Harnessing the full potential of modern genomics, molecular biology, and advanced breeding approaches. Generating trait knowledge, tools/technologies and platforms for integrating with crop improvement programs towards increasing crop productivity, profitability, and improving nutrition. Empowering national programs for adopting modern technologies in their crop improvement programs.

1. Research Program:
Genetic Gains
Program profile:
70 staff: 24 women (34%) and 46 men
including 20 IRS/SMG
Rajeev K Varshney

2. RP Genetic Gains
• Harnessing the full potential of modern
genomics, molecular biology, and advanced
breeding approaches
• Generating trait knowledge,
tools/technologies and platforms for
integrating with crop improvement programs
towards increasing crop productivity,
profitability, and improving nutrition.
• Empowering national programs for adopting
modern technologies in their crop
improvement programs
2

3. Delivering genetic gains in farmers fields
1. Genomics & Trait Discovery
2. Forward Breeding
3. Pre-breeding
4. Cell, Mol. Biology & Genetic Engineering
5. Biotechnology – Eastern & Southern Africa
6. Seed Systems
Sequencing & Informatics Services Unit

4. Farmers fields
Research Program
Genetic Gains
Research Program
ISD
Research Programs
Asia, ESA, WCA
Crop Improvement
Int. Crop Management
Breeding Population
Selfing and selection
Advanced
breeding
lines
Parental
lines
Varieties Hybrids
NARS/ Pvt. Sector
Pre-breeding
Genomics &
Trait discovery
Forward
Breeding
Marker
Cell, Molecular
Biology & Genetic
Engineering
Seed Systems
Agribusiness and
Innovation
Platform
Systems analysis
for Climate Smart
Agriculture
Phenotyping
Diversity
Trait specific
lines
Strategies
Lessons
MIND analysis to
maximize
outcomes
Sequencing and Informatics Services
Consumers
Systems Biology
Research Initiative
Rt =
irsA
y
ESA-
Biotechnology
Statistics,
Bioinformatics &
Data Management
Genebank
DDG-R
office
Synergy and collaboration

5. Discovery science for a strong foundation
5
Enhancing trait knowledge
• Developing genomic resources- reference genome, gene expression
atlas, genotyping arrays, etc.
• Understanding genome architecture and genetic variations
• Molecular basis, identification of genes and metabolic pathways for
breeding product profile traits
• Molecular mapping and development of diagnostic markers for ‘must
have traits’ and ‘nice to have traits’
Developing tools, technologies and platforms
• Diagnostic markers on high-throughput genotyping platform
• Mid-density arrays and QC panel for enhancing breeding efficiency
• Computational genome infrastructure and databases like GOBii to
manage and archive high-density genotyping data
• Linking genotyping data to tools and pipelines for routine use in
modern breeding
• RapidGen platform for reducing breeding cycle time

6. Accelerating and delivering genetic gains
6
Optimization of advanced breeding approaches and genetic
material to breeding programs
• New sources for stress tolerance (striga, late leaf spot, drought) and
nutrition traits through pre-breeding
• Integration of traits through genomics-assisted breeding approaches
• Optimizing genomic prediction, haplotype-based breeding, optimal
contribution selection (OCS) approaches for modernizing breeding
programs
• Host-induced gene silencing, transgenics and genome editing
approaches
Serving and empowering breeding/ national programs
• Documenting learning and guiding seed delivery systems to NARS
• Modernizing breeding programs by providing genotyping/ sequencing
services and training national programs
• Making sequencing/genotyping data and research outputs publicly
available through databased/ publications
• Organizing training courses/ conferences/ webinars, etc. for
knowledge dissemination

7. Key highlights and achievements
• Genomic foundation: Reference genome sequence for all
crops, genome sequence diversity, gene expression atlases and
functional genomics platforms; and genomics research
network with >180 partners from 35 countries of 6 continents
• Trait discovery pipeline: Mapping for 20-30 traits, markers for
ca. 10 traits for breeding
• Trait deployment pipeline: marker-assisted backcrossing
approach developed, validated and made available to breeding
programs
• Genetic engineering products: Bt- chickpea, Bt- pigeonpea,
low aflatoxin contamination groundnut
• Optimization of novel breeding approaches: Genomic
prediction, haplotype-based breeding, optimal contribution
selection, gene editing and speed breeding
• High-throughput low-cost genotyping marker platform
serving CGIAR, NARS and private sector partners

8. • Success stories of modernization of breeding: 6 legume varieties in
India and Ethiopia in 2019 and 2020- Geletu and Pusa 10216
drought tolerant chickpea varieties, SuperAnnigeri1 and Pusa
Chickpea Manav Fusarium Wilt resistant chickpea varieties, and
Girnar 4 and Girnar 5, high-oleic groundnut varieties
• New pre-breeding lines to 8 countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa
• TLIII project: Facilitated development and release of 312 drought
tolerant, nutrient dense varieties in >15 countries
• HTPG project: provided 7.5 M datapoints (US$ 2 M) to 30+ NARS,
8 CGIAR centers in 28 countries
• Sequencing/ genotyping data: 4400 GB sequencing data, 61824 SSR
datapoints for 15.5 K lines and shared > 12 Tb genomic data
• Shared knowledge and research outputs through research
publications/ databases/ presentations
• Capacity building by hosting students/ scientists & organizing
training courses/ conferences/ webinars
Key highlights and achievements

9.  Focus- Climate resilience, nutrition
and market traits
 Large-scale germplasm
characterization & value addition
 Novel trait pre-breeding lines and
compressing pre-breeding time
 Candidate genes, QTLs and
diagnostic markers for must-have
traits
 Implementation of markers in
forward breeding, MABC/MAS and
QC.
 DNA markers for impact assessment
 Novel breeding approaches testing,
validation & deployment

10.  Biotechnology and genomics
approaches for aflatoxin in
groundnut, Striga resistance in
sorghum, rancidity in pearl millet
 Doubled haploidy and speed
breeding methods optimization
 Strengthening & modernization
of seed systems
 Avail new sequencing and
genotyping platforms
 Resource mobilization, capacity
building & communication

11. Budget trend in RPGG

12. Tools & technologies made available, some breeding programs are embracing them for
modernizing their breeding programs, others need to be motivated
Representation and contribution of RP GG in modernization of crop improvement
agenda of the institute- e.g. Task Force on Modernization of Crop Improvement,
Breeding Strategies, BPAT, EiB, and other initiatives.
Integration and budgeting of RP GG disciplines / staff in institutional programs e.g.
CRP-GLDC, CtEH, AVISA Supp Grant, ICAR- ICRISAT, etc.
Staff salary is an important issue, several projects bring resources for operations, but not
salary. Need more fungible funding from institutional initiatives.
Need for a better coordination among several ongoing activities across programs
ESA- Biotechnology (and WCA) and Pre-breeding disciplines are important to identify
and bring novel alleles and modernized breeding programs using genomics tools and
technologies- need institutional support
Challenges & opportunities

13. RP GG has diverse skill sets and competencies, global
recognition for cutting edge upstream research and excellent
infrastructure and technological support
Developed large scale genomic resources, genomic and
biotechnology tools and technologies, pre-breeding and seed
system platforms. Several success stories on contribution to
modernize crop improvement available in many countries
Breeding programs at ICRISAT and NARS can be heavily
benefitted by adopting the available tools and technologies
RP GG is contributing and fully committed to modernization of
crop improvement agenda, needs suggestions, guidance and
support for improvement/ changes, as and when required.
Summary

14. Thank
You