Plant Genetic Resources

 1. Crop Improvement

Genetic resource management: The different centres of ICAR-AICRP on Fruits explored the local area for enriching the germplasm collection thereby strengthening the activities of NAGS. In addition, these centres also acted as safety duplicate sites for the germplasm of mandate crops as they are vegetatively propagated (except papaya). In view of this factor, the field gene bank with safety duplicate has been considered as one of the major support for the NARS and to overcome the losses due to national calamities. Accordingly, the list of collections made during last 10 years and the collections conserved at different centres are furnished hereunder. The elimination of duplicates is started during 12^th plan and it is planned to maintain the core collections in the hotspots of the mandate crops to overcome the shortage of land.

2. Varieties/hybrids identified (Released by respective states)

Banana

H-531 [Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)]
Hybrid is akin to cv. Poovan Resistant to nematode & Fusarium wilt Resembles Poovan of Tamil Nadu Yield 13-15 kg/bunch
Kovvur Bonth Selection [Kovvur (Andhra Pradesh)]
High yielding, cooking type Superior to local cooking types 35 kg/bunch
Exotic introductions like FHIA-1, FHIA-3, FHIA-23, FHIA-25, SH-3640, and TMB x        5295-1 were identified for high productivity and resistance to Eumusae (Sigatoka) leaf spot.
Manjeri Nendran-II
High yield with good cooking quality recommended for cultivation as an alternate variety for  Nendran Tolerant to Eumusae leaf spot and pseudostem weevil Recommended during 2018 for Karnataka, Kerala & Tamil Nadu
Kaveri Harita (NRCB Sel-8)
High yielding (56-69 t/ha) Dual purpose variety with stable yield in both main and two ratoon crops Duration is 20 to 25 days earlier than Monthan. Tolerant to wind and suitable to grow even in saline sodic soil CVRC notified and recommended during 2019 for cultivation in 5 states viz., Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha and West Bengal.
Popoulu
High yielding (up to 57.06 t/ha) Dual purpose – dessert as well as chips making with 32.5 per cent chips recovery, Tolerant to pseudostem weevil and Eumusae leaf spot. Recommended during 2022 for cultivation in Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Kaveri Kalki (NRCB Sel-10)
High yielding Dwarf statured Tolerant to wind Suitable to HDP and dessert purpose Shorter duration CVRC notified and recommended during 2022 for cultivation in 6 states viz. Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

Citrus

Mandarin

PDKV Mandarin-5
A promising Nagpur mandarin clone from Akola Yield: 19.75 t/ha Fruits are juicy (50.2%) High TSS and Acidity ratio: 14 .02 Fruit weight: 142 to 149 g Recommended during 2017 for Maharashtra

Sweet orange

Phule-mosambi [Rahuri (Maharashtra)]
Clonal selection from Nucellar Mosambi Thin rind, medium sized fruits Yield: 180-200 q/ha High juice content (47.37%) with lower acidity (0.40 %) and high TSS (9.66°B) Recommended for Maharashtra

Acid lime

Balaji [Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh)]
Pure line selection Yield: 570 q/ha Resistant to canker, immune to bark eruptions and moderately resistant to dry root rot (F. solani) Recommended for Andra Pradesh, Telangana and Occupied in 35% area of Andra Pradesh
PDKV Lime [Akola (Maharashtra)]
Clone of Khagzi lime Yield: 265 q/ha (35% higher yield over Vikram) Best marketable quality due to the round shape, maximum fruit weight, thin peel and luster on peel Recommended for Maharashtra
Phule- Sharbati
Seedling selection from natural clonal population of acid lime orchards from Pune district Yield: 450-500 q/ha High summer cropping (25.42%) High juice content (52.52%) over check (48.05% in Sai Sharbati) The variety Phule Sharbati recorded yield increase of 11.3% over cv. Sai Sharbati at Rahuri Recommended during 2014 for Maharashtra
Sai Sharbati
Kagzi Lime selection developed from local germplasm. Roundish smooth fruits with thin rind, uniform size High juice content (54.51%) with high TSS, ascorbic acid and acidity. Tolerant to canker and tristeza. Recommended during 2014 for Maharashtra

Grapes

ARI- 516 [Pune (Maharashtra)/Ludhiana (Punjab)]
Developed by crossing Catawba X Beauty Seedless Yield: 248 q/ha Suitable for juice purpose Berries are tolerant to rain and have less infection of anthracnose and powdery mildew Having pleasant aroma and high juice recovery (70%), suitable for processing with TSS-18°B and acidity-0.4-0.5% Recommended during 2020 for Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu & Telangana
Manjeri Medika
Cross between Pusa Navrang and Flame Seedless Yields: 11.9 kg per vine Bunch weight: 379 g Notified for juice purpose (69.2 %) CVRC has recommended during 2021 for cultivation in four states viz., Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu
Manjeri Shyama
Cross between Black Champa and Thompson Seedless High yielding coloured grape variety for table purpose Shelf life: 15 days B:C ratio (1.75) CVRC notified and recommended during 2021 for cultivation in 4 states viz., Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu

Guava

Arka Mridula
Selection from Allahabad Safeda High yield (40.83 kg/tree and 16.33 t/ha) Medium sized fruits with white pulp, soft seeded (< 4 kgf), sweet (TSS 11.5 – 12.5°B), less acidic (0.35 to 0.45%), suitable for table purpose. Recommended during 2021 for Karnataka
Lalit
Selection from half sib population of Apple Guava. Heavy bearer (about 20% higher than Apple Guava), Medium sized fruits (185-225 g), round, pink pulp and thick pericarp (>1 cm), soft seeded, sweet; suitable for both table and processing. Suitable for both table and processing puposes Recommended during 2021 for Rajasthan
Shweta
Selection from half sib population of Apple Guava. Heavy bearer (20% more than Apple Guava) Medium sized fruits (~250g), round, snow-white pulp and thick pericarp (>1 cm), soft seeded, sweet (12.5-13.2°B); with good keeping quality Suitable for both table and processing puposes Recommended during 2021 for Madhya Pradesh
CISH G-35 (Dhawal)
Selection from Allahabad Safeda, Heavy bearer (20% more than Allahabad Safeda) Broadly rounded, soft seeded fruits, white pulped, sweet (TSS 12 -13.5˚B) with muskiness Suitable for table purpose Recommended during 2021 for Punjab & Uttar Pradesh
MPUAT S-2
Single plant selection from Lucknow 49 Medium to big sized fruit (165-250 g), oblong shaped, sweet (11-13˚B), less acidic (0.30-0.32%) Suitable for both table purpose and processing Recommended during 2021 for Rajasthan
RCGH-4 (Megha Magenta)
Hybrid derivative of Red Fleshed and Allahabad Safeda Fruits are red and sweet (TSS 9.90-11.75°B) Suitable for table purpose as well as processing due to its stable colour in final products Notified and CVRC has recommended during 2021 for cultivation in Uttarakhand
Arka Kiran
Hybrid derivative between Kamsari (IC 395207) X Purple local (IC 20455 a) Fruits are round, medium sized (170-180 g) with thick pericarp (> 1 cm), dark red pulp with high lycopene (7.0 to 7.14 mg/100 g pulp) and with medium soft seeds (4.0 to 6.0 kgf) Suitable for both table and processing purposes Recommended during 2021 for Karnataka

Mango

Pant Chandra [Pantnagar (Uttarakhand)]
Clonal Selection Yield: 120 q/ha Fruit colour at maturity remains green Mid-season variety yielding 150kg/ tree having fruit weight of 15 g with TSS-18°B Adopted to hilly or valley areas of Uttarakhand
Suvarna [Vengurle (Maharashtra)]
Alphonso X Neelum Yield: 72-75 q/ha Cluster bearing and large fruits (284 g) over Alphonso (250 g) as check which is single bearer, medium size fruits (250 g) High TSS of 22.5°B and low acidity of 0.24% and suitable for table purpose over Alphonso as check (TSS of 21°B and acidity of 0.3%) Recommended for Maharashtra
Dashehari-35
Among the superior mango clones, Dashehari-35 continues to be superior in terms of yield at Rewa (71.63 kg/tree as against 44.5 kg/tree in control in 9-year-old tree) and Sabour (10 kg/tree as against 6.9 kg/tree in 7-year-old tree) TSS: 22.23°B Fruit weight: 120-130g Recommended based on its higher yield potential, superior fruit quality in terms of fruit weight during 2019 for Telangana and Madhya Pradesh
Mallika
Regular bearer and high yielding mango hybrid Amenable for growing normal and HDP system for commercial cultivating area Flowering starts from January end to February, fruit maturity at the end of may and harvesting from June to July depending on the region Highly suitable for table and canning purpose Highly suitable for growing tropical region of India, particularly in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarkhand, Tamil Nadu, Maharastra and West Bengal

Papaya

CO-8 [Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)]
Attractive red pulped dioeciously variety Fruits/tree: 75-80 Avg. fruit weight: 2.20 kg Highly suitable for dessert, processing and papain extraction purposes Recommended during 2012 for Tamil Nadu

Sapota

PKM-1 [Periyakulam (Tamil Nadu)]
Compact tree canopy Suitable for high density planting High yielder (100.4 kg/tree/year; 20.08 t/ha) Spindle shaped fruits in clusters Attractive pulp with honey brown colour
PKM-4 [Periyakulam (Tamil Nadu)]
Open pollinated seedling selection from the seedling progeny of PKM-1 Yield: 175 q/ha Suitable for high density planting Spindle shaped fruits in cluster, attractive pulp with honey brown colour Compact tree canopy Recommended for Tamil Nadu
PKM(Sa)-5 [Periyakulam (Tamil Nadu)]
Selection from open pollinated seedlings of Virudhunagar local Yield: 180-200 q/ha [25% higher yield over check (PKM-1)] Tree is cluster bearing (3.0/cluster), oval shaped fruits with coppery brown flesh Rich in proline content and is suitable for vertisol and drought area Recommended for Tamil Nadu