Punjab Hybrid
A PAU F1 hybrid — one of India's first muskmelon hybrids — with round, netted, uniform fruit, firm orange flesh and higher, more even yield than the open-pollinated PAU varieties.
Quick facts
- Type
- Hybrid
- Season
- Zaid / summer
- Maturity period
- First harvest ~80–90 days
- Expected yield
- 22–28 t/ha
- Suitable soil
- Sandy / light soil
- Release
- Released by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana
About this variety
Punjab Hybrid is an F1 hybrid muskmelon from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and one of the first Indian muskmelon hybrids. It produces round, netted, uniform fruit with firm orange flesh and a higher, more even yield than the open-pollinated PAU varieties, which is why it is used for the commercial north-west crop where consistent fruit size and pack-out matter. It matures at about 80–90 days. As a hybrid, its seed must be bought fresh each season.
Key characteristics
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
First harvest ~80–90 days
Expected yield
22–28 t/ha
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
- No special resistance claimed
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Uniform, netted fruit — consistent size and pack-out for the commercial market
- Higher, more even yield than the open-pollinated PAU varieties
- Firm orange flesh that handles reasonably well
Things to consider
- Hybrid — seed must be bought fresh each season and costs more than open-pollinated
- No special disease resistance — downy and powdery mildew, the fruit fly and mosaic virus all still need managing
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Punjab
- Haryana
- Uttar Pradesh
- Rajasthan