Pusa A-4
An IARI open-pollinated variety with dark green, five-ridged, 12–15 cm pods that resist toughening, and field tolerance to yellow vein mosaic virus and shoot and fruit borer.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Bhindi (Okra)
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- All seasons
- Maturity period
- First pick ~45 days
- Expected yield
- 13–16 t/ha
- Suitable soil
- Loam
- Release
- Released by ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi
About this variety
Pusa A-4 is an open-pollinated okra from ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, valued for long, dark green, five-ridged pods (12–15 cm) that stay tender and resist toughening on the plant. It carries field tolerance to yellow vein mosaic virus and, unusually, some field tolerance to the shoot and fruit borer, which lightens the spray load a little. It suits the summer and early rainy-season crop in the northern plains and reaches the first pick early at about 45 days.
Key characteristics
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
First pick ~45 days
Expected yield
13–16 t/ha
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
- Tolerant to YVMV; some field tolerance to shoot and fruit borer
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Long (12–15 cm), tender pods that resist toughening on the plant
- Field tolerance to both YVMV and shoot and fruit borer — a lighter spray load
- Early, with the first pick at about 45 days
Things to consider
- The tolerance is field-level, not full resistance — a spray programme is still needed under heavy pressure
- Best in the northern-plains summer and early rainy-season crop
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Uttar Pradesh
- Punjab
- Haryana
- Rajasthan
- Delhi