March 29, 2024

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IIHR develops chilli hybrids resistant to leaf curl virus

Following carrying out research for nearly a 10 years, experts at the ICAR- Indian Institute of Horticulture Study (IIHR), Bengaluru have made chilli hybrids that are resistant to the leaf curl virus (LCV) ailment, a significant trouble for the growers across the region.

Leaf curl virus ailment is the most harmful ailment facial area by chilli growers in phrases of incidence and generate decline. The LCV transmitted by the whiteflies and in the impacted vegetation triggers the leaf to get curled and rolled ensuing in stunted development.

“LCV is a significant ailment confronted by the chilli growers, wherever crop harm can be as significant as 90 per cent in the impacted fields. We are releasing five LCV resistant chilli hybrids for commercial cultivation in the forthcoming kharif cropping season of 2021,” said IIHR Director, MR Dinesh.

Initially in the region

“We have made about fifty five hybrids by way of the typical breeding technique just after screening the germ plasm from distinctive spots. Of these five hybrids have revealed assure and have been regularly demonstrating resistance to the LCV and are getting commercialised now,” said Madhavi Reddy K, Head, Division of Vegetable Crops at IIHR Bengaluru, who leads a team of experts in producing the LCV-resistant chilli hybrids for the to start with time in the region.

The non-public seed sector, together with multinational firms, are demonstrating desire in the IIHR hybrids, said Reddy.

The chilli seed industry is approximated at over one hundred fifty tonnes per annum. Of this, the hybrid seed industry is all over a hundred tonnes and the open pollinated variety is about 50 tonnes, Reddy said. The price of the chilli seed industry is approximated to be all over ₹400 crore.

Reddy said that the IIHR has proposed a project to transfer the technological innovation into the well-liked Byadgi chilli variety, which is recognized for its color and reduced pungency. “We have approached the Karnataka Horticulture Department to transfer this technological innovation to the Byadgi chilli variety and are awaiting their response,” Reddy said.

Chilli is a significant commercial cash crop grown by farmers and the production of both equally inexperienced and purple varieties are on the increase. India’s inexperienced chilli production stood at 38.51 lakh tonnes in the course of 2019-20 according to the 2nd advance estimates. This is increased than the preceding year’s output of 37.eighty three lakh tonnes.

Green chilli acreage stood at three.sixty four lakh ha in the course of 2019-20, down from three.77 lakh ha in the preceding yr. The production of purple or dried chillies was approximated at 17.02 lakh tonnes in the course of 2019-20, marginally reduced than the preceding year’s 17.43 lakh tonnes.

Full exports

India’s chilli exports in price phrases stood at ₹4,840 crore in the course of 2019-20, an enhance three.three per cent over the preceding year’s ₹4,685 crore. In quantity phrases, chilli exports were approximated at six.22 lakh tonnes over preceding year’s five.41 lakh tonnes. Due to the fact 2015-sixteen, chilli exports have risen by 40 per cent price and 56 per cent in volumes.