BENGALURU: After a decade-long research, agriculture scientists have come out with five varieties of chilli seeds to resist India’s deadliest whitefly-transmitted virus affecting the crop for years. The newly developed hybrid chilli varieties were unveiled at the five-day National Horticulture Fair that concluded here on Friday.
According to scientists, the whitefly-transmitted virus has been creating havoc for many years, destroying chilli cultivation in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and other parts of the country. It was a big talking point in Parliament a few years ago. But now, scientists of Indian Institute of Horticultural Research in Hesaraghatta campus said they’ve have developed five virus-resistant chilli seeds after 10 years of research.
They have been christened Arya Tejasvi, Arya Yeshasvi, Arya Sanvi, Arya Tanvi and Arya Gagan.
K Madhai Reddy, principal scientist and head, division of vegetable crops at IIHR, said the leaf curl virus caused due to whiteflies affected chilli crops on a large scale in parts of Raichur with 100% yield loss. “The five new chilli seeds have been identified after extensive research on 52 varieties and tested and ascertained as virus-resistant hybrid seeds. This will help farmers increase their yield without fear of the virus attack,” he added.
IIHR plans to distribute the seeds in April through Krishi Kendras across the country along with a tutoring programme on ‘Integrated disease management technology to farmers for cultivating hybrid chilies’.