MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS IN MORINGA BREEDING & FUTURE

CHALLENGES 2018

ADVANCED BIOFUEL CENTERBUILDING A BETTER TOMORROW

Abstract • Arguably the most important Moringa breeding achievements over the past half century have come from India. Breeding for

disease resistance globally and medicinal uses of Moringa, warrant special attention. PKM1 Moringa, grown on more area than perhaps any other, needs special recognition. The recent major breakthroughs towards varietal enhancement for establishment of Moringa Plantation for seeds oil production a major achievements of the future.

• No other country has had as much Moringa research carried out as has India; nor has there been more Moringa production over millennia than in India. The Horticultural College & Research Institute, Periyakulam of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University released Annual Moringa PKM-1 variety in 1989 from Pure line selection and Annual Moringa PKM-2 in 2000 a hybrid derivative. Advanced Biofuel Center (ABC) has unveiled the Moringa oil industry’s most productive seeds worldly known as MOMAX3, which promise to deliver three times the yield of the industry average. The company says its ‘breakthrough’ seeds could help in establishment of Moringa Plantation for seeds oil production.

• Major advances and utilizations can be expected in this field of research and development. While major breakthroughs in hybrid Moringa have been largely elusive, globally speaking, the future holds promise for such techniques.

• Key words: MOMAX3 Moringa, PKM1 Moringa, Perennial, Annual, Leaf Production, Seed oil Production, yield, Cultivation technology

• As Moringa researchers, we have had a truly international opportunity to be updated by way of presentations and the printed ‘Proceedings’ starting with 2012 for the First International Moringa Workshop in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India; 2nd in 2013 3rd in 2015, 4th in 2016, 5th in ; and now, 2018 for the 6 Global Moringa Meet here in Jaipur, India.

India – as country

• In India, where typically more Moringa is grown than anywhere else in the world, Moringa land races have been cultivated overmillennia. Thus it is not surprising that there are and have been more Moringa researchers in India than in any other country, trying inter alia to improve the productivity of Moringa.

Country-wide coordination of Moringa breeding / testing • The world recognized variety of Moringa PKM1 is an annual variety and there was no established variety for

perennial Moringa. Just to overcome the situation and evolve a new variety of superior genotype with high oil yield, ABC’s Moringa experts was engaged in finding out some perennial type high yielding genotype.ABC’s research team started the process in 2008 and identified and collected 42 high-yielding Moringa Oleifera candidates and evaluated genetic association and variability in seed and growth characteristics in order to develop improved varieties. The ABC team’s Moringa Oleifera work has resulted in evolution of new variety through scientific selection that will enable highly productive plantations of the crop to be grown.

• Advanced Biofuel Center(ABC) has unveiled the Moringa oil industry’s most productive seeds worldly known as MOMAX3, which promise to deliver three times the yield of the industry average. The company says its ‘breakthrough’ seeds could help in establishment of Moringa Plantation for seeds oil production.• ABC’s ability to achieve Seeds yields of 7MT/ha and greater in Year 1 -3 have been ascribed to the confluence of several

important traits influencing yield:

• high number of seeds per fruit (this elite produces a large percentage of average 18-seeded pods)

• the comparatively heavy seed weight (over 30 grams/100 seed)

• expressed early flowering trait (both after seeding and pruning) in comparison to the other conventional varieties.

• ABC reports an achieved rate of germination of between 90%-95% when direct seeding its MOMAX3 Improved seeds.

• ABC’s new seeds promise to increase yield from 2-3 tonnes of Seeds per hectare per year for a tree of prime age, to more than 8 tonnes—more than three times the industry average. The average yield of Moringa oil Seeds elsewhere in world has been stagnant at around <1 tonne of seed per hectare per year

• The new seeds will also enable Moringa trees to reach maturity much faster. MOMAX3 Moringa tree starts to bear fruit 4 months after planting and will produce a higher ratio of oil, according to ABC.

• The MOMAX 3 seedlings are expected to yield 8-10 tonnes of Seeds per hectare with 2 harvest per year

Features/Characteristics of PKM1, PKM2Annual Moringa PKM-1 1989 · Pure line selection from seed Moringa type

collected from Eppothumvendran of Tirunelvelidistrict

· Propagated through seeds· Harvest in 7 - 8 months· Pods are 75 cm long· Individual fruit weight 150 g· 218 pods/tree· Yield 52.8 t/ha· Suitable for 4 ratoons

Annual Moringa PKM-2 2000 · It is a hybrid derivative developed by crossbetween MP31 X MP28· Propagated through seeds· Harvest in 7-8 months· Pods 125 cm long· More flesh 70%· Individual fruit weight 280g· 220 pods / tree· Yield 98 tonnes/ha· Suitable for 3 ratoons

Features/Characteristics of MOMAX3 Moringa Cultivar

Perennial MoringaMOMAX3

20082016

Life-span: 15-20 yearsPurpose: that will enable highlyproductive plantations for seed oilproductionAgronomy: As recommendedDays at First Flowering:110Days to 50% flowering:118Days from flowering to harvest:176Pods per plant:350-500 Fist year900-1200: Subsequent yearsSeeds per pod:19100 seeds weight:30.20 gHarvest frequency:2 times a yearYield (in kg/ha): 5000-9000

A MORINGA EVOLUTION

• Moringa India is heading towards Moringa Revolution with world's finest Seed variety and Effective techniques and technologies for farming at scale The best crop management techniques introduced by Moringa India are enabling the grower to ensure a profitable sustainability for years to as it increases output year after year and makes them more money.

• DP Maharshi is a true believer, when it comes to Moringa. Maharshi, who founded a Super food company Moringa India, is convinced Moringa will be the next crop of Century.

• There’s only about 130,000 ha of Moringa so far, but Maharshi envisions a much larger number in the near future.

• Moringa India is a Moringa breeding and production and value addition company that develops new varieties of Moringa and engages developers/ farmers to grow the oilseed.

• For years Maharshi and his team have been developing new perennial variety for the oilseed Moringa crop and have introduced world's highest yielding variety MOMAX3 Moringa for plantation for seed oil production.

• The growing importance of this crop in meeting demand for agricultural foodstuffs has played a special role in creating favorable conditions for a more effective expansion of Moringa growing, backed in some countries by specific domestic development programmes. In a globalised market, ABC has able to provide top-quality MOMAX3/ PKM1 Moringa seeds/plants to cover this general increase in Moringa acreage.

A MORINGA EVOLUTION • Quality Planting material production is a strategic link in the Moringa supply chain and influences the choices and economic performance of the whole

production sector either for leaves or seeds.

• The development of improved varieties, propagation techniques, Floral biology and Advanced production systems in annual Moringa and perennial Moringa, Cropping systems, Nutrient management, biofertilizer for enhancing the production potential of Moringa, weed management, Major insect pests of Moringa and their management, Disease of Moringa and their management, Post harvest management, Seed production strategies for perennial Moringa and the use of new technologies are the key to ensure the developing a modern, sustainable, profitable Moringa growing.

• A modern advancements has a dynamic domino effect on the Moringa industry to introduce technology is the ideal frame for transferring innovations in Moringa growing. This will allow the Moringa tree and its unique produce to serve as a bridge between tradition and innovation, between culture and health, and to secure growth and economic development.

• The Moringa is a species of major economic importance to many countries. Over the last 10 years in particular, there has been an upsurge of interest in its cultivation and production. Moringa is appreciated not only for its nutritional value but also as an integral part of the health-promoting qualities , which is an accredited nutritional model across the globe.

• Research have confirmed the value of Moringa tree and its all parts and the dissemination of research findings has stimulated its move into new, high-potential consumption markets. With all these factors coming into play simultaneously, world consumption has increased substantially in the last decade

• There is a strong consumer demand for Moringa Products which is acknowledged to be essential for human health. This is stimulating the intensification of Moringa growing both in the Asian countries and elsewhere where Moringa cultivation, mainly for leaves/oil, has been resumed or newly developed.

• Globally, demand for two particular Moringa products has been growing rapidly: the highly nutritious powder derived from the tree's dried leaves, and the high quality oil that can be extracted from the tree's seeds. The former, Moringa leaf powder, is sold as a 'super food' in the international market for nutritional supplements. It is also increasingly the subject of interest from international organizations and institutions involved in the global fight against malnutrition. The latter, Moringa oil, is highly coveted by international cosmetic companies for its excellent properties as an ingredient in fragrance and skin care products.

Enhanced cultivation Technology

• Even a superior genotype variety planted in inadequate soil and improperly cared for, will be unable to reach its potential and will create dissatisfied stakeholders.

• Since we have developed different cultivar for Moringa leaf production and Moringa seed oil production, it was very necessary to lay down Standard Packages Of Practices for successful Moringa Farms

Moringa Plantation for seed oil Production with MOMAX3 Cultivar• Moringa Seed oil yield and resource use efficiency depend on successful plant

establishment in the field, and it is the vigour of seeds that defines their ability to germinate and establish seedlings rapidly, uniformly, and robustly across diverse environmental conditions. Improving vigour to enhance the critical and yield-defining stage of crop establishment remains a primary objective of the Advanced Biofuel Center. That is why ABC's Superior MOMAX3 also exhibit early flowering and fruiting.

• ABC's MOMAX Knowledge Center is professionally managed trials where ABC evaluates hundreds of Superior MOMAX3 in a range of environmental and agronomic conditions. The center serve as outdoor classrooms where ABC agronomists and technical teams conduct training and field tours with customers and growers, and develop enhanced agronomic studies and recommendations while advancing the top performing Moringa Superior MOMAX3 for commercial deployment.

• The ABC’s goal is to triple Moringa yields within 10 years, increase the oil content to 48 percent and in combination of other crops the target oil yield is 1500 gallon per ha. Further, to increase the quality of the oils and other products produced—while minimizing inputs including pesticides and fertilizers. The years of continuous research, experiments and in cultivating and breeding of Moringa Oleifera, ABC was able to develop a systematic breeding and cultivar development strategy. Newly bred cultivars are extensively tested in multi-location trials and true to type seeds are being produced with high quality standard

• The planting of MOMAX3 perennial Moringa crop for plantation for seed oil production is considered to be a "high specialty " farming operation.

• Essential factors which will determine efficacy of Moringa seed oil production plantation are quality planting stock, Growing climate and Weather conditions at the time of planting. Just to facilitate new grower to start with correct know-how and knowledge about farm practices, a " Standard Package of Practices" has been drawn

Super High Densitive Moringa Farming System for leaf harvesting

• The super high intensive Moringa farm is a technology for leaf production that Moringa India, Advanced Biofuel Center (ABC) has mastered in cooperation with many of its clients, which enables a very notable increase in profitability in comparison to traditional Moringa farms.

• Farming unlike mechanics has many variances under the same input environment. Many different methods of establishment, farming and harvesting are possible. Yield is a function of water, nutrients, heat and the age of the plant and other. ABC has specifically developed and designed best different technology for harvesting Moringa leaves and for Moringa Seed Oil with ways to guide towards the right balance of cost, yield, and labor and finally cost per mt

• When the first super intensive Moringa farms were planted at the beginning of the first decade of 21st century, there were many unknowns about the new crop model: the duration of plantations, ideal frames, suitable varieties, pruning, fertilization, irrigation, etc. The experience acquired over more than 15 years with the different plantations has made it possible to improve the initial approaches and dissipate many of the doubts the system raised.

• The keys to the success of the super high density system reside in: 100% best Practices for planting harvesting with superior genotype planting seeds

• The super high intensive Moringa farm is a technology for leaf production that Moringa India, Advanced Biofuel Center (ABC) has mastered in cooperation with many of its clients, which enables a very notable increase in profitability in comparison to traditional Moringa farms.

• Farming unlike mechanics has many variances under the same input environment. Many different methods of establishment, farming and harvesting are possible. Yield is a function of water, nutrients, heat and the age of the plant and other. ABC has specifically developed and designed best different technology for harvesting Moringa leaves and for Moringa Seed Oil with ways to guide towards the right balance of cost, yield, and labor and finally cost per mt

• When the first super intensive Moringa farms were planted at the beginning of the first decade of 21st century, there were many unknowns about the new crop model: the duration of plantations, ideal frames, suitable varieties, pruning, fertilization, irrigation, etc. The experience acquired over more than 15 years with the different plantations has made it possible to improve the initial approaches and dissipate many of the doubts the system raised.

• The keys to the success of the super high density system reside in: 100% best Practices for planting harvesting with superior genotype planting seeds

Integration of new biotechnologies in Moringa breeding programs On Biotechnology of Moringa ABC is very aggressively working. Major advances and utilizations can be expected in this field of research and development in near future

To know more about Moringa, its cultivar and creating Failsafe farms check following links

1. http://jatrophaworld.org/moringa_oleifera_86.html

2. http://jatrophaworld.org/momax3-moringa-perennial-seed-variety.html

3. http://jatrophaworld.org/moringa-economics.html

4. http://jatrophaworld.org/moringa-value-addition-business-plan.html

5. http://jatrophaworld.org/moringa-energy-project-services.html

6. http://jatrophaworld.org/moringa-seed-oil-project-services.html

7. http://jatrophaworld.org/moringa-leaf-harvesting-project.html

8. http://jatrophaworld.org/global_moringa_meet_81.html

9. http://jatrophaworld.org/moringa_farm_stay_136.html

Moringa Plantation

For Moringa leaf Production with PKM1 Cultivar

Moringa Seed oil Production with MOMAX3 Cultivar

A Moringa India PresentationDirector (Moringa)

MORINGA INDIA

Advanced Biofuel Center

T +91 141 2335839

F: +91 141 2335968

M- +91 982943333,

www.jatrophaworld.org