The cauliflower variety developed by scientists at Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni has received national recognition, marking another significant achievement for the university in vegetable research and crop improvement. Scientists from the Solan Centre of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Vegetable Crops (AICRP-VC) recently participated in the 44th Annual Group Meeting of AICRP-VC held at Telangana State Horticultural University, Hyderabad. The meeting brought together leading vegetable scientists from across the country to review ongoing research, evaluate varietal trials, and formulate recommendations aimed at improving vegetable productivity and sustainability in India.
Representing the Solan Centre of the university were Dr. Ramesh Kumar Bhardwaj (Principal Investigator), Dr. Devinder Kumar Mehta (Co-Principal Investigator), Dr. Kuldeep Singh Thakur (Co-Principal Investigator) and Dr. Deepika Shandil (Co-Principal Investigator). The annual meeting featured intensive technical sessions focusing on varietal development, seed production technologies, crop protection, and sustainable vegetable cultivation practices. These deliberations resulted in eight major recommendations related to the Solan Centre, including the release and identification of promising vegetable varieties, improvement of seed production technologies, and adoption of integrated plant protection strategies. These recommendations are expected to contribute significantly towards enhancing vegetable productivity, ensuring the availability of quality seeds, and promoting sustainable crop protection practices across diverse agro-climatic regions of the country.
A major highlight of the meeting was the recognition of the late cauliflower variety ‘Solan Ujjwala (2022/CAULVAR-3)’, developed by the Department of Vegetable Science at Nauni. The variety was adjudged the best-performing cultivar based on its consistent performance in multi-location trials conducted under the AICRP-VC during the years 2022–2024. Based on its superior performance, the variety has been recommended for Zone-I, which includes Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The cultivar produces snow-white, compact curds weighing approximately 1.0–1.5 kg and has a marketable yield potential of about 300–350 quintals per hectare. Being an open-pollinated variety, it provides a cost-effective alternative to expensive hybrid varieties, making it particularly beneficial for small and marginal farmers. Its adoption is expected to enhance farm profitability while ensuring reliable and quality production of late-season cauliflower in the region.
The variety was bred and developed by Dr. Devinder Kumar Mehta, Principal Scientist, Department of Vegetable Science, with valuable contributions from Dr. Ramesh Kumar Bhardwaj and Dr. Kuldeep Singh Thakur. Dr. Sandeep Kansal and Dr. Rakesh Kumar were also involved in the Integrated Disease Management and Integrated Pest Management trials, respectively.
In addition to the varietal recommendation, the Solan Centre also secured one national recommendation on seed enhancement technology and six recommendations related to insect pest and disease management in vegetable crops.
Adding further distinction to the university, Dr. Ramesh Kumar Bhardwaj, PI and Principal Investigator of AICRP-VC at Nauni, was elected as the Councilor of the Indian Society of Vegetable Science (ISVS), recognizing his leadership and contributions to vegetable research at the national level. Meanwhile, Dr. Kuldeep Singh Thakur, Principal Scientist, was conferred with the ISVS Fellow Award–2024 in recognition of his sustained and impactful contributions in the fields of seed production and sustainable vegetable production technologies.
Congratulating the scientists on their achievements, Prof. Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, Vice Chancellor, lauded the team for bringing national recognition to the university. He described the development and recommendation of the cauliflower variety ‘Solan Ujjwala’ as a significant milestone in farmer-centric agricultural research. He emphasized that the university remains committed to promoting innovation, high-quality research, and the dissemination of technologies that improve farmers’ livelihoods, strengthen nutritional security, and support sustainable horticultural development in the country. Dr. Devina Vaidya, Director of Research, also congratulated the entire AICRP-Vegetable Crops team for their remarkable achievements. She appreciated the scientists for their dedicated efforts in varietal development and research that continues to enhance the university’s reputation at the national level.
