Status: New
| Name & address of the Laboratory/Organization | ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi | |
| Website address | https://iivr.icar.gov.in | |
| Affiliated to which Department/Ministry | Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) | |
| CSR Registration Number | NA | |
| Registration under 12A | ||
| Registration under 80G | ||
| Name of the CSR Nodal | Dr. Jagesh Kumar Tiwari | |
| Contact information of CSR Nodal | 86290 79084, jageshtiwari@gmail.com | |
| Principal Investigator | Dr. Jagesh Kumar Tiwari, jageshtiwari@gmail.com | |
| Co- Principal Investigator (Co-PI) | ||
| Objective on the basis of need | i. Development and popularization of tomato hybrids/varieties suitable for processing or dual purpose with longer shelf-life. iI. Development of tomato hybrids/varieties suitable for rainy season with multiple disease resistance. iiI. Identification and validation of SNP markers associated with processing, shelf life and other horticultural traits through genome-wide association studies (GWAS)/re-sequencing. |
| Executive summary of the proposed project (In 250 words) | Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an essential ingredient in Indian cuisine. India accounts for 11.12% (20.69 million tons) production and 17.14% area (0.84 million ha) with productivity of 24.54 t/ha of tomato in the world, out of global total production of 186.11 million tons from 4.91 million ha area with productivity of 37.84 t/ha (FAOSTAT 2022). In India, nearly 99% of total tomatoes are consumed as fresh and only ~150,000 tons (< 1%) are processed annually compared to developed countries like USA and Italy process over 70% their produce and export a huge tomato processed products. India imported processed tomato products (canned tomato, sauce and paste) of about 20.64 million USD (2019) by 146 % increase in total imports over previous years (NAAS 2022). Ironically, in the main winter (rabi) crop season, due to lack of adequate processing facilities, and price crash of tomato produce, 40-50% of fresh produce is wasted every year. This glut in the fresh tomato market offers a big opportunity to gainfully utilise 70-80% of the harvested produce by processing industries, provided the quality parameters are met. The current varieties/hybrids, which cover over 90% of the area, are not specifically bred for processing (Tiwari et al. 2022a). Hence, there is a need to breed and promote tomato hybrids/varieties suitable for processing or dual purpose. Hence, in this project proposal on "Development and popularization of Processing Tomato Hybrids/Varieties and Suitable for Rainy season", we aim to select parents having high TSS combined with ToLCV resistance and other horticultural traits for hybrids/variety development, multi-location (New Delhi and Varanasi) evaluation, popularization among farmers and industries for product preparation, and validation of parental lines using SNP markers associated with processing and other horticultural traits through resequencing and genome-wide association studies |
| Technology Readiness Level (If not a new project but an advancement of existing know how) | In India, tomato processing is very low (0.93%), which might be due to the unavailability of suitable processing varieties. A recent Strategy paper discusses about the need of breeding for processing tomatoes in India (NAAS 2022). Although tomato is the leading researchable vegetable, but there is less knowledge available specially on processing hybrids, GWAS studies on SNP discovery for processing traits. Recently, we have highlighted the use of genomics assisted breeding in tomato improvement applying modern genomics tools (Tiwari et al. 2022b). To strengthen the national tomato breeding program, recently we have procured 57 tomato lines from WVC, Tiawan and TGRC, UC Davis, USA. Besides, we have also collection of ~200 germplasm for horticultural traits including processing and shelf life. Gap In India, of total tomato production (20.57 mt), the low level of processing (<1%) is because of low surplus due to large population, higher level of fresh consumption and high post-harvest loss (12.4%). Even 40-50% tomatoes are wasted during the main glut season (rabi) with heavy price crash up to Rs. 1-2 per kg of fresh tomato or some time not even meet the cost of production. Only a small fraction of the produce is used for processing into value-aided products like puree and remaining requirements is met through imports of US $ 20.64 million mainly (72%) from China, USA, Italy, Spain and Chile. Whereas, in the developed countries like USA, 85% of tomatoes are processed due to high processing quality production, low population and large surplus for processing. The unavailability of processable tomato hybrids/varieties meeting industrial parameters are highly lacking in India. A typical processing criteria are high TSS (>5°Brix), minimum sugar acid ratio (15:1), lycopene (>10mg/100g FW) with a high colour value of (>2) and low pH (<4.3) are essential to improve quality valued-added products and energy saving at low cost. Besides, determinate plant growth habit, cluster bearing with concentrated fruit maturity, vine storability, and jointless pedicel for mechanical harvesting are important for processing tomatoes. The old Indian tomato varieties (Roma, Punjab Chhuhara and Pusa Ruby) developed in 1980s do not meet these industrial parameters. Owing to the unavailability of processing hybrids/varieties, there is a lack of awareness among the farmers & industries in India. Hence, the availability of hybrids suitable for processing, and popularization are needed for entrepreneurship development on tomato products. Lack of diversified and innovative processed products in market based on Indian tomato hybrids. Tomato germplasm, breeding line and genomics data resources particularly SNP markers are lacking for early stage selection and rapid breeding. Information on metabolic compounds and nutritional profiling of recent varieties and germplasm lines associated with processing tomatoes is very limited. |
| Outomes or Deliverables | Identification of superior tomato lines with processing traits with longer shelf life and important horticultural important traits. Development of hybrids/varieties with improved processing traits with longer shelf life, high yield and ToLCV resistance. Development of hybrids/varieties with improved resistance to diseases (late blight, early blight and toLCV) suitable for rainy season in Indo-Gangetic regions. Popularization through field demonstrations and training and capacity building on knowhow among farmers, SHGs, NGOs and stakeholders on hybrid seed production, processed product (puree & paste) preparation, cultivation practices and post-harvest management of tomato. Entrepreneurship development on processed product development for selfsufficiency and income generation through tomato farming. Construction of tomato genomics resources by re-sequencing/GBS data generation for future use. Development of SNP markers for breeding and selection of lines with processing traits. The identified superior lines and developed hybrids/varieties would be suitable for making processing products (e.g puree & paste). Steps towards enhancing farmers’ income by selling processing quality tomato hybrids/varieties and employment generation in tomato farming. Diversification of tomato for processing purpose and avoid price crash and glut situation in main crop season. |
| Project aligned with which most relevant UN SDGs | Goal 3 - Good Health & Well-Being |
| Duration (In years) | 3 Years |
| Expected Impact | Making available tomato hybrids/varieties for processing purpose to make processed products like puree, paste, ketchup; and also suitable for cultivation during rainy season in the Sub-tropical regions of the country. |
| Implementation model (self- implemented/ outsourced partnership) | Inter-institutional in collaboration with Private companies |
| Total Budget (Recurring +Non-Recurring Expenses) | 100 Lakh |