seed and plant improvement institute

The oilseed crops research department has begun its activities since 1969 with the aim of cultivating and developing of major oilseeds, which focused mainly on oilseed rape, sunflower, soybean, sesame and safflower. Introduction, breeding and release of new adapted oilseeds varieties to develop in the Country, agronomic recommendations for better crop production and development of research communication with local and international research centers and universities, participating in international conferences training courses for researchers in international universities/institutes and exchanging information and germplasm with developed countries are the main targets of the department. The research programs of the department are conducted as national and local projects at the Institute headquarters (Karaj) and related agricultural research centers and stations in different provinces of Iran. Since the Islamic Revolution, the department has released 54 high yielding and well-adapted cultivars to different climates of Iran.

Number of cultivars released by the Oilseed Crops Research Department during 1979-2020.

The high dependence of the country on oil and meal import from abroad, as well as the importance of these products in human and animal nutrition, attracted particular attention to the oilseeds and their research in recent years. In order to assistance in supply of required oil and meal of the country, all capabilities, including scientific resources, facilities, equipments and investments areconsidered in research platform.

Objectives and Policies
Units and sub-sections
Reseach Objectives
Facilities and Laboratories
Released Varieties

The main objectives of the oil seeds crop research department, which are accessible by classical and molecular methods, are as follows:

• Providing and using genetic resources for improvement of oilseed crops.

• Improvement and introduction of high yielding and well-adapted cultivars of oilseed rape, sunflower, soybean, sesame and safflower to different climatic regions of Iran.

• Maintaining of the purity and reproduction of different seed class categories for the main oilseed crops.

• Improvement of oil content and quality of the oil seed crops.

• Improvement of new varieties resistant to abiotic and biotic stresses.

• Determining the best crop management for new cultivars.

• Identification of suitable areas to the development of oilseed crops.

• Supporting the employment of research findings in agricultural community by providing technical instructions, handbooks and brochures.

• Applying new technologies and methods to speed up and increase the efficiency of research programs through workshops and field days.

• Establishment and expansion of scientific, technical and research cooperation with local and international universities and scientific centers.

• Extension of research findings with the assistance of the deputy of crop production, ministry of Jehad-e- Agriculture for promoting of leading farmers.