Raddish cultivation based on botany, plant characteristic, soil, climate, variety and varietal characteristic, problem in cultivation and their management practices and storage and post harvest handling.

1. Presented by :
Om Prakash Kumawat
M.Sc.(horticulture) Vegetable Science

2. RADISH
BOTANICAL NAME: Raphanus sativus L
FAMILY: Brassicaceae
ORIGIN: Egypt
CH.NO.: 2n=18

3. Introduction:
Radish (Mooli) is a quick growing and short duration vegetable crop.
It has high nutritive value.
It is a good source of ascorbic acid and trace elements. Pink-skinned radish is generally richer in
ascorbic acid than the white skinned.
Cultivation of radish both for root and seed is very easy.
Radish is an ancient vegetable. Inscriptions in Pyramids in Egypt showed its existence
about 2000 B.C:
It is widely grown in almost all states of India. It is most suitable for
raising in kitchen garden or home garden.
Origin:
Radish probably originated in Europe and Asia. It has been under extensive cultivations in
Egypt since long.
It was introduced in England and France in the beginning of 16th century.

4. Area and Production
Total area in India-0.16MHa
 Total production in India-2.28MT
 West Bengal-Area-40490ha
 Production-0.49MT
 Rajasthan-Area-640ha
 Production-2560

5. Principle Nutrient Value Percentage of RDA
Energy 16 Kcal 1%
Carbohydrates 3.40 g 3%
Protein 0.68 g 1%
Total Fat 0.10 g <1%
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Dietary Fiber 1.6 g 4%
Vitamins
Folates 25 µg 6%
Niacin 0.254 mg 1.5%
Pyridoxine 0.071 mg 5.5%
Riboflavin 0.039 mg 3%
VitaminA 7 IU <1%
Vitamin C 14.8 mg 25%
Vitamin E 0 mg 9%
Vitamin K 1.3 µg 1%

6. BOTANY
The edible portion of radish develops from the primary root and hypocotyl the inflorescence is a
typical terminal raceme of crciferae.
The flowers are small, usually white in colour and resemble those in cabbage and cauliflower.
Sepals (four) are erect and petals (four) are clawed.
Radish is cross- pollinated due to sporophytic system of self-incompatibility.
It shows considerable inbreeding depression on selfing. It is entomophilous. It is pollinated
mainly by wild honey bees and wild-flower flies. Stigma receptivity is maintained upto four days
after anthesis.
Emasculation is not necessary in bud-pollination. After pollination, the buds are to be protected
from foreign pollen by enclosing the particular branch bearing those buds in a muslin cloth bag.

7. Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Angioserms
Order: Brassicacales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Raphanus
Species: R.sativus

8. Soil:
Radish is ideally grown on light, friable sandy-loam soils which are rich in humus
and having a pH range between 6.0-7.0.
 Heavy soils should be avoided as they produce rough, malformed roots with
number of small fibrous laterals.

9. Climate:
Radish is very specific in its climatic requirements especially, temperature.
 Radish is predominantly suited to a cool or moderate climate.
 A long day as well as high temperature results in boltings before proper root development.
 Also, the roots become hard, pithy and pungent before reaching maturity.
 It develops best flavour, texture and size at cooler temperatures between 10-150 C.

10. Land preparation:
The land should be thoroughly ploughed so that the clods do not interfere with the root
development.
 Well decomposed FYM (15-20 t/ha) is mixed at the time of land preparation.
 Application of fresh undecomposed FYM should be avoided as it leads to forking
of the fleshy roots.

11. Season of Planting :
The crop is sown during winter from September to January, in the plains from 1st September-1
st December and in the hills from June September.
 In the mild climate of peninsular India, radish can be grown almost all the year round except
few summer months.
 The best sowing time in South India is from April to June.

12. Method of Planting :
For regular supply of fresh and tender roots, the sowing should be staggered and done at 15 or
20 days interval.
The seed rate of 10-12 kg/ha is recommended.
Radish is a usually grown on ridge to facilitate good root development.
The seeds of tropical varieties are sown at a spacing of 45 x 8cm while a spacing of 20-30x8cm
is recommended for temperate varieties.

13. Manuring & Fertilization:
 The fertilizer dose depends upon the fertility of soil and amount of organic manure applied to the
crop.
 For a good yield, 15-20 tonnes of well-decomposed FYM is incorporated into the soil.
 Generally, application of 50-100 kg N, 100 kg P2O5 and 50 kg K2O is recommended for
optimum yield.
 Half dose of N and full dose of P and K is given at the time of planting. The balance half of N is
given 30 days after planting.

14. Intercultural Operations:
 Intercultural operations like weeding and hoeing are necessary to check the weed growth and
provide soil aeration for better growth and yield.
 During rainy season, two weddings are required to keep the growth of weeds under check.
 In radish, the growing roots tend to push out of the soil surface.
 Therefore, earthing up and weeding during the early stages of growth are necessary for proper
development of quality roots.

15. Irrigation:
 The irrigation cycle depends upon season, type of soil and amount of organic matter present in
soil.
 The first irrigation is given immediately after sowing.
 Depending upon the planting season and the available soil moisture, radish may be irrigated at
10-12 days interval during winter and 5-6 days interval during summer.

16. Asiatic Types or tropical types :
Pusa Desi:-It is a subtropical cultivar, suitable for sowing from middle of August to October in
the northern plains.
Pusa Chetki:-This variety has wider adaptability and can tolerate high temperature.
Pusa Reshmi:- Suitable for early sowing from mid - September to mid-November but it can
tolerate slightly higher temperature.
Japanese White:-Suitable for growing between October - December in the plains and July
September in the hills. Crop matures in 60-65 days.
Variety and Varietal character:

17. Punjab Safed:- Suitable for sowing in September-October. It is a quick growing
type with free of forking, roots remaining edible for 10 days after attaining full size.
Kalianpur No. 1:- Roots 20-23 cm long, white with green shoulder.
Nadauni:- Roots are long, light pink, popular in Himachal Pradesh.
Arka Nishant:- Roots are long, marble white, resistant to pithiness and pre- mature
bolting.

18. European types or temperate types :
The skin is pure white, the flesh is crisp and sweet-flavoured with mild pungency.
It is the only variety, which can be grown throughout the year in the hills except for winter
months from November- January.
White Icicle:- It is a medium short European table variety, which matures in 25-30 days.
Pusa Himani:- Suitable for kitchen garden.

19. Harvesting:
 The edible roots become ready for harvesting in about 25- 60 days depending on the variety.
 The temperate types reach harvest maturity 25-30 days after seed sowing while tropical
varieties require longer period.
 At the time of harvest, the roots should not be pithy or solid.
 Crop is harvested manually by uprooting individual plant.
 A light irrigation may be given a day before harvesting to facilitate lifting of roots.
Yield:
 The average yield of Asiatic cultivars ranged between 25-30 t/ha in 40-60 days while the
temperate varieties yield 15-20 t/ha in 35-40 days.

20. Grading:
Harvested roots are washed and graded according to size and tied into bunches along with the
tops.
The radish should ideally, be of uniform and similar shape for the variety, well formed,
smooth, firm but of tender texture.
It should also be free from harvest damage, decay, disease or insects.
Bunched radish tops should be fresh in appearance and turgid.

21. Packaging:
Normally the produce is sent to the market loose or sometimes it is packed in gunny bags.
Storage:
Radish cannot be stored at room temperature for more than 2-3 days.
However in cold storage, topped radish if packed in polybag with few holes for aeration, can be
stored at 0℃ with 90-95 % relative humidity for about 2 months.

22. Common Pests and Diseases

23. Scab : Streptomyces scabies
Symptoms
Brown-yellow circular lesionson roots; sunken,crackedlesionswhich maybe irregular in shapeandcoalesce
Management
rotate crops to non-host for four years, maintain a high level of soil moisture
avoid increasing soil pH through soil amendment use of sulfur application

24. Alternaria blight : Alternaria spp.
Symptoms
Yellow, dark brown or black circular spots on leaves with concentric rings on leaves,
petioles, stems and/or flowers; center of lesions may dry and drop out
Management
Plant only certified, disease-free seed; treat seeds with hot water prior to planting; rotate
crops to non-brassica species; irrigate plants in morning to allow sufficient time to dry out during
the day;

25. Black root : Aphanomyces raphari
Symptoms
Small black-blue areas on roots which expand and girdle taproot; roots become constricted at site
of lesions; black discoloration extends into roota
Management
Plant resistant radish varieties used; rotate crops with non-brassica species

26. Wirestem (Damping-off ) : Rhizoctonia solani
Symptoms
Death of seedlings after germination; brown-red or black rot girdling
stem; seedling may remain upright but stem is constricted and twisted
(wirestem)
Management
Plant pathogen-free seed or transplants that have been produced in
sterilized soil; apply fungicide to seed to kill off any fungi; shallow
plant seeds or delay planting until soil warms

27. Clubroot : Plasmodiophora brassicae
Symptoms
Slow growing, stunted plants; yellowish leaves which wilt during day and rejuvenate in part at night; swollen, distorted
roots; extensive gall formation
Comments
Can be difficult to distinguish from nematode damage; fungus can survive in soil for periods in excess of 10 years;
can be spread by movement of contaminated soil and irrigation water to uninfected areas
Management
Once the pathogen is present in the soil it can survive for many years, elimination of the pathogen is economically
unfeasible; rotating crops generally does not provide effective control; plant only certified seed and avoid field grown
transplants unless produced in a fumigated bed; applying lime to the soil can reduce fungus sporulation

28. White rust : Albugo candida
Symptoms
White pustules on cotyledons, leaves, stems and/or flowers which
coalesce to form large areas of infection; leaves may roll and thicken
Comments
Fungus can survive for long periods of time in dry conditions;
disease spread by wind
Management
Rotate crops; plant only disease-free seed; apply appropriate fungicide if disease becomes
a problem

29. Aphids : Myzus persicae, Brevicoryne
The pest attacks both the seedlings as well as the mature crop. The nymphs and adults suck the
cell sap. affected parts become discolored and malformed. high humidity favours rapid
multiplication of this pest. The aphids are mostly observed on the lower surface of the leaves.
Control
Spraying of Monocrotophos (0.05%) or Malathion (0.1%) at 10-15 days interval contains aphid
population effectively. To prevent recurrence of the pest granular insecticides like Phorate @ 1.0
kg a.i./ha should be applied to soil.
PESTS

30. Mustard Sawfly : Athalia proxima
It is a serious pest of radish. the pest attack is observed in the vegetative and flowering
stage of the crop. the adult female lays eggs inside the leaf tissue. the grubs after
hatching from the eggs feed on the leaves by making small holes.
Control
Hand picking of larvae when the area involved is small, or spraying with Malathion 50
EC (1ml/litre of water) twice at an interval of 10 days is recommended.