KERALA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY INTRODUCED CUCUMBER

KERALA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY INTRODUCED CUCUMBER

Gynoecious F1 hybrids of cucumber, hybrids of bitter gourd and three tomato lines developed by scientists of the Kerala Agricultural University have been introduced for field tests in Palakkad and Thrissur districts.On completion of tests, they will be released for use by farmers.KAU director of research T.R. Gopalakrishnan said that a huge demand was expected for F1 hybrids of cucumber that were suited for polyhouse cultivation.“With the construction of 3,000 polyhouses promised in the 2012-13 State Budget, there is a huge demand for technologies that aid protected cultivation. F1 hybrids promise high yield under polyhouse cultivation,” he said.Hitherto, the private sector was the only source for such hybrids.“The gynoecious hybrids produce more number of female flowers in early nodes, a character acquired from the gynoecious female parent introduced from the U.S. On an average, the hybrids yield 15 kg fruits/ vine. As gynoecious technology is involved, F1 hybrid seeds can be produced at affordable rates,” he added.

Four F1 hybrids of bitter gourd developed by C. Narayanankutty of Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy, have also been recommended for field tests. They are MN BH-1 ( Mannuthy Bittergourd Hybrid – 1), MN BH-2, MN BH- 3 and MN BH – 4. MN BH-1, MN BH- 3 and MN BH- 4 are white coloured hybrids, while MN BH-2 is green coloured. They have a productivity ranging from 27 to 33 tonnes per hectare.Three new tomato lines have been recommended for field tests. LE 643-1, a high-yielding indeterminate tomato developed by P. Indira of Olericulture Department is suitable for cultivation in rain shelter and in fields. It resists bacteria and has a yield of 3.5 kg per plant in poly house and 2.4 kg in fields. Fruits are white, flat-round, medium size without green shoulder.LE 66 and LE 1-2 are two tomato lines developed by Dr. Narayanankutty. They can resist bacterial wilt. LE 1-2 bears round-shaped fruits with an average fruit weight of 60-65 gram. The plant bears, on an average, 20-25 fruits and the potential yield is 25 tonnes per hectare.LE 66 bears oval shaped fruits with an average fruit weight of 50-55 gram. The plant bears, on an average, 30-35 fruits and the potential yield is 25 tonnes per hectare. Experiments at Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy, have found two carrot varieties (Super Kuroda and Pusa Rudhira) and a kind of radish that grow well in Kerala climate. They are recommended for cultivation in plain lands between November and February.

Prof. John Kurakar