Procedure of Plant Introduction

1. Procurement:

• There are two routes for plant introduction.
• In first route the individual or the institution makes a direct request to an individual or institution abroad, who has the desired germplasm, to send it through the NBPGR, New Delhi.
• In second procedure the individual or institute submits his germplasm requirements to the NBPGR with a request for their import.

2. Quarantine:

• Quarantine means to keep materials in isolation to prevent the spread of diseases etc.
• All the introduced plant propagules are thoroughly inspected for contamination with weeds, diseases and insect pests.
• Materials that are suspected to be contaminated are fumigated or are given other treatments to get rid of the contamination.
• If necessary, the materials are grown in isolation for observation of diseases, insect pests and weeds.
• The entire process is known as quarantine and the rules prescribing them are known as quarantine rules.

3. Cataloguing:

• When an introduction is received, it is given an entry number.
• Further, information regarding name of the species, variety, place of origin, adaptation and its various characteristics are recorded.
• The plant materials are classified into three groups.

1. Exotic collections are given the prefix ‘EC’
2. Indigenous collections are designated as ‘IC’ and
3. Indigenous wild collections are marked as ‘IW’

4. Evaluation:

• To assess the potential of new introductions, their performance is evaluated at different substations of the Bureau.
• The resistance to diseases and pests is evaluated under environments favoring heavy attacks by them.

5. Multiplication and Distribution:

• Promising introductions or selections from the introductions may be increased and released as varieties after the necessary trials.
• Most of the introductions, however, are characterized for desirable traits and are maintained for future use.
• Such materials are used in crossing programmes and are readily supplied by the bureau on request.