Arka Rajhans
An IIHR (Bengaluru) variety with round, netted fruit, a thick white-cream flesh and good keeping quality, and resistance to powdery mildew — a strong choice where that disease is a regular problem.
Quick facts
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Zaid / summer
- Maturity period
- First harvest ~90–100 days
- Expected yield
- 20–25 t/ha
- Suitable soil
- Sandy / light soil
- Release
- Released by ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru
About this variety
Arka Rajhans is an open-pollinated muskmelon from ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, with round, netted fruit, a thick white-to-cream flesh, good sweetness and good keeping quality. Its key trait is resistance to powdery mildew, one of the two mildews that most often strip a muskmelon crop in the dry pre-monsoon plains, so it is a strong choice where that disease is a recurring problem. It matures at about 90–100 days.
Key characteristics
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
First harvest ~90–100 days
Expected yield
20–25 t/ha
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
- Resistant to powdery mildew — one of the two mildews that most often ruin a muskmelon crop
- Thick white-cream flesh with good keeping quality
- Open-pollinated, so seed can be saved
Things to consider
- Resistance covers powdery mildew, not downy mildew or Fusarium wilt — those still need managing
- White-cream flesh may not suit a market that expects deep orange
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Tamil Nadu
- Telangana