PAU releases 7 new crop varieties in Punjab

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has released seven new crop varieties, including wheat, maize and gram, for general cultivation in Punjab.
The varieties include WH 1105 and PBW 660 of wheat, PMH 9 of maize, PBR 357 of 'raya', PBG 7 of 'desi' gram, OL 10 of oats and GSC 7 of gobhi sarson.
Giving details of the new varieties, Dr S S Gosal, Director (Research) at PAU said the bread wheat variety WH 1105, developed by CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, has been released for cultivation under irrigated timely sown conditions of Punjab.
It is a double dwarf variety with an average plant height of 97 cm and is resistant to yellow rust and brown rust but susceptible to Karnal bunt and loose smut diseases.

It matures in about 157 days and its average grain yield is 23.1 quintals per acre, which is 3-6 per cent higher than the existing varieties, he said.
Dr Gosal said a new wheat variety PBW 660 developed by PAU has been released for cultivation under rain-fed conditions in Punjab.

It is a dwarf variety with an average plant height of 100 cm. It is also resistant to yellow and brown rusts but susceptible to loose smut disease and matures in about 162 days and its average grain yield is 17.1 quintals per acre which is about 16 per cent higher than the PBW-175 which has been withdrawn.

Talking about PMH 9, Dr Gosal said it is a new single cross cold tolerant hybrid for cultivation during rabi season in Punjab.
It is late maturing, resistant to lodging, remains green till harvest and is resistant to common rust. It matures in 180 days and its average yield is 32.5 quintals per acre, he said.
About PBR 357 raya variety, Dr Gosal said it has been recommended for general cultivation in the state under timely sown irrigated conditions. It is moderately tolerant to Alternaria blight and its average yield is 8.5 quintals per acre which is 10.6 per cent higher than PBR 210.

Dr Gosal said a new desi gram variety PBG 7 has medium sized grains with average 100 seed weight of 16.0 grams. It is moderately resistant to Ascochyta blight and resistant to wilt and dry root rot. Its average yield 8 quintals per acre and matures in 159 days.
Referring to Oat variety OL 10, Dr Gosal said it is a multi-cut variety recommended for irrigated areas of Punjab. Its fodder quality is superior in terms of total digestible nutrients (TDN) and digestible crude protein (DCP) than OL 9 and Kent.
Dr Gosal said canola quality gobhi sarson variety GSC 7 has about 62.0 per cent oleic acid and has been recommended for general cultivation in the state under timely sown irrigated conditions.