Six new, improved varieties of crops released

Ludhiana, Feb 17 (UNI) A variety of improved, early-maturing, disease-resistant crops have been released by the Punjab Agriculture University for cultivation, including a semi-dwarf blight resistance stiff variety of paddy.

Named PAU 201, the new paddy plant matures in about 144 days after seeding and is resistant to the attack of most of bacterial blight pathogens.

In Desi Cotton, PAU 626-H rolled out for cultivation is an early maturing and high-yielding genetic male sterility-based hybrid. This variety vacates the field in about 160 days for timely sowing of rabi crops and has better tolerance to Fusarium wilt and bacterial blight.

Varieties of arhar, sunnhemp and kharif moong were also released. PAU 881, a variety of arhar, matures in about 132 days with profuse pod formation. Its average grain yield is 5-6 quintals per acre.

Similarly, PAU 1691 and Narendra Sanai-1 are varieties of sunnhemp which have quick and erect growth. Their average seed yield is 4.8 and 3.9 quintals per acre, respectively.

In Kharif Moong, PAU 911 is fairly resistant to mungbean yellow mosaic virus, cercospore leaf spot and bacterial leaf spot. It matures in about 75 days and bears the average yield of 4.9 quintals par acre.

UNI