Genomics delivers ‘super chickpea’ in record time

Two improved varieties developed through genomics-assisted breeding are headed for Indian farms

India is set to launch improved chickpea, developed in record time through genomics-assisted breeding in a first-of-its-kind effort. Two new varieties with drought tolerance and disease resistance were recently identified for farming by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) for Chickpea identified two desi chickpea (Bengal chana) varieties—‘Pusa 10216’ and ‘MABC-WR-SA-1’, which were developed by ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) in Raichur, Karnataka, respectively, in collaboration with ICRISAT. AICRP announced the decision at its recently concluded 24^th Annual Group Meet.