Four new varieties of pulses developed at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University

AHMEDABAD: Four new varieties of pulses developed at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University ( CCSHAU) Hisar have been released for cultivation. These varieties are high yielding as well as resistant to insects and diseases.

The central sub-committee on crop standard, notification and release of varieties for agricultural crops released and notified four pulse crops varieties developed at the university. The varieties include MH-421 of mungbean, UH 04-06 (Haryana Urd-1) of urdbean, HFP-529 of fieldpea and Haryana Kabuli Chana-4 (HK-4) of chickpea (gram).

Apart from giving high yields these varieties were resistant to various diseases and other biotic and abiotic stresses. "Whereas mungbean and urdban varieties had been released for cultivation in Haryana state, the varieties of chieckpea and fieldpea released for north-east and north west plain zones, respectively", said the univeristy Vice-Chancellor, Dr K S Khokhar.

Enumerating the characteristics of these varieties, CCSHAU director of research, Dr RP Narwal said that HK-4 variety of chickpea was bold seeded (32g/100 seeds) having extremely good cooking quality. These qualities would fetch higher market price to the farmers. Besides it was high yielding and resistant to wilt- the major disease of gram. It was highly suitable for cultivation in Haryana State also.

Likewise, mungbean variety MH-421 was also high yielding and resistant to mungbean yellow mosaic virus. Being early maturing ( 60 days) this variety was suitable under rice-wheat rotation. The farmers would harvest an average yield of 10-12 q/ha under this cropping system, he said. Since its seeds were of medium size, the farmers would be offered higher market price than the bold seeded popular spring/summer variety, he added.

Dr. Narwal said that HFP-529 variety of fieldpea was a high yielding, early maturing dwarf variety with wide adaptability. It was tolerant to powdery mildew and showed better resistance to rust and ascochyta blight diseases. It was also moderately resistant to pod borers which caused immense loss to the crop, he said.

He said UH-04-06 variety of urdbean was high yielding, early maturing and resistant to yellow mosaic virus. Its seed were vary attractive.