A national brainstorming session on “Hybrid Breeding in Onion: Innovations, Challenges and Future Prospects” was organized jointly by ICAR-Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research (ICAR-DOGR), Pune, and the Horticultural Science Division, ICAR, New Delhi, in collaboration with NHRDF at the NASC Complex, New Delhi.
The session aimed to strengthen India’s hybrid onion breeding programme and streamline hybrid evaluation under the All-India Network Research Project on Onion and Garlic (AINRPOG). It brought together 22 experts from ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, and the private sector.
Dr Sudhakar Pandey, Assistant Director General (FVS & MP), ICAR, chaired the session as the Chief Guest.
Dr V. Mahajan, Director, ICAR-DOGR, and Dr A.S. Dhatt, Director (Research), PAU, co-chaired the event, along with other senior dignitaries.
In his welcome address, Dr. Mahajan outlined the current status of onion hybrids in India.
Dr. Pandey emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to develop stable, high-performing hybrids superior to open-pollinated varieties.
Dr. Dhatt highlighted the importance of developing true inbreds using doubled haploids and the integration of molecular markers in hybrid development suited to Indian agro-climatic conditions.
The technical session featured presentations from scientists representing ICAR-DOGR, ICAR-IARI, ICAR-IIHR, ICAR-VPKAS, Punjab Agricultural University, and ICAR-CITH.
A panel discussion moderated by Dr. P.C. Tripathi facilitated in-depth deliberations on advancing hybrid breeding and producing high-yielding varieties. Key recommendations included collaborative hybrid development involving ICAR-DOGR, IARI, IIHR, VPKAS, and PAU, and submission of a mega project proposal to the Corpus Fund and NASF.
https://icar.org.in/brainstorming-session-hybrid-breeding-onion
