Pinjab Agriculture Univ develops new varieties of crops

Ludhiana, Aug 18 (PTI) Punjab Agricultural University(PAU) has released two new varieties of wheat and celery forgeneral cultivation in the state. During the meeting of State Variety Approval Committee,where after a thorough discussion on salient characteristicsof these varieties they were approved, under the Chairmanshipof Jasbir Singh Bains, Director of Agriculture, Punjab, anofficial release said. The variety PBW 725 of bread wheat has been released forcultivation in the Punjab state under irrigated timely sownconditions. The variety possesses a combination of several desirabletraits like high grain yield, resistance to yellow and brownrusts, and good grain quality. "It is a double dwarf variety with an average plant heightof 105 cm. Its ears are medium dense and tapering in shapewith white smooth glumes. Its grains are amber, hard, mediumbold and lustrous. It matures in about 154 days. Its averagegrain yield is 22.9 quintals per acre which is 7.6 per centhigher than that of the pre-dominant wheat variety," it said. The variety Punjab Celery 1 is the first celery varietydeveloped by PAU and has been released for cultivation in thePunjab state. "Its seeds are brown in colour with characteristic odourand pungent taste. These contain 1.9 per cent essential oilwith a total oil content of 20.1 per cent. The variety startsbearing flowers in the month of March and matures in 140-150days after transplanting. Its average seed yield is 4.46quintals per acre," it said. R K Gumber, Director of Research, PAU said that verypositive feedback on new wheat variety PBW 725 was receivedfrom the farmers of the state during last crop season. PTI CHSABI