New variety with high oil content

By Our Agriculture Correspondent

TAMILNADU AGRICULTURAL University (TNAU), Coimbatore, recently released two high yielding groundnut varieties with high oil content. The bunchy varieties named ``COGn 4'' and ``VRI Gn 5'' have been found to have higher yield potential than the ruling varieties, and are considered a boon for the groundnut growers in the State.

The variety ``COGn 4'' is a derivative of the cross between TMV 10 and ICGS 82, and it produced two seeded pods with rose kernels with oil content of 52.7 per cent. Developed by the scientists at the department of Oilseeds, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, TNAU, Coimbatore, this variety is moderately resistant to Tikka leaf spot and rust.

Maturing in 110 days, this variety can be sown as a rainfed crop in April-May, June-July and October. The irrigated crop can be taken up in April-July, December-January and February-March.

The rainfed crop has an average yield of 1500 kg per hectare, which is 12.6 per cent higher than that of VRI 2. The irrigated crop has recorded an average yield of 1950 kg per hectare, which is 7.4 per cent more than VRI 2, according to the scientists.

This variety has been found suitable for growing in all groundnut-growing areas in Tamil Nadu. It has proved its superiority and stability for yield in station trials, multi- location trials and adaptive research trials both at the State and national levels.

Its attractive bold kernels, high oil content and moderate resistance to bud necrosis have made it more attractive among the growers in the State.

The other variety ``VRIGn 5'' is an extract from the cross between CG 26 and ICGS 44, and the scientists at the Regional Research Station, Vridhachalam, have extensively tested it under the name ``VG 9711''. It is a bunchy type maturing in 105 to 110 days. This high yielding variety produces one to two seeded pods of medium size, and red coloured kernels with an oil content of 50.5 per cent.

This variety has in-built resistance to rust disease, and it has a seed dormancy for 45 days. The variety can be sown in June-July and December-January. As a rainfed crop, it has recorded an average yield of 2133 kg per hectare, which is about 25 per cent higher than VRI 2.

The irrigated crop has an average output of 2384 kg per hectare, which is 21.4 per cent more than that of VRI 2. This variety can also be grown in all the groundnut belts in the State.

``VRIGn 5'' branches profusely by producing more secondary branches, which are usually absent in other bunch varieties. The leaves are smaller and dark green in colour. The fodder yield of the crop is higher than other bunch varieties.

The yield reduction under moisture stress is least when compared with other bunch varieties. The reproductive efficiency of the variety is higher than the check variety VRI 2, according to the scientists.

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