Have you heard, PAU releases 11 new crop varieties for general cultivation in Punjab

Ludhiana: The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has released 11 new varieties/hybrids of vegetable and flower crops for general cultivation in the Punjab state. These include two varieties of pumpkin, two of brinjal, one of pea, one of gladiolus and five of sweet pea. The varieties were approved during the meeting of State Variety Approval Committee, held under the Chairmanship of Dr Gurkanwal Singh, Director of Horticulture, Punjab. Giving details, Dr R.S. Sidhu, Director of Extension Education, said that characteristics of all the varieties/hybrids were discussed thoroughly before approval.

The Pumpkin hybrid, PPH-1 is extra early in maturity and gives 206 q/acre yield. Its fruits are small, round, mottled-green at immature stage and mottled-brown at mature stage. The fruit cavity is small and flesh is golden yellow.

Another Pumpkin hybrid, PPH-2 is extra early in maturity and gives 222 q/acre yield. Its fruits are small, round, light green at immature stage and smooth-brown at mature stage. The fruit cavity is small and flesh is golden yellow.

PBHR-41 is a brinjal variety that maturesin 65 daysand gives an average yield of 269q/acre. Its plants are medium-tall, thornless, foliage green with purple tinge. Its fruits are round, medium-large in size, shining, deep purple with purple green calyx.

PBHR-42 is another variety of brinjal that maturesin 65 daysand gives an average yield of 261q/acre. Its plants are medium-tall, thornless and foliage green. Its fruits are oval-round, medium in size, shining, purple black with green calyx.

The plants of the pea variety, AP-3 are vigorous with 15-18 well-filled pods having 7-8 grains per pod. The shelling out turn is 50 per cent and seeds are wrinkled.

The leaves of gladiolus variety, Punjab Gald-2 are dark green and sword shaped. Its florets are bright yellow with 16 days vase life. It takes 93 days to flower, produces one corm, 47 cormels per corm and is suitable for cut flower production.

The plants of Punjab Sweet Pea-1 are tall and climbing. Its leaves are light green and flowers are of magenta colour. It takes 102 days to flowering and duration of flowering is 42 days.

The plants of Punjab Sweet Pea-2 are tall and climbing. Its leaves are light green and flowers are of pink colour. It takes 105 days to flowering and duration of flowering is 45 days.

The plants of Punjab Sweet Pea-3 are tall and climbing. Its leaves are dark green and flowers are of maroon colour. It takes 106 days to flowering and duration of flowering is 47 days.

The plants of Punjab Sweet Pea-4 are tall and climbing. Its leaves are dark green and flowers are of purple colour. It takes 105 days to flowering and duration of flowering is 47 days.

The plants of Punjab Sweet Pea-5 are tall and climbing. Its leaves are light green and flowers are of cream colour. It takes 106 days to flowering and duration of flowering is 48 days.

Besides, the name of radish variety RB-21 has been rectified to Punjab Safed Mooli-2. This variety takes about 47 days for first harvest when sown during first week of October. Its average yield is 261q/acre.