PAU and Delhi-based Firm Sign Agreement for Commercialization of Vegetable Hybrid and Varieties

Ludhiana, February 20, 2026 (Sanjeev Ahuja): Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has inked a pact with Delhi-based Shatabdi Seeds Pvt for licensing of vegetable hybrid and varieties. These include Punjab Pumpkin Hybrid (PPH-1), Bottle gourd ‘Punjab Komal,’ Carrot variety ‘PC-161,’ and French Bean variety ‘Punjab Rangat’ (FBK-1). Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of Research, PAU; and Mr Ravinder Nath Verma from Shatabdi Seeds Pvt signed the Memorandum of Agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.

Dr Mahesh Kumar, Additional Director Research (Agri-Engineering); Dr Khushdeep Dharni, Associate Director, Technology Marketing and IPR Cell; Dr Ruma Devi and Dr Madhu Sharma were also present on the occasion.

Dr Dhatt congratulated Dr Satpal Sharma, Principal Vegetable Breeder –cum- Head, Department of Vegetable Science, and his team for the MoA.

Giving information about Punjab Pumpkin Hybrid (PPH-1), Dr Sharma informed that vines of this hybrid are dwarf, internodal length short and leaves dark green. “Its fruits are small, round, mottled-green at immature stage and mottled brown at mature stage. Fruit cavity is small and flesh is golden yellow. It is extra-early in maturity and gives 206 q/acre yield,” he added.

“Bottle gourd ‘Punjab Komal’ is an early maturing variety. The first fruit attains marketable maturity in about 70 days after sowing. It bears oblong, medium sized, light green, pubescent, 10-12 fruits per vine. It is tolerant to cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Average yield is about 200 q/acre,” he informed.

“Carrot variety PC-161 is a tropical variety and its roots mature in 90 days after sowing. Its foliage is dark green. Roots are deep red in colour, 30 cm long, slender and 2.84 cm in diameter. The roots have more juice content (575.50 ml/kg), sweet (TSS 9.5% and Sugar content 8.75%) and rich in β-carotene (8.88 mg/100g). Average root yield is 256 q/acre,” he explained.

“French Bean variety Punjab Rangat (FBK-1) is a pole type variety, suitable for sowing in second fortnight of September and second fortnight of February under poly-net house cultivation. The first picking is taken in 64-66 days after sowing. Pods are purple, straight and round in cross-section. Average green pod yield is 126.4 q/acre in September sowing and 132.1 q/acre in January sowing,” he added.

Dr Dharni stated that PAU is ensuring the dissemination of its lab work to the field by means of these agreements. These efforts are instrumental in ensuring seed availability for the farmers and the spread of varieties across the nation, he added.