Incidence of blast in exotic fingermillet germplasm grown in post-entry quarantine isolation area

Abstract

The National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) has been functioning as a nodal organization for introduction and exchange of plant genetic resources of varied agri-horticultural crops for research purposes. The exchange of germplasm has exposed the world to greater risk of introducing exotic pests. Thus, it is mandatory that all the imported germplasmshould be subjected to post-entry quarantine growing to check for the occurrence of exotic disease incidence (Plant Quarantine Order, 2003). The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) imports crop germplasm from different countries for their crop improvement programmes.