The new variety has been released for commercial cultivation by farmers by TNAU recently under the name "VRM (Gg) 1". A pure line selection from K 851, is particularly suited for growing in Vellore and Thiruvannamalai districts in both kharif and rabi seasons. It has recorded an average yield of 979 kg per hectare, which is 22.5% more than that of KM 2 and 23.9% higher than Vamban 1, according to the scientists. A short-duration, high yielding green gram variety with built-in resistance to yellow mosaic disease has been developed by the scientists at the Regional Research Station (RRS) of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) at Virinjipuram, Vellore district in Tamil Nadu. This non-shattering and non-lodging variety has field resistance to stem fly and pod borer as well. The seeds should be treated with Trichoderma viride at 4 g per kg seeds or with Pseudomonas fluorescence at 10 g per kg seeds. In addition, three packets of COG 15-rhizobium culture should used for treating the seeds required to cover a hectare. The rhizobium culture slurry may be prepared in rice gruel, and the treated seeds should be dried in shade for about 15 minutes prior to sowing. The crop responds well to foliar application of nutrients on the 15 th day, 25 th day and 40 th day after sowing. Flower dropping can be avoided and good pod setting encouraged by spraying with growth regulators such as NAA at 40 ppm (parts per million) at the time of flowering and after a fortnight interval. The plants should be harvested when 80% of the pods are mature and should be stacked for a few days before thrashing.

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