Pusa Hybrid-20

Pusa Hybrid-20 is a long-fruited brinjal hybrid developed by ICAR-IARI and released in 2016. It is recommended for cultivation in Zone-IV, covering Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The hybrid is distinguished by its non-spiny, semi-erect plants and long, dark purple, glossy fruits that command excellent market preference.

📋 Variety Details

✨ Salient Features

• Plants are non-spiny, semi-erect, with light purple pigmentation partially on younger leaves and new branches.
• Fruits are long, dark purple, and glossy.
• Each fruit weighs 90–100 g.
• First harvesting takes about 55 days from transplanting.
• Average yield: 52.5 t/ha.

🌱 Package of Practices

Note: The IARI variety handbook does not list variety-specific package of practices for Pusa Hybrid-20. The points below are standard brinjal cultivation practices compiled from ICAR and Vikaspedia resources for reference.

🌡️ Climate & Soil

Brinjal is a warm-season crop that needs a long, warm growing period; it is very sensitive to frost. A daily mean temperature of 13–21°C is most favourable, and growth suffers badly below 17°C. For good fruit set and yield, an optimum temperature of 21–27°C is ideal. It can be grown as a rainy-season or summer-season crop, and even up to 1200 m elevation. Well-drained silt loam and clay loam soils with a pH of 6.6–7.5 are preferred. The soil should be ploughed 2–3 times and planked during the last ploughing to make a friable seedbed.

🌾 Nursery & Seed Treatment

Seeds are sown on raised nursery beds about 15 cm high, with a width not exceeding one metre. The beds are dug and mixed with FYM at 4 kg/m³ and levelled. Before sowing, beds are drenched with Dithane M-45 (3 g/m²) or Bavistin (2 g/litre) to reduce damping off. Seeds are treated with (Carboxin 37.5% + Thiram 37.5%) DS @ 1.5 g, or (Carbendazim 1.0 g + Thiram 1.5 g) per kg of seed. Rows are made at 5 cm distance, seeds are sown in line and covered with sieved FYM or sand. A seed rate of 500–600 g/ha is used. The nursery bed is covered with dry grass or paddy straw for 3–5 days to induce early germination, and light irrigation is given every morning and evening until germination. Seedlings are ready for transplanting in 35–40 days when they attain a height of about 15 cm with 4–5 leaves.

🌱 Transplanting & Spacing

A pre-soaking irrigation is given 3–4 days before transplanting, and seedling roots are dipped in a Bavistin solution (2 g/litre water) beforehand. Transplanting is best done in the evening, followed by light irrigation. For a long-fruited hybrid like Pusa Hybrid-20, a spacing of 60 × 45 cm is generally suitable for non-spreading types. For spreading varieties, a wider spacing of 75 × 60 cm is recommended.

🧪 Manures & Fertilizers

FYM or compost at 20–25 t/ha is incorporated into the soil during land preparation. A fertilizer dose of 120 kg N, 60 kg P₂O₅ and 80 kg K₂O per hectare is generally recommended. One-third of nitrogen and the full dose of phosphorus and potash are applied at transplanting. The remaining nitrogen is applied in two equal splits—first at 25–30 days and second at 45–50 days after transplanting. After application of fertilizer, it should be mixed into the soil by light hoeing followed by a light irrigation.

💧 Irrigation & Care

Irrigation is done immediately after transplanting. After establishment, irrigate at weekly intervals. During dry periods, the crop should be irrigated at 3–4 day intervals. Drip irrigation scheduled at 0.8–1.0 ET₀ has been found to give higher fruit yield and saves about 25% irrigation water compared to surface irrigation. Green manuring, polythene mulching, and bleaching-powder soil application can help reduce bacterial wilt infection.

🧺 Harvesting & Yield

Fruits are ready for first picking in about 55 days from transplanting, and should be harvested while still glossy—dullness indicates over-maturity. Since fruits don't mature uniformly, harvesting is usually done at 8–10 day intervals, retaining part of the calyx and stem on the fruit. Pusa Hybrid-20 is rated for an average yield of 52.5 t/ha.

🛡️ Pest & Disease Management (IPM)

Brinjal is prone to about 35–40% yield losses due to pests and diseases. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is essential to reduce pesticide residues and manage resistance.

🐛 Key Pests & Symptoms

• Hadda Beetle: Adults are pale brown with black spots; grubs are yellowish. Both scrape leaves and skeletonise them.
• Aphids: Nymphs and adults suck sap; leaves turn yellow, deformed, and dry. They also secrete honeydew, promoting sooty mould.
• Shoot and Fruit Borer: Larvae bore into shoots (killing growing points, causing wilted drooping shoots) and later into fruits, making them unfit for consumption.
• Red Spider Mite: Feeds on under-surfaces of leaves, causing curling and shrivelling.

🦠 Key Diseases & Symptoms

• Phomopsis Blight and Fruit Rot: Circular brown spots on leaves; pale, sunken spots on fruits that enlarge and rot the fruit internally.
• Little Leaf: Small leaves, shortened petioles and internodes, leaves become narrow, soft, smooth, and yellow. Plant appears bushy; fruiting is rare.
• Sclerotinia Blight: Downward wilting of twigs from top to main stem; fungal growth near joints; whole plant wilts.
• Root-Knot Nematode: Formation of knots or galls on the root system; stunted growth and patchy fields.

🌿 IPM Strategies

• Nursery: Prepare raised nursery beds about 10 cm above ground level for good drainage to avoid damping off. Keep seedlings free from pest infestation by raising the nursery under nylon net cover.
• Cultural Control: Follow crop rotation, use healthy seeds, remove and destroy infected plants, and manage weeds. Staking and pruning are important operations for better growth.
• Mechanical Control: Hand-pick and destroy visible pests and infected plant parts. Install sex pheromone baited traps for shoot and fruit borer.
• Biological Control: Conserve natural enemies and use bio-pesticides like Trichoderma viride and neem-based formulations. Release Trichogramma chilonis @ 10–15 lakh parasites/ha/season for borer management.
• Chemical Control: Use recommended pesticides judiciously as a last resort, following label instructions and pre-harvest intervals. Treat seedlings by dipping root zone in Imidacloprid solution (1 ml/litre) for 3 hours before transplanting.