International training program organized by city based ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute (CCRI), Nagpur for the agriculture and horticulture officers of Bhutan concluded on April 6. Under Indo-Bhutan Bilateral Cooperation agreement, this training program entitled “PCR Diagnosis of Virus and Virus-like Pathogens including Citrus greening (HLB) and Advanced Techniques of Citrus Nursery Plant Propagation System” was organized in the institute from March 25 to April 6, 2019.
Ex-Chairman, Agriculture Scientist Recruitment Board (ASRB), Government of India Prof. C. D. Mayee, chief guest of the Valedictory program explained about the importance of proper testing (indexing) of mother citrus plants against citrus greening and virus diseases before nursery propagation. He also said that in a perennial and vegetatively propagated crop like citrus it is a must.
Recent success of developing molecular diagnosis of citrus greening and citrus viruses at CCRI is very important in this regard and the centre has extended diagnostic facility to other organizations in India and other countries.
Prof Mayee also distributed certificates to the participants after successful completion of this training program. In his remarks, Director, CCRI Dr M. S. Ladaniya, has informed that similar International training involving molecular diagnosis of citrus viruses was earlier extended to the officers of Nepal and Oman. He also congratulated the trainees and Principal Scientist (Plant Pathology-Virology) and Training coordinator, Dr Dilip Ghosh, for successfully organizing this third international training program in the institute for the officers of Royal Government of Bhutan. Dr Ladaniya said that ICAR-CCRI has one of the best Citrus Virology Lab in South Asia.
Principal Scientist (Plant Pathology-Virology) and Training coordinator, Dr Dilip Ghosh, informed that during this two weeks period, the participants has learned PCR- based different molecular diagnostic techniques for rapid and sensitive detection of citrus viruses and Candidatus Liberibacter spp., the unculturable bacterium that causes the devastating citrus greening disease.
Also they have learned tissue culture and other improved nursery practices. In fact this group of pathogens are considered as major factor responsible for causing citrus decline in Bhutan. Dr Ghosh expressed the hope that Bhutan officials will certainly implement their improved skills and knowledge for betterment of citrus industry of their country.
This training program has been sponsored and funded by Royal Government of Bhutan.
