TAU 1 (Taru)
From CCS HAU Hisar — a wider disease-resistance stack than Pant U 31, at a few days more duration.
Quick facts
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Kharif
- Maturity period
- 75–80 days
- Expected yield
- 10–12 q/ha
- Suitable soil
- Loam
- Disease resistance
- Yellow mosaic virus and powdery mildew resistant
- Release
- Bred by CCS HAU, Hisar — no release/notification year confirmed via a primary document
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
TAU 1, sold commercially as 'Taru', is a short-duration blackgram (urad) variety bred by CCS Haryana Agricultural University (HAU), Hisar. A 2023 Frontiers in Plant Science review of blackgram breeding confirms it as one of the varieties with documented resistance to Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Disease (disease score 1, citing Solanki et al., 2011) — independent confirmation of the yellow-mosaic-resistant rating. Seed-trade and extension listings put it at 70–75 days and 10–12 q/ha, while the figure used here is 75–80 days, so plan on the longer one. No HAU or ICAR release document gives a release year or parentage, so they are left out.
Should you pick this variety?
Choose TAU 1, sold as Taru, if you farm in Haryana, Rajasthan or Punjab and want yellow mosaic and powdery mildew both covered. Of the urad here, only IPU 02-43 (South Zone) and Shekhar-3 (Uttar Pradesh) list powdery mildew too, so TAU 1 is the one for the north-west. A blackgram breeding review puts its yellow mosaic resistance at the top disease score. Its 10–12 q/ha is below Uttara's 12–14, and at 75–80 days it takes about five days longer than Pant U 31 (70–75), which has no powdery mildew cover. Some listings give TAU 1 itself as 70–75 days, so plan on the longer figure. Choose Uttara instead if you want the higher yield and can spare about five more days. Choose Mash 338 only if you already have its seed and want bold grain.
Sowing & cultivation
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Independently confirmed Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Disease resistance (Frontiers 2023 review, disease score 1) backs up the disease-resistance rating.
- A slightly wider resistance stack (yellow mosaic virus and powdery mildew) than the nearby Pant U 31, at a few days' extra duration.
Things to consider
- No HAU or ICAR release document gives the release year or parentage, so they are left out rather than guessed.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Haryana
- Rajasthan
- Punjab
Plan on the longer duration
Listings for TAU 1 do not agree on days. Some say 70–75, and the figure used here is 75–80. The gap is five days at most, but five days can decide whether the next crop goes in on time.
Use the longer figure for planning and the shorter one as a bonus. Count 80 days from sowing, mark that date, and keep the field free for it. If the crop is ready sooner, you gain time. If it is not, you have not lost the next crop.
The same rule works for yield. The published 10–12 q/ha is a range, so budget on 10 and be pleased with more.
Can you keep your own planting material?
This is an open-pollinated variety, so seed from a healthy crop of your own can be sown again. Keep seed only from disease-free plants, dry it properly, store it cool and dry, and bring in fresh certified seed every three to four years so the variety does not drift.
How it compares with other varieties
Every Urad (Black Gram) variety with a page on this site, side by side. The row for this page is highlighted.
| Variety | Best for | Maturity | Yield | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPU 02-43 | The South Zone's short urad, 70–72 days, with yellow mosaic and powdery mildew cover | 70–72 days | 10–12 q/ha | Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha |
| IPU 94-1 (Uttara) | Higher-yield north Indian urad, 12–14 q/ha, with well-proven yellow mosaic resistance | 80–85 days | 12–14 q/ha | Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar |
| Mash 338 | An older Punjab kharif urad with bold black seed, still grown but no longer PAU's newest | 85–90 days | Medium (~8.6–8.7 q/ha) | Punjab |
| Pant U 31 | The proven Gangetic plain urad, insensitive to day length, resistant to yellow mosaic, 70–75 days | 70–75 days | 9–11 q/ha | Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar |
| Shekhar-3 | Uttar Pradesh urad covered against four diseases: yellow mosaic, leaf crinkle, leaf spot and powdery mildew | 75–80 days | Medium–high | Uttar Pradesh |
| T-9 | The parent of most Indian urad: an old, medium-yield variety for Uttar Pradesh fields with little whitefly | 70–75 days | Medium | Uttar Pradesh |
| TAU 1 (Taru)this page | Urad for Haryana and Rajasthan with yellow mosaic and powdery mildew cover, from HAU Hisar | 75–80 days | 10–12 q/ha | Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab |
Tools for this crop
The numbers you need next: how much seed to buy, whether the lot germinates, what the fertilizer bill looks like and what Urad (Black Gram) is selling for.
- Seed Rate CalculatorHow much seed your Urad (Black Gram) plot needs, corrected for the germination of the lot you bought.
- Germination CalculatorTest 100 seeds from the bag before sowing and see whether the lot is fit to sow.
- Seed Variety FinderFilter every Urad (Black Gram) variety on this site by state, season, duration and soil.
- Fertilizer CalculatorTurn the NPK recommendation for Urad (Black Gram) into bags of urea, DAP and MOP for your field size.
- Crop CalendarMonth-by-month sowing, weeding, irrigation and harvest dates for Urad (Black Gram) in your state.
- Crop Profit CalculatorPut your seed, labour and input costs against the yield you expect from this variety.
- Mandi Price CheckerToday's Urad (Black Gram) rate in your nearest mandi, before you fix a price with a trader.
Subsidy and government support
Schemes that help with the cost of Urad (Black Gram) seed or planting material. Rules and the application route are on each scheme page.
Frequently asked questions
Is TAU 1's yellow mosaic virus resistance independently confirmed?
Yes — a 2023 academic review of blackgram breeding (Frontiers in Plant Science) lists it with a resistance score matching the strongest rating in its disease-scoring scheme, citing a 2011 study, independent of the seed-trade listings that also describe this trait.
How does TAU 1 compare to Pant U 31?
Sources describe TAU 1 with a broader resistance stack (yellow mosaic virus and powdery mildew, against Pant U 31's only-confirmed yellow-mosaic resistance) at a similar or slightly longer duration.
Why is TAU 1 also called Taru?
Taru is the trade name under which the HAU Hisar variety TAU 1 is sold. When you ask a dealer, use both names.
Can I grow TAU 1 in Uttar Pradesh or Bihar?
Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab are listed for it. For Uttar Pradesh the varieties listed here are Pant U 31 and Shekhar-3. Ask your KVK before you try TAU 1 outside its listed states.
How many days should I plan for TAU 1?
Plan on 75–80 days. Some listings say 70–75, but the longer figure is the safe one for planning the next crop.
TAU 1 or Uttara in Haryana, Rajasthan or Punjab?
Uttara gives 12–14 q/ha against 10–12 q/ha for TAU 1, but needs about five more days: 80–85 against 75–80. TAU 1 covers yellow mosaic and powdery mildew and is the variety bred at HAU Hisar for this belt. Take Uttara if yield is the goal and the days fit. Otherwise TAU 1.
Can I save TAU 1 (Taru) seed for next year?
Yes. TAU 1 is an open-pollinated variety, so seed from your own crop grows true to type. Choose healthy plants with no yellow mosaic or powdery mildew, dry the pods well and store the seed dry. After a few seasons, buy fresh certified seed to keep the variety clean.
Sourced from: Genetics, genomics, and breeding of black gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] — Frontiers in Plant Science. editorial policy.