Crop Improvement
* Twenty-two Cooperative Centres of AICRP on Soybean have procured conserved and evaluated about 4180 germplasm accessions.
* Total 118 varieties were developed, released and notified under the AICRP on Soybean, of which 18 varieties were released during 2012 to 2016 (Annexure-X) for different agro-ecological zones and suiting to location specific cultivation requirements.
* Variety, VLS 59 with low linolenic acid has been developed.
* Issues of early maturity, resistance to soybean rust and YMV, resistance to insects, high potential yield etc. have been addressed by focused varietal development programme.
* Total 58983 q Breeder seed of soybean varieties in the seed chain was produced. In case of shortfall, contingent off-season production was also undertaken at selected centers.
* For strengthening the national crossing programme under the AICRP programme, a National Hybridization Programme (NHP) has been prepared. Accordingly, all the centers contribute at least one cross (10-20 F1 seeds). The F1s are raised at Pune/Bangalore and F2 at IISR, Indore. The pooled seed from each cross is then given to contributing centres for evaluation and selection.
* Work on development of soybean varieties suitable for post rainy season has been initiated.
* All the varieties in seed chain are being tested for resistance against charcoal rot at IISR, Indore.
* A separate Eastern zone comprising of Ranchi, Raipur, Bhawanipatna and Dholi centers has been constituted.
* For conducting a separate trial on evaluation of vegetable soybean, elaborate protocol has been prepared.
Crop Production
* In view of inconsistency of onset of monsoon, optimum sowing dates, seed rates and irrigation schedule for different zones were recommended for higher productivity and profitability.
* Effective herbicides were recommended for proper management of weeds and minimizing the losses caused by them.
* To mitigate the effects of frequent long dry spells, water conservations technologies were developed (using anti-transpirants, mulches, BBF or FIRBS).
* FLDs conducted in farmers field across the country revealed that soybean productivity can be enhanced to the tune of 30.72% by adoption of full package of practices by the farmers.
* Promising effects of co-inoculation of B. japonicum either with VAM fungi or PGPR were established.
* High nodulating genotypes have been identified and registered with IMTEC, Chandigarh.
Plant Breeding
* Release of 124 soybean varieties suitable for 6 AICRP zones.
*Removal of pod shattering habit.
* Development of lodging resistant (determinate and semi-determinate) varieties.
* Increased pod insertion height from 2-3 cm to 7-8 cm for mechanized harvesting.
* Identification of source of YMV resistance in UPSM 534 (PI 171443) and G. soja. Presently all varieties of NPZ are YMV resistant.
* Identification of source of rust resistance in EC 241778 and EC 241780 and development of rust resistant varieties in SZ.
* Unconscious introgression of photoinsensitivity alleles in most popular and earliest maturing varieties JS 95-60 and JS 20-34 from exotic accession D-69-8281 (PS 73-22) lead to growing of three crops in a year.
* Development of climate smart variety (JS 97-52) which has tolerance to drought, water logging and heat and resistance to Charcoal rot.
* Improved seed longevity in room storage (1 year) ~ 60% to 75-80%.
* Development of null KTI variety NRC 127.
* Development of null lox-2 genotype NRC 132. (Varietal identification).
* Development of early maturing and less photosensitive genotypes NRC 130 and NRC 131 (Varietal identification).
* Development of mid-oleic (42%) genotype NRC 147 (Varietal identification).
* Development of drought tolerant genotypes NRC 136 and NRC 137 (Varietal Identification).
Crop Protection
* Through large scale field screening at hot-spots, several promising genotypes were identified as sources for resistance against major insect-pests and diseases.
* Two lines, EC 241778 and EC 241780 have been identified as donors for rust resistance.
* Integrated management of major diseases like Rust, Charcoal rot, Rhizoctonia aerial blight, YMV and its vactor, white fly was developed and recommended.
* Optimized the spray volume for insecticidal application. It is recommended that for first spray the insecticidal spray volume should be 300 l/ha, while for second spray it should be 400 to 450 l/ha.
* The information on yield losses caused by major insects at different crop stages and with different infestation levels was generated.
* To reduce the cost involved in separate application of herbicides and insecticides, tank-mix combinations were recommended for effective management of weeds and insect-pests.
Food Processing and Value Addition
* Value addition in local soya-based food preparations in North Eastern Hill region was done through improvisation in techniques. Physico-chemical and sensory properties of locally made pickle-Hawaijar, nuggets, Tofu, Soya-papad, Soya-buiscuits was done to increase their acceptability and nutritional enrichment.