The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has released six new varieties for general cultivation in Punjab. These include Unnat PBW 343, Unnat PBW 550 and PBW 1 Zn of wheat, Giriraj of Indian mustard, BL 43 of berseem and OL 11 of oats. All these varieties were thoroughly discussed and approved by the State Variety Approval Committee during the meeting, held under the chairmanship of J.S. Bains, Director of Agriculture, Punjab. Navtej Bains, Director of Research and Ashok Kumar, Director of Extension Education, PAU, also attended the meet.
The wheat variety Unnat PBW 550 is a yellow rust resistant version of PBW 550. Its average plant height is 86 cm and matures in about 145 days. Its average grain yield is 23.0 quintals per acre. It is resistant to yellow and brown rusts and susceptible to loose smut.
Another wheat variety Unnat PBW 343 is a new rust resistant version of PBW 343 with plant height of 100 cm. It matures in about 155 days and its average yield is 23.2 quintals per acre. It is resistant to brown rust, moderately resistant to yellow rust but susceptible to loose smut disease.
The variety PBW 1 Zn matures in about 151 days. Its average grain yield is 22.5 quintals per acre. It is resistant to brown rust, moderately resistant to yellow rust but susceptible to loose smut disease. It has higher zinc concentration in grains which is good for human health.
