Oilseeds Research Institute, Faisalabad

Oilseeds Research Institute, Faisalabad was established in 1975 and research activities on important Oilseeds Crops of Rapeseed, Mustard, Groundnut and Linseed were initiated. Later on in 1978, non-traditional Oilseed Crops of Sunflower, Soybean and Safflower were also included in the research programme. As an outcome new variety of above-mentioned oilseed crops were evolved which significantly increased provincial and national production of oilseeds. With the passage of time, using modern scientific techniques, new improved varieties on major oilseed crops were evolved along with package of production technology publishing it for the guidance of Agri. Extension staff and farmers.

During 1979 research section of groundnut was shifted to Barani Agriculture Research Institute Chakwal because of the fact that groundnut cultivation is carried out in the Pothowar plateau of Punjab where groundnut is mainly cultivated in the districts of Chakwal, Rawalpindi and Attock. As the cultivation of Rapeseed, Mustard, Sunflower and Sesame is pre-dominantly carried out in southern Punjab, in order to enhance research activities, Oilseed Research Stations were established at Khanpur District Rahim Yar Khan and in Bahawal Pur. Oilseed Research Institute Faisalabad in collaboration with its Research Stations evolved 32 new varieties of major Oilseed Crops.The detail of these varieties will be elaborated in the proceeding paragraphs.

Mission

Pakistan spends a huge amount to import edible oil to fulfill the national needs. This is an overdue burden on national exchequer as huge amounts of foreign reserves are consumed during the import of edible oil in ample quantities. Our mission is to make Pakistan self-sufficient in edible oil production to meet national requirements.

Objectives

• Development of Oilseed varieties/hybrids having:
  • High yield potential
  • Better oil quality
  • Resistance against insect pests and diseases
  • Good adaptability in changing climate
• Research based improvisation in the production technologies to enhance production.
• Promotion of oilseeds cultivation in the province through dissemination of technical information by print and electronic media to the farming as well as scientific community.
• Development of management strategies against biotic and abiotic stresses.
• Finding scientific solutions for the problems faced by growers.

Research Activities

The ominous threat of damaging diseases/insects and changing environmental patterns coupled with continuous demand of farmers for high yielding and high oil content oilseed varieties, always keep oilseed breeders engaged in their research pursuits. The job is tedious and cumbersome because of the complex nature of divergent mode of pollination of oilseed crops. However, oilseed breeders, within limited resources, are trying hard to meet the challenges posed by various stresses, marketing trends and farmers’ demands.

Sunflower

• Development of inbred lines
• Maintenance of inbred lines
• Parent seed production
• Development of new hybrid combinations/seed production
• Study of new sunflower hybrids
• Micro seed  yield trials of sunflower
• National uniform sunflower yield trial
• Hybrid seed production

Sesame

• Maintenance and evaluation of genepool for utilization in breeding programme
• Hybridization Programme to create genetic variability.
• Study of filial generations for evaluation of segregating generations.
• Preliminary seed yield trial to study the performance of newly developed strains.
• Advanced seed yield trial to evaluate performance of promising strains.
• Micro seed yield trials to test the performance of promising strains in different agro-eco logical zones of Punjab.
• To evaluate the performance of strains received from PARC Islamabad.
• Production of pre-basic seed of commercial varieties for provision of high-quality seed to farming community.

Soybean

• Maintenance and evaluation of genepool for utilization in breeding programme
• Hybridization Programme to create genetic variability.
• Study of filial generations for evaluation of segregating generations.
• Preliminary seed yield trial to study the performance of newly developed strains.
• Advanced seed yield trial to evaluate performance of promising strains.
• Micro seed yield trials to test the performance of promising strains in different agro-eco logical zones of Punjab.
• To evaluate the performance of strains received from PARC Islamabad.
• Adaptability yield trial for the selection of the best possible environment for crop cultivation.
• Production of pre-basic seed of commercial varieties for provision of high-quality seed to farming community.

Brassica

Summer Mustard

• Maintenance of gene pool
• Hybridization programme
• Study of filial generations
• Preliminary seed yield trial
• Advanced seed yield trial
• Micro seed yield trial

Winter Mustard

• Maintenance of gene pool(B. napus)
• Hybridization programme(B. napus)
• Study of filial generations(B. napus)
• Preliminary seed yield trial (B. napus)
• Advanced seed yield trial (B. napus)
• Micro yield trials of Rapeseed (B. napus)

Winter Rapeseed

• Maintenance of gene pool(B. juncea)
• Hybridization programme (B. juncea)
• Study of filial generations (B. juncea)
• Preliminary seed yield trial (B. juncea)
• Advanced seed yield trial (B. juncea)
• Micro yield trials of trials (B. juncea)
• National uniform Rapeseed and Mustard yield trials
• Hybrid Canola Programme
• Development of restorer lines in Brassica napus
• Maintenance of inbred lines
• Development of experimental hybrids
• Testing of new canola hybrids
• Screening of Promising Mustard lines for heat tolerance

Linseed

• Maintenance of gene pool
• Hybridization programme
• Study of filial generations
• Preliminary seed yield trial
• Advanced seed yield trial
• Micro seed yield trials
• Production of pre-basic seed

Entomology Discipline

• To save the breeding material of Oilseed crops from insect pest
• Screening of Promising Strains /Hybrids /genotypes of Different Oilseed crops against insects pests attacking these crops
• Testing the Efficacy of some new pesticides in oilseed crops, assuring an optimum safety level of beneficial insects (e.g. Predators, Parasites and Parasitoids) of these crops
• Identification of some non-chemical pest control solutions supplementing economic constraints of the peasantry

Pathology Discipline

• Screening of advance lines/hybrids of all oilseeds crops against various diseases
• Evaluation of various fungicides against various diseases
• Development of resistant inbred lines of important oilseeds crops against potentially important diseases
• Plant protection measures against oilseed crops diseases
• Diagnosis of oilseed crops diseases in-vitro and their remedies

Oil Technology Discipline

• Screening of lines/ varieties of oilseed crops for oil contents
• Screening of rapeseed and mustard lines/varieties for erucic acid
• Screening of rapeseed and mustard lines for Glucosinolates content
• Determination of fatty acid profile of oilseed crops
• Determination of quantity and quality of oil with the help of non-destructive modern analytical technology
• Provision of advisory services to farmers and public regarding purification of edible oil at domestic level.

Achievements

• Oilseeds Research Institute is working on these crops since 1975 while now 15 varieties of rapeseed and mustard have been evolved.   This institute has evolved 1st Canola varieties of AARI Canola in brassica Juncea.  In 2018 this institute developed new canola varieties named as Super Canola which has not only higher oil content but also less erucic acid & Glucosinolates along with good yield performance. The yield performance of newly developed varieties is comparable with the hybrids of private companies.
• This institute has developed 2 varieties of Linseed.
• Oilseeds Research Institute has developed seven Sunflower hybrids since 2009 which are giving good yield.
• Sesame is a conventional oilseed crop. TH-6 is the 1st variety in Pakistan having unique character of single stem. TS-3 is the branched variety which has occupied more than 50% of copped area in Punjab. Recently developed new variety is Til-18 having cluster type pods giving more yield to the farmers. Also, Anmol til with multi locule giving good yield. Black king is only variety with black seeds.
• This institute has developed two varieties of soybean in Punjab named Faisal Soybean and AARI soybean.
• Oilseeds Research Institute has developed 1st variety of Camelina naheel with high Omega 3 and vitamin E.

Initiatives

Our future plans are focused on development of:

• Canola quality varieties in Mustard along with heat tolerance capability
• Canola hybrid with better yield
• Drought and heat tolerant varieties of major oilseed crops
• Sesame varieties against Charcoal Rot disease
• High yielding Sunflower hybrids with charcoal rot & head rot tolerance
• Soybean varieties resilient to high temperatures
• Research on Olive cultivation in Central Punjab
• IPM strategies to overcome the menace of insect pests

Facilities

Following are the facilities provided by the institute:

• Facility of oil technology laboratory to analyze and test oil quantity in newly developed verities / hybrids
• Facility of entomology laboratory to identify insect pests on oilseeds crops for better insect pest control
• Facility of plant pathology laboratory to identity plant diseases on oilseed crops for better disease control

Services

Introduction

Oilseeds research institute Faisalabad provides pre-basic seed of approved varieties of Rapeseed/Mustard, soybean and sesame to the Punjab Seed Corporation, Private companies and Progressive Growers. This seed is provided by the institute from its main office in Ayub Agricultural Research Institute Faisalabad. Respective stakeholders are also provided with the production technology of respective crops.

How to avail the Service?

• The scientists of oilseeds provide advisory services to farmers through Radio recordings and television interviews. In these interviews Farmers issues regarding insect pests and diseases of oilseeds crops are addressed properly. Production technology of these crops is also delivered to farmers through recording and interviews. 
• Oilseeds Research Institute Faisalabad provides supervisory and technical guidance to graduation and M.Sc. (Hons.) students of different agriculture universities.
• Every year oilseeds Research Institute Faisalabad give training to agriculture officer of extension wing regarding all oilseeds crops. Through this practice innovations and new production technology is effectively delivered to farmers through extension wing. 

Place

Contact of the Focal Person

Allied Stations

Oilseeds Research Station, Khanpur

Oilseed Research Station, Khanpur is working on different experiments on increasing the production of oil (edible oil) in the country. New varieties are being developed with better production capacity and better quality. Research activities are underway to develop new crop varieties including Raya and Mustard at Oil Seed Research Station, Khanpur.

Research Activities

Following are the research activities of the station:

• Germplasm  evaluation & Maintenance
• Hybridization
• Filial Generations
• Preliminary Yield Trials
• Advanced Yield Trials
• Micro Varietal Trials
• National Uniform Rapeseed Yield  Trials
• National Uniform Mustard Yield Trials
• Agronomic Trials (Date Sowing, Relay cropping, Sowing method, Raya/ Sugarcane cultivation etc.)
• Pathological Trials (Fungal and viral pathogen studies and its control)
• Pre-basic seed Production

Strategies

The basic objectives of our station are awareness of the farmer about cultivation of brassica (Raya and Mustard) and provide them with Basic/ Pre-basic seed of brassica. 

Services

Following are the facilities / services provided by the station:

• Provision of Pre-basic seed is guaranteed to the farmers
• On-time Advisory services to the farmers
• Transfer of technology to the farmers by organizing different capacity building trainings, exhibitions and Farmer days
• Technical guidance of B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc. (Hons) and PhD students from various agricultural universities.
• Training and guiding of staff from other relevant agricultural organizations.
• Establishment of exhibitions the doorstep of farmers for their awareness

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Jojoba Research Station, Bahawalpur

This research station was established in 1988 as a JOJOBA Research Station Bahawalpur. Till 2015-16 it worked on JOJOBA but after that it stopped working on Jojoba on the order of Punjab Government. This research station is working under the Directorate of Oilseeds Research Institute, Faisalabad. This research station is assigned the research work on Oilseeds crops for evolution of varieties well adapted in the southern areas of the Punjab.

Objectives

The objectives of Oilseeds Research Station, Bahawalpur are

• Collection, evaluation and maintenance of germplasm of oilseeds crops.
• Development of improved varieties of oilseeds crops.
• Development of canola type mustard varieties.
• Standardization of package of production technology for oilseeds crops.
• Dissemination of production technology to the farmers of oilseed crops to enhance yield.
• Micro seed yield trials of Oilseeds crops i.e. Brassica, Linseed, Sesame, Castor bean, Soybean and Sunflower.
• Seed production of oilseed crops.

Research Activities

Following are the research activities of the station:

1. Collection and maintenance of germplasm of Brassica juncea

300 entries have been collected so far from different sources and planted and properly maintained. High yielding 50 entries were selected for further studies.

2. Genetic improvement in Brassica juncea through hybridization

To create genetic variability hybridization process is carried out between the selected and high yielding of canola quality type. 8 crosses were attempted and filial generations of these crosses were properly studied.

3. Preliminary seed yield trial of brassica juncea

12 high yielding entries were selected from the existing gene pool of brassica juncea and included in preliminary seed yield trial.

4. Advanced seed yield trial of brassica juncea

10 high yielding promising lines were selected from the preliminary seed yield trial and these lines were further tested in this trial along with check (Super raya)

5. Advanced seed yield trial of brassica napus

11 high yielding promising lines of brassica napus were tested along with check(Rohi sarsoon). The promising lines OBN 120, OBN 109, OBN 105 gave the highest yield. 

6. Collection and maintenance of germplasm of safflower

Total 500 entries have been collected so far from different sources and planted and properly maintained. High yielding 40 entries were selected for further studies.

7. Preliminary yield trials of safflower

24 promising lines were tested in order to estimate the yield performance of safflower out of which SAF-209 and SAF-222 gave the highest yield of 2850 kg/ha and 2535 kg/ha respectively followed by the entry Thori-78 that gave the yield of 2460 kg/ha.

8. Micro seed yield trial of safflower

In this trial most elite lines were tested for yield performance at different locations of Punjab i.e. Bahawalpur, Khanpur, Bahawalnagar, Khanewal, Bakkhar and Chakwal. The lines were tested for consecutive three years. The perusal of result comprising of three years revealed that SAF-65, SAF-45, SAFG-174 gave the highest yield.

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Oilseed Research Sub-station, Mianwali

Oilseed Research Sub Station Piplan was established in June 2000 as oilseed research Sub Statin. Different Research Trials related to oilseeds crops are conducted at ORSS Piplan. Seed multiplication of approved verities of major oilseeds crops is also carried out at ORSS Piplan.

Research Activities

Different trials of oilseeds crops are conducted

• Seed multiplication trials of Brassica
• Seed multiplication trials of Sunflower
• Seed multiplication trials of Sesame
• Zonal varietal trial and Micro yield trial of Brassica
• Zonal varietal trial of Sesame
• Zonal varietal trial of Linseed

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