The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has released one variety of rice, one of spring/summer mung bean, three of basmati and three of sugarcane for general cultivation in Punjab. These include PR 126 of rice; TMB 37 of spring/summer mung bean; CSR 30, Punjab Basmati 4 and Punjab Basmati 5 of basmati; CoPb 92, CoPb 93 and CoPb 94 of sugarcane. The varieties were approved during the meeting of State Variety Approval Committee, held under the Chairmanship of Dr B.S. Sidhu, Director of Agriculture, Punjab.
The parmal rice variety PR 126 is an early maturing variety. Its average plant height is 102 cm and matures in about 123 days after seeding. It is resistant to seven of ten presently prevalent pathotypes of bacterial blight pathogen in Punjab. Its average paddy yield in 30 quintals per acre.
The Punjab Basmati 4 is a high-yielding, semi-dwarf, lodging tolerant variety which is about 96 cm tall. It is resistant to all the ten pathotypes of bacterial blight pathogen, presently prevalent in Punjab. It matures in about 146 days after seeding and its average paddy yield is 17 quintals per acre.
The Punjab Basmati 5 is a semi-dwarf variety which is about 112 cm tall. It is resistant to all the ten pathotypes of bacterial blight pathogen, presently prevalent in the state. It matures in about 137 days after seeding and its average paddy yield is 15 quintals per acre.
The basmati rice variety, CSR 30 is about 139 cm tall. It possesses extra-long slender grains with excellent cooking and eating quality characteristics. It matures in about 142 days after seeding. Its average paddy yield is 13.5 quintals per acre.
The spring/summer mung bean variety, TMB 37 matures in 60 days as compared to 62 days for SML 832 and 61 days for SML 668. It has medium sized grains and possesses good culinary properties.
The canes of sugarcane variety, CoPb 92 are tall, medium thick and purple green in colour. Its juice contains 16-17 per cent sucrose in November and 18 per cent in December. It is a good ratooner. It is tolerant to most of the prevalent pathotypes of red rot disease and frost. Quality of gur is also good. Its average cane yield is about 335 quintals per acre.
The canes of sugarcane variety, CoPb 93 are tall, thick and yellowish white in colour. Its juice contains 17 and 19 per cent sucrose in January and March, respectively. It is a good ratooner. It is tolerant to the prevalent pathotypes of red rot disease. Its average cane yield is about 390 quintals per acre.
The canes of sugarcane variety, CoPb 94 are tall, thick, cylindrical and yellow green in colour. Its juice contains 16 and 19 per cent sucrose in January and March, respectively. It is a good ratooner. It is tolerant to the prevalent pathotypes of red rot and smut diseases. Its average cane yield is about 400 quintals per acre.
Source:Punjab Agricultural University (PAU)
