Pusa Jwala
An IARI release grown as much for its high pungency as its yield — open-pollinated, so seed can be saved from a true-to-type plant.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Chilli
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Kharif
- Maturity period
- 150–160 days
- Expected yield
- 16–18 q/ha (dry chilli)
- Suitable soil
- Loam
- Release
- Bred by ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, from the cross NP-46A × Puri Red; a commonly reported release year of 1977 surfaced via a single WebSearch hit and is not independently corroborated or confirmed by a directly-fetched primary document in this pass
About this variety
Pusa Jwala is a long-fruited, dwarf-and-bushy chilli variety bred by ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, from the cross NP-46A × Puri Red — a cross and IARI origin confirmed consistently across multiple independent WebSearch hits, though no directly-fetched primary IARI document could pin an exact notification year in this pass (a commonly reported release year of 1977 surfaced via only a single, not-independently-corroborated hit, so is stated as reported rather than confirmed). Its light-green, highly pungent 9–10 cm fruits form in clusters of six to fourteen, aiding bunch harvesting, and it's consistently described across sources as fairly tolerant of thrips and mites — matching this record's own moderate leaf-curl-virus tolerance rating, since thrips are a leaf-curl-virus vector. Multiple independent agronomy sources — reporting production potential in both tonnes/ha and quintals/acre — consistently put its yield at about 8.5 t/ha for green chillies but only about 1.7–1.8 t/ha (roughly 17–18 q/ha) for dry red chillies.
Key characteristics
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
150–160 days
Expected yield
16–18 q/ha (dry chilli)
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Consistently documented thrips-and-mite tolerance across multiple sources backs up this record's own moderate leaf-curl-virus tolerance rating, since thrips vector the virus.
- Its bunched fruiting habit (six to fourteen fruits per cluster) is repeatedly cited as an advantage for harvest efficiency, on top of its established high pungency.
Things to consider
- The commonly cited 1977 release year rests on a single WebSearch hit only, not independently corroborated a second time or confirmed via a directly-fetched IARI document — stated here as reported rather than verified.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Uttar Pradesh
- Rajasthan
- Andhra Pradesh
Frequently asked questions
How does Pusa Jwala's dry-chilli yield compare to its green-chilli yield?
Multiple sources consistently report about 8.5 t/ha for green chillies but only around 1.7–1.8 t/ha (roughly 17–18 q/ha) for dry red chillies — the large gap reflects how much weight chillies lose in drying.
Why is Pusa Jwala tolerant of leaf curl virus if it has no direct viral resistance bred in?
Sources describe its tolerance as coming through thrips and mite tolerance rather than a direct antiviral trait — since thrips are the main vector of chilli leaf curl virus, insect tolerance indirectly reduces infection, consistent with this record's own 'moderate' (not 'resistant') rating.