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PRG 176 redgram Photo: EqualStock IN · Pexels License · source ↗

PRG 176 redgram

PRG 176 is a medium-duration redgram (Cajanus cajan) variety released by ANGRAU's Regional Agricultural Research Station, Palem (Mahabubnagar) for the rainfed pigeonpea tract of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It carries combined resistance to fusarium wilt and sterility mosaic disease (SMD), the two diseases that limit pigeonpea yields across the Telangana plateau.

Key features

  • Breeder: ANGRAU, RARS Palem
  • Notification: 2008 (Andhra Pradesh release); subsequently recognised across the AICRP-Pigeonpea South Zone
  • Duration: 165-180 days (medium)
  • Yield: 1,400-1,800 kg/ha rainfed; 2,000-2,200 kg/ha under protective irrigation
  • Grain: medium bold, brown-coloured seed; 100-seed weight 9-10 g
  • Resistance: combined field resistance to fusarium wilt (Fusarium udum) and sterility mosaic disease (SMD)
  • Plant type: semi-spreading, indeterminate; suited to 90 x 30 cm spacing

Cultivation zones

PRG 176 is recommended for the rainfed redgram belt of Telangana (Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Rangareddy, Vikarabad), Rayalaseema (Anantapur, Kurnool, YSR Kadapa), and adjoining tracts of north Karnataka. Sowing is in the first fortnight of July with the south-west monsoon; recommended seed rate 18-20 kg/ha. The variety integrates well as a sole crop or as an intercrop with sorghum, sajja or castor on a 6:1 or 7:1 base-crop-to-redgram ratio.

Pests and diseases

The main strength of PRG 176 is its combined wilt-and-SMD resistance profile. In on-farm trials in wilt-and-SMD endemic Palem and Mahabubnagar, PRG 176 retained 85-90% productive stand against 50-60% for non-resistant local checks. The variety remains susceptible to:

  • Pod borer complex: Helicoverpa armigera, Maruca vitrata, Melanagromyza obtusa (pod fly)
  • Leaf webber in late kharif

Standard ICAR-IIPR pod-borer management — pheromone traps for H. armigera, two need-based sprays with NPV, chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC at 0.4 ml/L, or emamectin benzoate 5 SG at 0.4 g/L starting from 50% flowering — is recommended.

Usage and adoption

PRG 176 has been the default state variety in the Telangana rainfed redgram tract since its release, alongside Asha (ICPL 87119), LRG 41 and Maruti where wilt and SMD pressure are both high. ANGRAU produces and supplies breeder and foundation seed through the seed corporation chain. The variety is also recommended for the redgram crop overview package in Telangana KVK demonstrations.

See also: Asha redgram (ICPL 87119), LRG 41 redgram, Maruti redgram, Redgram wilt, Redgram crop overview.

Sources

  1. Redgram variety PRG 176. ANGRAU Regional Agricultural Research Station Palem.
  2. AICRP-Pigeonpea released varieties. ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur.