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.




1. Official release of the varieties at Central and State levels
o Practice of official release of varieties started in October, 1964 with the formation of the
Central Variety Release Committee (CVRC) at the Central level and State Variety
Release Committee at State level.
o In1969, CVRC was taken over by the Central Seed Committee (CSC) established under
the Seeds Act, 1966.
o Central Seeds Committee constituted a Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards
Notification & Release of Varieties for Agricultural Crops and Horticultural Crops to
discharge the functions of release/notification, provisional notification and de-notification
of varieties at Central level.
o While, State Seed Sub-Committee (SSSC) were asked to discharge similar functions for
release at State level.

2. 1.1. Procedure for release of the varieties at Central level

Flow chart of plant varietal release and notification system in India.


o All India Co-ordinated Crop Improvement Project (AICCPs) identifies the variety
for release in its workshop, before a variety is released and reaches to the farmer.
o All India Co-ordinated Crop Improvement Projects have been created for almost for all
the crops or groups of crops.
o AICCIP’s follow a three tier system of multilocation evaluation spread over a minimum
of three years
 First year - Initial Evaluation Trial (IET) or Initial Varietal Trial (IET)
 Second year - Advance Varietal Trial I (AVT - I)
 Third year - Advance Varietal Trial II (AVT - II)
1.1.1. Initial Evaluation Trial (IET)/ or Initial Varietal Trial (IVT)
o Entries to be nominated must have undergone critical evaluation/screening in the station
trials conducted by the sponsoring breeder.
o Entries to be nominated must have high degree of phenotypic uniformity and genotypic
stability.
o IET is conducted across the zones of all over the country along with check varieties.
o A minimum of three check varieties is used.
 National check
 Zonal check
 Location check

3.  Qualifying check
o All the trials are monitored by a team of scientists deputed by project coordinator to
record on uniformity of crop stand, disease and insect-pest resistance, bird damage etc.
o Monitoring team includes
 Team leader: Project Director/Project Co-coordinator/PI/Zonal Coordinator
 Members: Breeder
 Agronomist
 Pathologist/Entomologist
 Scientist from any other specified discipline

1.1.2. Advance Varietal Trials (AVT - I)
o Advance varietal trial is constituted by the entries promoted from IET/IVT on the criteria
specified above.
o Limited number of entries (not exceeding 16) is tested along with a minimum of three
checks comprising of national check, zonal check and local check.
o All these entries are evaluated in a randomized block design with 3-4 replications at the
different locations.
o Monitoring is done by the same team as given for IET/IVT.
o Besides the agronomic and morphological observations, the additional data may be
generated by the cooperators on disease and insect-pest resistance, and quality.
o Data received at the co-coordinator’s cell is critically examined for the inclusion in the
annual report.
o Outstanding performance for yield of a variety by a margin of 10% over the best
performing check is promoted to advance varietal trial.

1.1.3. Advance varietal trials (AVT - II)
o Same steps are followed as mentioned under AVT - I.
o However, the additional data to be recorded and discussed during the workshop are,
 Response to date of sowing, population densities and weedicide.
 Data on diseases, insect-pests, quality parameters and abiotic stresses.
o If the variety gives outstanding performance over the check (10% margin) besides having
all the favourable attributes, then the proposal for identification of a given variety is
submitted by the concerned breeder on a variety identification proforma specified by the
ICAR.

4. 1.1.4. Variety Identification System
o Proposal containing all available data for the variety is considered by the variety
identification committee constituted by the ICAR which meet during each AICCIP
workshop.
o Recommendations are made for country-wide release or for a specific zone or states.
o Then, the sponsoring Agricultural University/Research Institute submits the proposal
for its release and notification to Central Sub-committee.
o Once the Central Sub-committee accepts the proposal, the variety/hybrid is released
for the specific state or zone.
o Release proposal also ensures the availability of enough seed stock.

Organizational setup of Varietal Identification Committee (VIC).
o Committee comprises of one chairman and nine members

5. 1.1.5. Central Seed Committee (CSC)
Organizational setup of Central Seed Committee (CSC).
o Committee comprises of one chairman and nine members by the central government.

NOW, DAC&FW renamed as DA&FW

1.1.6. Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Varieties
for Agricultural Crops
o Appointed by Central Seed Committee under Section 3 of the seed act, 1966 during 1994.
o Committee comprised of one chairman and 17 members.
Organizational setup of Central Sub-committee on Crop Standards, Notification and
Release of Varieties for Agricultural Crops

NOW, DAC&FW renamed as DA&FW

6. 1.1.7. Notification of varieties
o After official release (at State as well as Central levels), notification is made by the
Central Government on the recommendation of the Central Seed Committee.
o Proposals for notification of a State-important variety are forwarded in the prescribed
format by the State government after its release in that State to the Central Seed
Committee for consideration.
1.1.8. Difference between notification and release of varieties
Notification of varieties Release of varieties
Notification is a statutory function performed under the Seeds
Act, 1966
Release is not a statutory function
To bring the seeds of a particular crop/variety under the purview
of Seed Law Enforcement, mainly to empower the Seed
Inspectors to regulate and verify seed quality by sampling and
analysis
To make known the details of the newly
evolved variety to the public and also the
areas for which it is found suitable for
cultivation
Notification is compulsory for production of certified seeds
Assured supply of quality seeds of notified varieties to the farmers
Seeds of notified varieties can be sold after proper labeling and
packing indicating the minimum specified standards

Curtails the bio-piracy
Subsidies are being considered
Helps in seed planning/programmes

1.2. Procedure for release of State variety
o Varieties which performs only in one State will be treated as ‘State variety’, which has
been evolved either by State Agricultural University, individual, organization or ICAR
institutes.
o Such varieties have to be considered by the State Seed Sub-committee of that particular
State for release.
o Sponsoring authority intended to release the variety should furnish the relevant
information in the prescribed proforma and submit to the co-convener of the State Seed
Sub-committee for consideration and release of variety.
1.2.1. State Varietal Identification System
 State Seed Sub-Committee (SSSC) is constituted by Central Seed Committee
 SSSCs have been given responsibility to set up a State Seed Certification Agency
(SSCA), a State Seed Laboratory (STL), and to appoint a seed analyst and seed
inspectors.
 SSCC is responsible for the release of a variety in its own state on the basis of data
generated by State Agricultural University.
 Concerned breeder along with agronomist, pathologist, entomologist and biochemist
generate sufficient data (usually more than three years).
 Sample variety must be evaluated in All India Co-ordinated crop improvement projects
trials.

7.  On-farm trial data for a year or two are collected by extension agencies of State
Department of Agriculture.
 After having all the above information, the State Agricultural University deliberates on
the release proposal of a variety in a series of meetings before recommending to the
SSSC.
 Once approved by the SSSC for release in a state, variety is requested to be notified for
seed production purpose by the Central Sub-committee.


State Seed Subcommittee for Agricultural Crops
Example: Tamil Nadu State Seed Subcommittee for Agricultural Crops



Three progressive farmers and/or seed producers

8. Critical differences between Central Sub-committee and State Sub-committee