Department of Seed Science and Technology

About the Department

The Department of Seed Science and Technology is located in block-II of PG College of Agriculture, RPCAU, Pusa. The Postgraduate (PG) programme in this discipline was started from the academic session 2020-21 with the intake capacity of 6 students. So far, 3 batches consisting of 11 students have been passed out and two batches consisting of 10 students are currently in 2^nd and 4^th semester. Initially, the PG programme in Seed Technology started in the Department of Seed Technology, TCA, Dholi, in the academic session 1998, but it was suspended from 04^th Sept., 2004 due to shortage of teaching staff in the department. Now with strengthened faculty, the department is actively mentoring the students. Some of our passed-out students are pursuing their Ph.D. from, IARI, New Delhi & TNAU, Coimbatore, some students joined as civil services, while many are working as quality control managers and seed analysts in seed companies. The department also trains students to excel in competitive examinations such as ICAR-SRF, ARS, and other state and national agriculture exams.

Vision: To be a centre of excellence in Seed Science and Technology through advanced research, quality seed production, cutting- edge innovations and transformative education.

 Mandate:

• Conduct basic, strategic, and applied research on seed production, testing, and storage for field and vegetable crops.
• Ensure seed quality assurance, and promote and disseminate quality seeds
• Standardize molecular tools for genetic purity testing
• Standardize techniques for seed quality enhancement and develop technologies for the detection and management of seed borne insect pests & diseases in field crops.
• Impart postgraduate education and training for human resource development

Objectives/Goals:

• Development of climate-resilient seed production technology in different crops (e.g., heat-tolerant wheat, chickpea and lentil).
• Development of seed quality enhancement technologies like nanotechnology, cold plasma etc.
• Establishment of seed production techniques under protected cultivation environments and standardization of protocols for organic seed production.
• Development of notified seed testing laboratory and standardization the procedures for testing in new crops.
• Development of rapid and reliable techniques for detection and screening of seed-borne pathogens.
• Introduction of novel methods such as machine learning and image analysis for seed phenotyping.

Degrees Offered

Facilities and Infrastructure

Achievements

i. Varieties/ Patents/ Technologies:

• The technology entitled ‘Reaffirming the Validity Periods of Seed Certification in Field Crops’ had been identified and recommended for release during 38th Annual Group Meeting of AICRP on Seed (Crops), 2023. Dr. Sumeet Kumar Singh, Dr. Sarita Kumari, Dr. Hemlata Singh & Dr. RK Mandal, RPCAU, Pusa; contributed in the development of referred technology under seed technology research component of AICRP on Seed (Crops).
• The technology entitled ‘Mitigation of Terminal Heat Stress for Better Seed Yield and Quality in Field Crops’ has been identified and recommended for release during 38th Annual Group Meeting of AICRP on Seed (Crops), 2023. Dr. Sumeet Kumar Singh, Dr. Sarita Kumari, Dr. Hemlata Singh & Dr. RK Mandal, RPCAU, Pusa contributed in the development of referred technology under seed technology research component of AICRP on Seed (Crops).
• The technology entitled “Integrated Approach for Enhancing the Seed Yield and Quality in Millets’ had been identified and recommended for release during 36 Annual Group Meeting of AICRP on Seed (Crops), 2021. Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Dr. Sumeet Kumar Singh & Dr. U K Singh, RPCAU, Pusa contributed in the development of referred technology under seed technology research component of AICRP on Seed (Crops).
• Grain-super bags and high-density polythene interwoven non-laminated (HDPE) bags are suitable for commercial storage of mungbean, cowpea, hybrid paddy and hybrid maize for one planting season maintaining germination above minimum seed certification standards provided insect-free and dry seeds (moisture~ 10 %) are stored (2010). Recommended by XXV Annual Group Meeting of AICRP- National Seed Project (Crops) during 4-6^th May, 2010 on the basis of multi-location experiments including Dholi centre Developed by STR team lead by Dr. Satish Kumar Singh.
• Green manuring and FYM @ 10t/ha followed by seed treatment with Trichoderma viride @ 2.5 g/kg may be used for improving seed quality in wheat at Pantnagar, Palampur and Dholi (2010). Recommended by XXV Annual Group Meeting of AICRP- National Seed Project (Crops) during 4-6^th May, 2010 on the basis of multi-location experiments including Dholi centre. Developed by STR team lead by Dr. Satish Kumar Singh.
• The pinching practice after 50-60 days of sowing (plant height 90 cm) and foliar application of DAP (2%) + MN mixture [ZnSO4 (0.5%) + Boric acid (0.3%)] + NAA (40 ppm) at the time of flowering is recommended for better seed yield and seed quality in Dhaincha. Recommended by 32^nd Annual Group Meeting of AICRP- National Seed Project (Crops) in 2015 on the basis of multi-location experiments including Dholi centre. Dr. S. K. Varshney & Dr. U. K. Singh led this research at Dholi Centre.
• The Dholi centre also developed various priming technology in Wheat & Moong which was adopted by the farmer’s & was mentioned in the QRT report of 2004-09, under Seed Technology Research scheme. Dr. Satish Kumar Singh was involved in conducting these trials at Dholi centre.
• The centre developed tolerance limit for bacterial leaf blight infection as 0.01% seed infection as a part of experiment under STR at Dholi centre & was mentioned in the QRT report of 2004-09, under Seed Technology Research scheme. Dr. Rajesh Ranjan contributed significantly for this research.

ii. Research activities:

National & International projects with details of PI/ Co-PI:

• Development of heat tolerant and pre-harvest sprouting-resistant-high-yielding wheat genotypes through induced mutagenesis” BRNS-BARC, Mumbai (Ongoing): PI- Dr. Satish Kumar Singh
• AICRP on Seed (STR): PI- Dr. Sumeet Kumar Singh, Co-PI- Dr. R. K. Mandal
• University funded project entitled “Developing Botanical based Seed Enhancement Treatments for Organic/Natural Farming Conditions in Chickpea & Maize” (2024-27). PI- Dr. Sumeet Kumar Singh
• IRRI funded Research Project “AGGRi ALLIANCE” during 2020-2023. Co- PI: Dr. Sumeet Kumar Singh
• Quality Seed Production component of CRA project funded by Govt. of Bihar: Co-PI: Dr. Sumeet Kumar Singh
• Seed System project under 4^th Krishi Road Map of Govt. of Bihar. Co- PI: Dr. Sumeet Kumar Singh
• Associated Scientist in Krishi Gyan Vaahan Project funded by Govt. of Bihar. Co- PI: Dr. Sumeet Kumar Singh

iii. Publications:

Technical Bulletins:

1. बीज प्रमाणीकरण की प्रक्रिया एवं इसका महत (752/SST/TCA, Dholi, Dated 22/02/2023)
2. बीज परीक्षण की उपयोगिता एवं महत (751/SST/TCA, Dholi, Dated 22/02/2023)
3. बाजार से बीज खरीदने समय किसान इन बातों का रखें ध्यान (754/SST/TCA, Dholi, Dated 22/02/2023

 Lab Manuals:

1. Kumari S., Singh S. K., Bhutia K.L., Anjani K., Kumar A., Prasad B. D., Thudi M. Kumar R. and Sharma V. K. (2022) Laboratory Manual for Techniques in Molecular Biology. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, India. P.No. PD/98/RPCAU, Pusa.

Training manuals:

1. Germination Test and Estimation of Moisture Content in Seeds of Mungbean and Urdbean by Sumeet Kumar Singh & Sarita Kumari
2. कृषक प्रशिक्षण पुस्तिका: बीज उत्पादन, परिक्षण एवं भण्डारण, प्रकाशक: निदेशालय बीज एवं प्रक्षेत्र, डॉ० राजेंद्र प्रसाद केंद्रीय कृषि विश्वविद्यालय, पूसा, समस्तीपुर सम्पदाक: डॉ० सुमीत कुमार सिंह, सहायक प्राध्यापक, बीज विज्ञानं एवं प्रोद्योगिकी

Technical/ popular article:

• Nandi A, Singh SK and Kumari S (2022). Possibilities of Use of Synseed New Plants. Krishi Science, 3(7): 28-32.
• Rashmi Jha, Sumeet Kumar Singh and Sarita Kumari (2022). Storage problems of recalcitrant seeds & their conservation. Krishi Science, 3(6): 5-8.
• Singh SK and Kumari S (2023). Shipping and Maintenance of Iron in Plants. Agri Gate
• Nandi A, Singh SK and Kumari S (2022). Seed Certification & Revalidation in view of Climate Change and New Varieties of Crops. Food and Scientific Reports, 3(9): 26-28.
• Nandi A, Singh SK and Kumari S (2022). Introduction of Novel Biochip Technology in Seed Science. Agri articles, 2(4): 250-252
• Keshari AK, Singh SK, Samal D and Kumari S (2023). Mineral Fortification of Rice Using Biotechnology: A Technological Advancement for Better Nutrition. Biomolecule Reports, 7(3):1-6.
• Kumari S, Singh SK and Keshari AK (2023). Microbial Biocontrol Agents: A Benevolence to the Plant under Biotic Stresses. Biomolecule Reports, 7(3):7-12.
• Singh SK and Kumari S (2023). Shipping and Maintenance of Iron in Plants. Agri Gate, 3(2): 80-85.
• Keshari AK, Singh SK and Kumari S (2024). Harnessing the genetic potential of Indian wild rice germplasm. Agri Gate, 4(4): 461-468.
• पी. पी. सिंह, राजेश कुमार, नीरज कुमार, भी. के. चौधरी, उमेश कुमार सिंह, सुमीत कुमार सिंह, सरिता कुमारी, कौशल किशोर, भारती उपाध्याय एवं सुशील कुमार सिंह (२०२०) कृषि अपशिष्ट: ग्रामीण आजीविका हेतु संभावनाएं स्मारिका डॉ. राजेंद्र प्रसाद केन्द्रीय कृषि विश्वविद्यालय

Extension Activities:

 Ongoing various extension activities:

• As part of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (May 29–June 12, 2025), scientists Dr. Sumeet Kumar Singh, and Dr. Raj Kumar Mandal conducted awareness programs across Bihar villages. They trained farmers on quality seed use, seed treatment, climate-smart farming, and natural agriculture practices.

Faculties