Improved chilli varieties released

LCA 625 and LCA 620, non–hybrid varieties, will give an average yield of 65 to 68 quintals per hectare, about 20 per cent higher than the present leading LCA 334 and LCA 625

Guntur: The Horticulture Research Station (HRS), engaged in research to turn out improved and high-yielding chillies, has come out with latest varieties, code named LCA-625 and LCA 620. The All India Coordinated Research (AICR) has put its seal of approval on these two varieties.

The notable features of the new varieties are disease-resistant and have a high yielding capacity. Pungency and colour retention are the strong points in them.

Fruits of them would retain their brick red colour at maturity for two to three months in the open and even if they are not harvested. They measure 115.8 units on the colour scale of American Spice Trade Association and the pungency factor is the most striking feature.

The fruits are highly pungent measuring 50,000 to 55,000 Scoville scale. Scoville scale is the measurement of the pungency (spicy heat)

The HRS has so far released 13 varieties and the two of them, which are now set to hit the market, are superior by all counts. HRS Principal Scientist Dr L Naram Naidu told The Hans India that LCA 625 and LCA 620, non–hybrid varieties, will give an average yield of 65 to 68 quintals per hectare, which would be 15 to 20 per cent higher than the present leading variety LCA 334 and LCA 625.

It is expected to yield rich dividends to farmers as it is ranked pretty high in colour retention and pungency factors.