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Isabgol (Psyllium)RabiOpen-pollinatedUpdated 2 September 2026

Niharika

Notably a CSIR release rather than an ICAR or state-agricultural-university one — bred by mutation breeding at CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow.

SeasonRabi
Maturity periodNot documented
Expected yield1,000–1,200 kg/ha
Suitable soilLight, well-drained sandy loam

Quick facts

Crop
Isabgol (Psyllium)
Type
Open-pollinated
Season
Rabi
Maturity period
Not documented
Seed rate
4–5 kg/ha, mixed with sand or fine soil for even broadcasting
Expected yield
1,000–1,200 kg/ha
Suitable soil
Light, well-drained sandy loam
Release
CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (CIMAP), Lucknow — mutation breeding

About this variety

Niharika is an isabgol variety developed by mutation breeding at the CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (CIMAP), Lucknow — notable among the varieties on this page as a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) release rather than one from ICAR or a state agricultural university, reflecting isabgol's standing as a medicinal/industrial crop rather than a purely agricultural one. It yields roughly 1,000–1,200 kg/ha of seed. Sources describe it as differing from other varieties in disease tolerance, but do not itemise this against a specific named disease such as downy mildew, so this should be treated as a general note rather than a confirmed, disease-specific resistance rating. Duration is not documented in the sources checked for this page.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeOpen-pollinated
    MaturityNot documented
    Yield potential1,000–1,200 kg/ha
    Disease resistanceReported to differ from other varieties in disease tolerance; not itemised against a specific disease in available sources
    SoilLight, well-drained sandy loam
    SeasonRabi

Sowing & cultivation

  • Sowing timeFirst half of November for best yield
  • Seed rate4–5 kg/ha, mixed with sand or fine soil for even broadcasting

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

Not documented

Expected yield

1,000–1,200 kg/ha

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Major diseases

  • Reported to differ from other varieties in disease tolerance; not itemised against a specific disease in available sources

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Bred by a national research institute (CIMAP) specifically focused on medicinal and aromatic plants, matching isabgol's real use as a medicinal-husk crop.
  • Respectable, mid-range yield potential (1,000–1,200 kg/ha).

Things to consider

  • Duration is not documented in available sources — confirm the local sowing-to-harvest window with a KVK.
  • Its disease-tolerance note is general, not itemised against downy mildew specifically — don't treat it as a confirmed downy-mildew-resistance rating like RI-1's.

Suitable regions

States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.

  • Gujarat
  • Rajasthan

Sourced from: CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (CIMAP), Lucknow. editorial policy.