This document discusses advances in crop improvement of root and bulb crops such as carrot, radish, turnip, and onion. For carrot, it describes several new varieties developed in India including Pusa Vristi, Pusa Vasuda, Pusa Asita, and Pusa Meghali. For radish, new varieties discussed include Pusa Jamuni, Pusa Gulabi, and Pusa Mridula. For turnip, varieties mentioned are Pusa Chandrima, Pusa Swarnima, and Purple Top White Globe. Finally, for onion, varieties and hybrids from various public institutions across India are summarized, including Pusa Riddhi, Pusa Soumya, Arka Ujjwal

1. Advances in crop improvement
of root and bulb crops

2. Carrot
 Daucus carota.
 2n = 18
 Grown for fresh consumption and processing
 Rich source of carotene
 Most widely grown member of Apiaceae
 Origin – south west Asia
 Inflorescence is a compound umbel
 Cross pollinated - protandry

3. Breeding objectives
 high root yield
 Good eating quality
 Scarlet/orange colour roots
 High carotene content
 Uniformity in root shape and size
 Thin and self coloured core

4. Cont…
 Early rooting
 Cracking free roots
 Smooth, shiny root
 High sugar and dry matter in roots
 Slow bolting habit
 Resistance to major pest and diseases

5. Pusa Vristi
 First heat, humidity tolerant
tropical carrot variety
 Duration :of 90-95 days
 Triangular shape and self-red
coloured roots, suitable for early
sowing under the North Indian
plains
 Yield:25 t/ha,
 Rich in carotenoids (867μg/100g),
 lycopene (405 μg/100gm) and
 β-carotene (144 μg/100g).

6. Pusa Vasuda
 First public sector
tropical carrot hybrid
 developed using CMS
system.
 Self red coloured
carrot hybrid.
 Rich in total
carotenoids,
lycopene, TSS and
minerals.

7. Pusa Asita
 Long black roots with
self coloured core,
 suitable for sowing from
September to October.
 The roots are ready for
harvest during
December-January.
Maturity in 90-110 days.
 Average Yield :25 t/ha

8. PCB 5
 Punjab Agriculture
University
 'Punjab black beauty‘
 recommended for
general cultivation in the
state
 overloaded with
beneficial anti-oxidants
and nutrients
 an excellent blood
cleanser which cures
anaemia deficiency

9. Pusa Rudhuira
 Long red roots with
self coloured core,
triangular shape,
 suitable for sowing
from mid-September
to October
 The roots are ready
for harvest from
middle of December
onwards.
 Average Yield:30 t/ha

10. Pusa Meghali
 Early; roots orange with
self-coloured core;
short tops.
 Only variety having
orange coloured flesh
in the tropical group.
 Produces seeds in the
plains. Suitable for
early sowing. Maturity
in 100-120 days.
 Yield:25 t/ha

11. Nantes
 Throughout India
 Yield: 12 t/ha
 Temperate type; small
tops with green
leaves;
 roots well shaped,
small, orange,
perfectly cylindrical,
abruptly ending in
small thin tail, sweet
and self coloured core

12. Pusa Nayanjyoti
 First hybrid developed by Public Sector with
orange colour roots.
 Roots are smooth, uniform, cylindrical, stumpy
with small indistinct self coloured core.
 high carotene content (7.552 mg/100g FW)
April-August in hills
November-December N-I Plains.
 Yield : 35-40 t/ha

13. Arka Suraj
 Deep orange roots with self
colour core.
 Smooth root surface Conical
shape
 Root length 15-18 cm, root
diameter 3-4 cm TSS 8-10%
 Carotene content 11.27 mg%
 Tolerant to powdery mildew
and nematode.
 Flowers and sets seeds under
tropical condition.
 Yield potential of 15 t/ha
Duration of 70 days

14. NS 854 F1
 Top vigour: Very good
 Root shape: Long
cylindrical
 Root length (cm): 18-20
 Root weight (g): 150-175
 Root colour / skin: Deep
orange
 Core: Small
 Disease tolerance: High

15.  Top vigour: Excellent
 Root shape: Cylindrical
 Root length (cm): 15-20
 Root weight (g): 150-175
 Root colour / skin: Orange
 Core: Small
 Disease tolerance: High
 Remarks: Excellent colour and
shape
 Recommended for: India
Middle East

Super Kuroda (OP)

16. Radish
 Raphanus sativus
 2n = 18
 Origin – Europe
 Originated from wild species R. raphanistrum
 Edible portion – primary root and hypocotyl
 Inflorescence – raceme
 Cross pollinated

17. Breeding objectives
 Early rooting
 High yield
 White, long roots and non branching
habit
 Non pithy roots
 Pungency of roots as per consumers
preference

18. Cont….
 Slow bolting habit
 Heat tolerance
 Drought tolerance
 Resistance to alternaria blight, white rust,
and mosaic virus
 Tolerance to aphids

19. Pusa Jamuni
 First purple fleshed unique
trait nutritionally rich
radish variety.
 Distinct in root size,
shape, yield and consumer
preference over the
existing varieties.
 Higher anthocyanins and
ascorbic acid.
 500.0 tonnes/ha.

20. Pusa Gulabi
 First entire pink fleshed unique
trait nutritional rich radish
variety.
 Medium root size, cylindrical
shape, optimal yield and
consumer preference over the
existing varieties.
 High total carotenoids,
anthocyanins and optimal
ascorbic acid.
 600.0 tonnes/ha.

21. Pusa Mridula
 Throughout India
 13.5 t/ha
 Roots globular in shape,
bright red in colour, size
 white flesh with soft texture
and mild pungent taste.
 Leaves dark green and
tender.
 Maturity in 20-25 days after
sowing.
 Suitable for winter crop
(September-February).

22. Kashi Sweta
 Roots are 25-30 cm
long,
 Roots are straight,
tapering with pointed
tip
 Yield 450-470 q/ha.

23. Kashi Hans
 suitable for September to
February
 Duration: 40-45 days
 can stand in the field up
to 10-15 days after
commercial maturity
 Roots are straight,
tapering, 30-35 cm long
 yield 430-450 q/ha

24. Palam Hriday
 HPKV, Palampur
 A variety with pink
flesh, crisp, juicy
 and free from pithiness
 Matures in 45-50 days
 Yield - 250-300 q/ha

25. Pusa Chetki
 Throughout India
 Roots pure white, smooth,
soft in texture,
 less pungent in summer
sowings, 15-22 cm long,
thick and stumpy
 leaves entire, slightly lobed,
dark green and upright.
 Maturity in 40-50 days,
 suitable for summer and
rainy season (April-August).
 Yield: 25 t/ha

26. shogunmino
 Unicorn seeds
 Roots have white skin
and very crisp and juicy
texture.
 Produces very uniform
extra long roots of about
40-50 cm
 Very slow in Pithiness
development.
 Can grow well under high
temperatures.

27. TURNIP
 Brassica rapa
 2n = 20
 Origin – cooler parts of
Europe

28. Pusa Chandrima
 Roots large round to flattish,
 white in colour with medium leaf
tops.
 Its outer skin is less deep and
flesh white in colour.
 Yield : 30-40 t/ha

29. Pusa Swarnima
 Suitable for temperate, sub-tropical and tropical
regions of north India.
 Early maturing variety, medium leaf topps,
 roots flattish and round.
 Its outer skin light yellow in colour.
 Suitable for planting in June to October in hilly
region
 October to December in plain.
 It matures in 60-70 days.
 Yield : 35.5 t/ha

30. Purple Top White Globe
 Suitable for temperate and subtropical of north
India.
 Roots round shaped, top of root is purple and
lower regions is white colour, Maturity 55-60
days.
 Yield : 25-30 t/ha

31. Onion
 Allium cepa
 2n = 16
 Origin – Pakistan(According to Vavilov)
 Inflorescence
 Each flower – 6 stamens, 3 carpels, 6 perianth
segment

32. Breeding objective
 High yield
 Longer bulb storage life
 Resistance to diseases ( purple blotch, basal rot,
stemphyllium blight )
 Resistance to insect pests(thrips)
 Resistance to abiotic stress
 Single centered bulbs especially for fresh market

33. Pusa Riddhi
 Single bulb weight ranges
from 70.0 -100.0 g.
 pungent and rich in
antioxidant (quercetin
107.42 mg/100g).
 Suitable for kharif and rabi
crop,, and export.
 Avge. Yield: 31.66 t/ha.

34. Pusa Soumya
 First bunching onion
variety
 suitable for round the
year green onion
production.
 least affected by
pests and diseases.
 Yield: 26.38 t/ha

35. Arka Ujjwal
 a multiplier onion variety
 bright dark red bulb color,
compound bulb with flat
shape
 Bulb size 4-5cm,
 Number of bulblets/bulb 3-5,
 Bulb weight 40-45g,
 TSS 16-18%,
 Dry matter content 14-16%
and
 Bulb yield 20-25t/ha in 85
days.

36. Arka Akshay
 It is a tri-parental
synthetic variety with
dark Red globe
shaped bulbs.
 Average bulb weight
is 115 g.
 Yield 45 t/ha in 130
days.

37. Arka Bheem (Syn-6)
 It is a tri-parental
synthetic variety
 Red to pinkish red,
elongated globe
shaped bulbs
 Average bulb weight
is 120 g
 Yield 47t/ha in 130
days.

38. Arka Sona
 yellow coloured
bulbs
 globe shape,
 bulb weight 140.0g,
low TSS 100 B,
 bulb yield 45 t/ha,
duration 120 days,
 suitable for growing in
Rabi season and for
export

39. Arka Vishwas
 bulb colour dark red,
flat globe shape
 bulb weight 40.0g,
 TSS 160 B,
 bulb yield 30t/ha,
duration 115 days,
 suitable for growing in
Rabi season and for
export.

40. Arka Swadista
 white onion variety
 bulbs are oval globe in
shape,
 TSS 18-20%,
 edible bulb 98%,
weight 35-40g,
 suitable for bottle
preservation.
 Yield =16-18t/ha in 105
days.

41. ARKA KIRTHIMAN
F1 hybrid. Suitable for
Kharif and Rabi season
ARKA LALIMA
F1 hybrid. Suitable
for Kharif and Rabi
Bulb yield: 50 t/ha

42. ARKA KALYAN
Tolerant to purple
blotch disease

43.  Pusa Red
 Pusa Ratnar
 Pusa Madhvi
 Pusa White Round
 Pusa White Flat
Pusa Red
VARIETIES / F1 HYBRIDS FROM
IARI, New Delhi

44.  Agrifound Dark Red
 Agrifound Light Red
 NHRDF Red
Agrifound Dark
Red
VARIETIES / F1 HYBRIDS FROM NHRDF, Nasik

45. VARIETIES / F1 HYBRIDS FROM VPKAS,
Almora
 VL 1
 VL 3
VARIETIES / F1 HYBRIDS FROM MPKV,
Rahuri
 N 53
 N 2-4-1
 Baswant 780
 N 257-9-1
 Phule Suvarna
NASIK
53

46.  VARIET IES / F1 HYBRIDS FROM TNAU,
Coimbatore
 CO 1
 CO 2
 CO 3
 CO 4
 VARIET IES / F1 HYBRIDS FROM RAU,
Bikaner
 Udaipur 101
 Udaipur 102
 Udaipur 103

47. VARIET IES / F1 HYBRIDS FROM
DOGR, Rajagurunagar
 Bhima Raj
suitable for kharif and
late kharif seasoin
the states of
Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat
 Bhima Red
suitable for late
kharif

48.  Bhima Super
 suitable for kharif season
 Bhima Kiran
 good keeping quality suitable for storage up to 5-6
months
 Bhima Shakti
 Very less number of bolters
 2.15%

49.  Bhima Shweta
 It is tolerant to thrips
 Bhima Shubra
 It has capacity to tolerate environmental fluctuation,
hence can be cultivated in all the three seasons.

50.  Yamuna Safed (G1)
The variety is tolerant to
insect pests and diseases like
purple blotch, stemphylium
Blight and onion thrips
 Yamuna Safed (G-323)
Leaf wide, Bulb- compact,
attractive creamy white
colour, creamy flesh
GARLIC

51.  Agrifound Parvati
The variety is long day type
Suitable for export
 Agrifound White
The bulbs are compact
silvery white with creamy flesh

52.  Yamuna Safed – 3
The variety is suitable
for export
Bhima Omkar
It has been developed
through clonal selection
of the local material
obtained from Nalanda,
Bihar

53.  Bhima Purple
 This line has been identified for high yield and better
quality

54. Thank you