IPU 94-1 (Uttara)
From ICAR-IIPR Kanpur — an older (1999), widely-adopted release for the North West and North East Plain Zones, with black seed, an attractive plant type and a 100-seed weight of about 3.6 g.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Urad (Black Gram)
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Kharif
- Maturity period
- 80–85 days
- Expected yield
- 12–14 q/ha
- Suitable soil
- Loam
- Release
- Released 1999 per ICAR-IIPR's current variety database (a source reported to the requester gives 2000 — not independently confirmed here) for the North West and North East Plain Zones.
About this variety
IPU 94-1, commercially sold as 'Uttara', is a blackgram (urdbean) variety bred by ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR), Kanpur. ICAR-IIPR's own current variety database — directly checked for this correction — gives a 1999 release year (a separate source reported to the requester gives 2000, not independently confirmed here), recommended for the North West Plain Zone (Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh and most of Rajasthan) and North East Plain Zone (eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Jharkhand, per standard AICRP pulse-zone definitions), maturing in 80–85 days at 12–14 q/ha, with Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Virus (MYMV) resistance, an attractive plant type, black seed and a 100-seed weight of about 3.6 g. A 2026 Frontiers in Genetics study lists its pedigree as NP 19 × T-9, distinct from IPU 02-43's DPU88-31 × DUR-1 cross — independent confirmation that these are two separate varieties. Its well-characterised MYMV resistance made it the subject of a dedicated 2022 genome-sequencing study. A separate, newer release, IPU 02-43, is covered on its own page.
Key characteristics
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
80–85 days
Expected yield
12–14 q/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
- Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Virus (MYMV) resistance well-characterised enough that a dedicated 2022 study produced a draft genome specifically for this variety.
- Higher yield potential (12–14 q/ha) than IPU 02-43, a separate ICAR-IIPR release, alongside a longer duration (80–85 days) suited to the North West and North East Plain Zones.
Things to consider
- IPU 94-1 (Uttara) and IPU 02-43 are two distinct ICAR-IIPR releases with different release years, durations, yields and recommended zones per the institute's own variety database — see 'IPU 02-43' for the other.
- ICAR-IIPR's current variety database gives a 1999 release year; a source reported to the requester gives 2000, but could not be independently confirmed this pass. Both are stated here rather than one being silently preferred.
- Recommended states (Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar) are this record's own North West/North East Plain Zone mapping, per standard AICRP pulse-zone definitions.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Punjab
- Haryana
- Uttar Pradesh
- Bihar
Frequently asked questions
Is Uttara the same variety as IPU 02-43?
No. ICAR-IIPR's own variety database lists IPU 94-1, commercially sold as 'Uttara' (1999, North West and North East Plain Zones), and IPU 02-43 (2008, South Zone) as two separate releases. 'Uttara' belongs only to IPU 94-1; see 'IPU 02-43' for the other variety.
Why was IPU 94-1 chosen for genome sequencing?
A 2022 study specifically targeted it because of its well-documented, strong resistance to Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Disease, producing a draft genome to help future breeding programmes track the resistance genes involved.
Sourced from: Varieties — ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR), Kanpur, Frontiers in Genetics (2026) — pedigree table for ICAR-IIPR blackgram releases, Data: Long-read-based draft genome sequence of Indian black gram IPU-94-1 'Uttara' — Dryad. editorial policy.