BAIF Development Research Foundation

The hilly agroecosystems of north-western Maharashtra harbor rich agrobiodiversity, but agricultural intensification and widespread adoption of improved cultivars are accelerating the erosion of traditional crop landraces. However, comprehensive information on the current status of on-farm agrobiodiversity and the extent of ongoing genetic erosion in these tribal-dominated landscapes remains limited. This study assessed on-farm agri-horticultural diversity, landrace prevalence, genetic erosion, and indigenous conservation practices across Akole, Igatpuri, Shahada, and Dhadgaon. Field surveys, household interviews, and focus group discussions documented traditional crop landraces, wild edible species, and farmer-led conservation practices. Agrobiodiversity was evaluated using the Prevalence Index, Berger–Parker Index, Menhinick’s Diversity Index, and Shannon Diversity Index. More than 150 traditional landraces representing cereals, millets, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits, and legumes, together with over 35 wild edible plant species, were recorded. Hyacinth bean (PI = 10.00), mango (PI = 5.35), groundnut (PI = 5.25) and wheat (PI = 4.17) showed the highest prevalence in Akole–Igatpuri, whereas cowpea (PI = 2.50) and pigeonpea (PI = 2.33) predominated in Shahada–Dhadgaon. Shannon diversity values ranged from 0.69 to 3.01 and 1.01 to 2.17, indicating substantial variation in landrace diversity. Community seed banks and farmer-managed seed systems continue to support the conservation of locally adapted landraces despite ongoing varietal replacement. This study provides a comprehensive baseline for understanding the status of on-farm agrobiodiversity in north-western Maharashtra. It highlights the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge with community-based and policy-driven conservation strategies to strengthen the long-term resilience and sustainability of traditional farming systems.

This study characterises the morphometric and qualitative traits of adult lactating Gir cattle from the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, aiming to identify physical and behavioural features associated with milk yield to improve breed selection. Surveying 1,307 cows from four districts and engaging native breeders, the research recorded 27 qualitative traits (such as body coat colour, ear and horn shape, temperament, and milking behaviour) and 9 quantitative traits (including hump circumference, forehead dimensions, dewlap and tail measurements, body surface area, and peak milk yield). Statistical correlation and principal component analysis revealed that eleven morphometric traits had a significant association with milk production, with the first principal component explaining 43.45% of the overall variability. Top-ranked, favourable subtypes included non-spotted body coat, bright skin, tortuous milk vein, docile temperament, and peaceful milking behaviour, underscoring their economic value for breeding decisions. The findings suggest that targeted selection based on these traits supports both conservation of pure Gir cattle and enhancement of dairy productivity in Gujarat.

Methanotrophs offer promising avenues for sustainable agriculture and climate mitigation. This study evaluates the efficacy of indigenously isolated methanotrophs, particularly Methylomonas Kb3, as bioinoculants in rice cultivation. Kb3-treated plants exhibited early flowering, increased height, and a grain yield up to 17% higher than that of untreated controls. A mixed inoculation of Methylomonas and Methylomagnum resulted in a 15% increase in yield, indicating limited synergistic benefit. The root-dipping method during transplantation proved to be a practical and scalable inoculation technique for farmers. Genomic analysis revealed that Methylomonas Kb3 harbours genes associated with nitrogen fixation and resistance to heavy metals and antibiotics, potentially underpinning its agronomic performance. Beyond yield enhancement, the application of methanotrophs may contribute to reduced methane emissions in flooded paddy systems, offering dual benefits for both productivity and environmental sustainability. These findings warrant multilocation trials to validate efficacy across diverse agro-climatic zones and support the development of climate-smart biofertilizer strategies.

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) is the world's most important and ancient legume forage crop. It is moderately tolerant to salinity, but crop productivity is hampered. Salinity affects plant development, starting from seed germination to the reproductive stage. ISSR markers were employed to assess the genetic diversity among India's ten most common lucerne genotypes; the nine ISSR primers showed 83.50% polymorphism. The dendrogram revealed lower bootstrap support for group I; genotypes from group II were genetically distinct. Seed germination performance among the genotypes was studied at 0 (control), 85.55, 171, 256, and 342 mM NaCl concentrations. Higher germination was observed under control conditions. At a salt concentration of 85.55 mM NaCl, the genotypes under study showed less variation for germination and seedling characters. All germination indices and seedling parameters decrease with an increase in salt concentrations. Among the ten genotypes, Alamdar-51 showed high germination indices and seedling parameters under a high salinity level of 256 mM NaCl, indicating its abilityfor germination and initial growth under high saline conditions. At salinity concentrations of 342 mM NaCl, seed germination of all genotypes was severely affected. RL-88 and Kutchi selection showed the highest recovery of seed germination when seeds were transferred from a saline concentration to distilled water. These two genotypes demonstrated resistance to prolonged exposure to unfavorable salinized environments. This evaluation approach was found to be effective in identifying genotypes based on seed germination and early seedling growth stage under salinity stress.