Improved Red Spineless (IRS)
An ICAR-NRC Makhana (Darbhanga) research selection bred from spineless red biotypes and evaluated across multiple locations through 2021, outyielding unimproved parent stock.
Quick facts
- Type
- Research-station selection (tuber-propagated)
- Season
- Kharif
- Maturity period
- ~6–7 months
- Expected yield
- Higher than unimproved local stock in station trials
- Suitable soil
- Pond/diked-field silt (standing water)
- Release
- ICAR-National Research Centre for Makhana, Darbhanga (Bihar); multilocation evaluation trials ran through 2021
About this variety
Improved Red Spineless (IRS) is a research selection bred by ICAR's National Research Centre for Makhana at Darbhanga, Bihar, from spineless red-fruited singhara biotypes and evaluated in multilocation trials through 2021. Published trial reporting describes it as outyielding unimproved parent stock along with higher total soluble solids, a genuine step forward for a crop whose varietal landscape otherwise consists almost entirely of informally saved farmer stock. It remains research-station-level material, however, distributed through the institute and its state extension partners rather than a widely available commercial seed line — a grower interested in IRS needs to contact ICAR-NRC Makhana or a partner institution directly rather than expecting to find it through an open nursery trade.
Key characteristics
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
~6–7 months
Expected yield
Higher than unimproved local stock in station trials
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
- Not separately documented
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Documented yield and quality (total soluble solids) improvement over unimproved local biotypes in station trials.
- Spineless trait, shared with IGS, makes handling at harvest and peeling genuinely easier and safer than the spined local types.
Things to consider
- Not available through open commercial nursery trade — sourcing requires contacting ICAR-NRC Makhana or a state partner directly.
- No separately published all-India yield figure outside the institute's own multilocation trial reporting.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Bihar