Kashi Daksh (CRPVRTH-16-3) (Tomato Hybrid)

Technology Background:

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the important vegetable crops for both fresh consumption as vegetable and making processed products. India ranks second after China (67.53 mt) in tomato production (21.18 mt) from an area of 0.84 m ha area with 25.06 t/ha productivity (FAOSTAT 2023). However, crop faces problems of biotic stress like ToLCV, and abiotic stress like drought stress. Indeed, the availability of irrigation water is one of the challenging problems in the future. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop tomato hybrids suitable for cultivation under moisture stress i.e. drought tolerance and suitable for rainfed farming as well. Presently, there is no hybrids which is suitable for drought stress condition. 

Technology Details:

The tomato hybrid Kashi Daksh (CRPVRTH-16-3) has been developed at the institute and identified by the Institute Technology Identification Committee, ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi. Kashi Daksh produces higher yields (880-1000 q/ha under water-stress with 50% irrigation, i.e. complete withholding of irrigation for 60 days, compared to 1100-1300 q/ha yield with full-watered (100% irrigation) during winter season). This hybrid possesses ToLCV resistance (Ty-3 gene), medium maturity (TSS: 4.22 °Brix), and longer duration of the availability fruits during winter/rabi crop season in Varanasi and adjoining area of Uttar Pradesh. Kashi Daksh produces 31% yield gain over best check Abhilash under drought stress. Soil moisture % (0-15 cm soil depth) was measured under stress (12.93%) vs. well-watered (control) (25.11%) using Hydra Probe. The hybrid scored 1st ranks in 7 centres and 2nd rank in 6 centres in IET, AVT-I and AVT-II trials in AICRP (VC).