The ICAR–Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research (ICAR-DOGR), Pune, achieved a significant milestone with the successful inauguration of Onion SSR Database on 27th March 2026 at 10:00 AM through an online platform. The database was formally inaugurated by the Chief Guest Dr. S. K. Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Sciences), ICAR, New Delhi, marking an important advancement in the field of onion genetics and breeding.

In his inaugural address, Dr. S. K. Singh emphasized the importance of integrating molecular tools with conventional breeding approaches to accelerate the development of high-yielding, disease-resistant, and climate-resilient onion varieties. The programme was also graced by Dr. Sudhakar Pandey, Assistant Director General, FVSMAP (Horticultural Sciences), who attended as the Guest of Honour and highlighted the effective utilization of this database in strengthening future onion breeding programmes and enhancing precision in selection.

The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Vijay Mahajan, Director, ICAR-DOGR, Pune, who underscored the significance of developing such digital resources for advancing horticultural research. The lead developer of the database, Dr. S. Anandhan, Principal Scientist, ICAR-DOGR, presented the key features and highlights of the database.

This pioneering initiative provides a comprehensive and accessible resource for researchers, breeders, and other stakeholders. Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers are highly informative molecular tools widely used for genetic diversity analysis, varietal identification, and marker-assisted selection. The newly developed database compiles chromosome wise SSR information with motif type, polymorphism status etc. enabling users to efficiently access, analyze, and utilize genetic data for crop improvement programmes.

The programme witnessed active online participation from Directors of various ICAR institutes, onion breeders, and all the staff of ICAR-DOGR, Pune.

This initiative reflects ICAR-DOGR’s commitment to strengthening research infrastructure and is expected to significantly benefit both the scientific community and farmers by supporting the development of improved onion varieties suited to diverse agro-climatic conditions.

The event concluded with a formal Vote of Thanks proposed by Dr. Yogesh P. Khade, Senior Scientist, ICAR-DOGR, Pune, followed by the National Anthem.