Everyday about 500 million plastic straws are used world wide and it is one of the least recycled items of the plastic waste thus demanding ban on these straws world wide including India. The plastic straws dumped at beverage points and tourist places such as beaches, mountains and forests are creating problem for the environment as well as biodiversity. Replacing the plastic straws with wheat based straws will not only serve ecosystem but will also provide additional income to farmers. Pusa Srijan has been developed through indegenous breeding efforts. This genotype is an ideal choice for making single-use biodegrable straws due to its unique traits. The plant stands about 140 cm tall with four average number of tillers. The internode length and diameter are just perfect to cut them into variable size of hollow pipes. The storability of the wheat straw has been found unaffected at ambient storage conditions. The wheat straws don't leave any undesirable color or odour in the different beverages having pH range of 4.0 - 7.5. The strength and flexibility are just perfect.

1. Introduction
Methodology
Genetic Improvement of Wheat Architectural Traits for Lodging Resistance and Stem as Biodegradable Alternate to Single-use Plastic Straws
Structural improvement in wheat is desired as most of the high yield potential varieties (6 tons/ha and
above) are vulnerable to lodging during the critical stage of grain filling. Tall varieties are not preferred due
to their weaker stems and vulnerability to lodging. The wheat stem and other biomass left out after grain is
mainly used as dry fodder for dairy animals in rural India and have no alternate use. However, Pusa Srijan,
a genotype developed through indigenous breeding efforts is not only structurally strong to resist lodging but
also opens the avenue for the alternate use of stem for making straws having potential to replace single use
plastic straws. Everyday about 500 million plastic straws are used world wide and it is one of the least
recycled items of the plastic waste thus demanding ban on these straws world wide including India. The
plastic straws dumped at beverage points and tourist places such as beaches, mountains and forests are
creating problem for the environment as well as biodiversity. Replacing the plastic straws with wheat based
straws will not only serve ecosystem but will also provide additional income to farmers.
Results
We are thankful to the Director, Joint Director (R), Head, Division of Genetics, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi for the providing the facility and resources for conducting of this research, also equally thankful to Technical, SRFs and supporting staff and FOSU, IARI. We acknowledge the
internet source for downloading some pictures depicting harmful effects of plastic straws.
Conclusions
Acknowledgements
Naresh Kumar Bainsla*, Rajbir Yadav, Indu Chopra#, Manjeet Khokhar, Prashanth Babu, Kiran Gaikwad
*Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India # Division of Soil Science and Ag. Chemistery, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
Step1
Step2
•Recombinants with height >90cm, Stem strength, Spikelet number >20 were selected in F2
•Selected plants from the populations NW6049/HD3059 and NW6049/HD2329 were intercrossed.
Step3
•Selections were made for height, stem strength, stem diameter, spikelet number, and grain weight and
modified bulk pedigree method was used in early generations up to F4
Step4
•Single plant selections were done following ear to method from F5 onwards
•Row to plot method was used for preliminary yield testing and then multilocation testing.
Step5
•The stem from the identified genotype was cut into straws of different length and the straws were
tested for diameter, strength, flexibility, storage, change in odour and colour in different liquids at
different pH and temperature.
Grain yield and quality
Straw traits
Population
structures in F2
Selection of desirable plants
with height>90cm, spikelet
no. >20 and solidness score>7
• Crosses were made to improve the stem strength and F1s with solid stem were selected from
different cross combinations
S.No. Parameters Pusa Srijan
1 Peduncle length 45-55
Internal diameter 3.0-4.5mm
Strength from a scale 1-5 3
(200g)
Straws possible 2-3
2 Second internode length 25-40 cm
Internal diameter 5-5.5mm
strength 5
Straws possible 1-2
3 Third internode length 15-18cm
Internal diameter 4-5mm
strength 5
Straws possible 1
Total Straws possible from a
tiller
4-5
• Storage at ambient
environment= One year
• No colour or odour of its own
when used in different liquids
of variable pH (3.5 to 8.0) and
at different temperatures (8-
40° C)
• Strength is excellent
• Amenable to flexibility and
can bend like plastic if kept
soaked in water for 30
seconds
• Preferred by consumers over
plastic straws
• Potential yield = 6.5 tons/ ha Average yield = 5.1 tons/ha
• Pusa Srijan has combined well for the Yield, Lodging resistance and Nutrition (Protein content,
Fe and Zn content)
• Wheat stem can be used as biodegradable alternate to single use plastic straws
• Important genetic resource for donor for traits
• Can generate extra income for farmers through value added stem use
Refrences:
• Naresh Kumar Bainsla, Rajbir Yadav, Gyanendra Pratap Singh and Ram Kumar Sharma (2020). Additive Genetic Behavior of Stem Solidness in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Scientific
Reports 10(1) 7336 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-64470-x
• Naresh Kumar Bainsla, Rajbir Yadav, Ram Kumar Sharma, Ambrish Sharma, Kiran B, Gaikwad, Amit Kumar, Vikram Singh, Pritesh Vyas and Ambika Sharma (2018) Mechanistic understanding
Lodging in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum): An Indian perspective. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 88 (10): 1486-1495
Year 2021-22 Multi-location Quality
Location Protein
Content
%
Fe
ppm
Zn
ppm
DELHI
17.7 36.6 45.8
MP
12.08 33.8 35.1
BIHAR
14.66 37.9 42.3
Year 2020-21 Delhi Quality
• Additive genetic behaviour of solid stem was suitably used to develop hollow but strong stem
with height ~ 140 cm, reduced tillers and strong root plate.