New Variety of Horsegram ( Macrotyloma uniflorum ) ‘CRIDA-18R’ released for South India

Abstract

Horsegram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam) Verdic] is an arid legume with multi utility. It is known for its ability to reclaim wastelands is a nutritious human food and animal feed as well as its immense medicinal value, especially against kidney stones as mentioned in ayurveda (Kumar 2006). Lipid fraction in certain foodstuffs had a protective effect which was most marked in the lipid obtained from horse gram (Jayaraj et al. 2000). It is mainly grown as a late rainy season crop and hence an excellent contingent crop. A new brown seeded horsegram variety CRIDA-18R was developed by Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture and released by Central Varietal Release Committee (CVRC) in 2009 for South India (Raghu Ram Reddy et al. 2010). It has higher-yielding ability of both grain and fodder, with high carbohydrate and protein content in the seed along with its ability of non-shattering of pods and tolerant to pests and diseases namely yellow mosaic virus, powdery mildew and mites. In recent on-farm trials, this CRIDA-18R variety yielded 59% more as intercrop with Jatropha and 40% more as a sole crop than local variety in farmer’s fields of Andhra Pradesh (CRIDA 2008–09). In the present scenario of global climate change which is much influenced by higher CO2, it is imperative to investigate the crop germination and growth under various levels of CO2 and response change with varied temperature ranges. Changes in CO2 and associated changes in global