Thar Harsha: A new potential variety of drumstick for dryland

Abstract

Drumstick variety ‘Thar Harsha’ was selected from population of PKM-1and developed at CHES, Vejalpur after evaluation under rainfed semi-arid conditions. The mean maximum and minimum temperature varied between 28.4 to46.5 0C and 12.7 to 26.70 C, respectively, andtotal annual minimum and maximum rainfall of ranged from 293.24 mm to 941.25 mm with relative humidity 27.55-92.50 per cent during the period under study, however the annual water need or potential evapotrasnspiration of the site ranges between 1500 mm. The selection resembles more or less similar characteristics in respect of growth and quality with PKM-2 except pod colour, length of pod and colour of seeds. The plants growth was observed in term of height 405.6cm and spreads 330.2cm (E-W) and 390.4cm (N-S). Its growth is medium having larger sized dark green leaves and produced 314 fruits/plant. Average length of pod was recorded 100.0 cm having average weight 155.30g/pod. It is highly drought to lerant and yield marketable pods during summer (April- May). This variety has been found ideal for table/export purpose due to attractive green colour of pod having more flesh with uniformly spaced seeds. It gives 85 .90% higher yields and 31.91% number of fruits over PKM-1 under arid and semi-arid conditions. Physico-chemical attributes in terms of protein (9.3g), Vitamin A (9783IU) and Vitamin C content (246mg) per 100g of edible part was recorded under dry land conditions.