Black gram also known as urd bean, is an important leguminous crop that belongs to the family fabaceae. It is an annual crop grown extensively for its nutritious seeds. Black gram is an important crop in India especially in the states of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. This crop is considered as one of the major sources of protein, energy, and dietary fiber requirements of the human diet.
In recent times, various improved varieties of black gram have been developed by agricultural scientists, which can provide higher yields and better quality of seeds as compared to traditional varieties. These improved varieties have better resistance to pests, diseases, and environmental stress factors. Some of the improved varieties of black gram are:
1. TAU-1: It is one of the most popularly known improved varieties of black gram. It was developed by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and is suitable for cultivation in the irrigated areas of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. TAU-1 is resistant to powdery mildew and leaf spot disease and has a high yield potential.
2. UPAS-120: It is an improved variety of black gram developed by the Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur. UPAS-120 is suitable for cultivation in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. This variety is tolerant to pod borer and has a higher yield potential as compared to traditional varieties.
3. VBN-1: It is an improved variety of black gram released by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. VBN-1 has a higher yield potential and is tolerant to both powdery mildew and yellow mosaic disease. This variety is suitable for cultivation in the irrigated areas of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
4. Co-5: Co-5 is an improved variety of black gram developed by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. It is known for its high yield potential and suitable for cultivation in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Co-5 has good resistance against yellow mosaic virus and powdery mildew diseases.
5. LBG-623: It is an improved variety of black gram developed by the Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur. LBG-623 has higher yield potential and resistant to pod borer and powdery mildew diseases.
These improved varieties of black gram have higher yields, tolerance to diseases and pests, and better quality of seeds, which help farmers in increasing their profit from the crop. Therefore, farmers are advised to use these improved varieties of black gram for better results.