PJTSAU releases 15 new high-yielding varieties crops

HYDERABAD: Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) has created 15 high-yielding new crop varieties in 2022 with the goal of benefiting farmers through specialised research and extension based on farmer requirements.

Telangana rice, Rajendranagar Vari, Telangana Til(Sesame), Telangana Fodder Bajra, Telangana Multicut Fodder Banjara, Black gram, Jagtiala Vari, Jagtiala Til, Madhira Minimum, and other varieties are among the 15 new varieties.

Following the formation of Telangana state, the University released 46 high-yielding varieties in various crops through the previous Central Variety Release Committee (CVRC) and State Variety Release Committee (SVRC) meetings.

Telangana Sona, KNM 1638, KNM 118, JGL 24423, Bathukamma, WGL 962 in rice, Karimnagar Makka-1 in maize, PRG-176 and WRGE 97 in red gram, and WGG 42, MGG 385 in green gram are among the varieties that became popular in Telangana and neighbouring states.

Additionally, eight new varieties were developed by PJTSAU in 2022 for three crops—five for rice, two for fodder bajra, and one for sesame—were authorised and licenced through CVRC for cultivation in various parts of the nation and were published in the Indian Gazette.

Similarly, another seven varieties from three crops, five from rice and one each from black gram and sesame, were recommended for release at the SVRC meeting held on September 3, 2022, under the chairmanship of M. Raghunanadan Rao, Secretary, Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of Telangana.

The same proposals were reviewed by the CVRC committee on October 26, 2022 in New Delhi and were identified as promising and approved for release for the state of Telangana.

Five varieties in rice, one in black gram, and one in sesame were submitted for approval by the fourth state sub-committee on Crop Standards and Varieties during its meeting on September 3, 2022. All these proposals were accepted for release by SVRC after proper examination.

Some of the important traits in these newly released rice varieties include high head rice recovery, resistance to various biotic and salinity stresses, and super fine grain with excellent cooking qualities. In addition, Rajendranagar Vari-3, an aromatic short grain rice variety with similar characteristics to the popular local variety Chittimutyalu, was included in the list, with a higher yield and less height. White seeded, export-friendly sesame varieties, insect pests, and disease-resistant black gram varieties were also among them.

M. Raghunanadan Rao, Principal Secretary and Vice-Chancellor, PJTSAU, Dr. S. Sudheer Kumar, Registrar, PJTSAU, and Dr. R. Jagadeeshwar, Director of Research, PJTSAU, expressed their delight and congratulated the scientists involved for their honest efforts in developing and releasing high yielding, climate resilient, quality varieties.