Arka Manik
An IIHR (Bengaluru) open-pollinated variety resistant to anthracnose, powdery mildew and downy mildew, with round, dull-green fruit with dark stripes, 5–7 kg, deep red flesh and a firm rind that stores and travels well.
Quick facts
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Zaid / summer
- Maturity period
- First harvest ~95–100 days
- Expected yield
- 45–60 t/ha
- Suitable soil
- Sandy / light soil
- Release
- Released by ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru
About this variety
Arka Manik is an open-pollinated watermelon from ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, and one of the few Indian watermelons with genuine multi-disease resistance — to anthracnose, powdery mildew and downy mildew together. The fruit is round, 5–7 kg, with a dull green rind and dark stripes, deep red high-TSS flesh, and a firm rind that stores and stands long-distance transport. It is the variety of choice where cucurbit disease pressure is high and the fruit has to travel, though it takes a little longer to mature at about 95–100 days.
Key characteristics
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
First harvest ~95–100 days
Expected yield
45–60 t/ha
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Resistant to anthracnose, powdery mildew and downy mildew — a rare multi-disease package for watermelon
- Firm rind — stores well and stands long-distance transport
- Deep red, high-sugar flesh; high yield potential
- Open-pollinated, so seed can be saved
Things to consider
- The disease resistance does not cover Fusarium wilt — still rotate away from cucurbits, or graft on badly infested land
- A little later to mature (~95–100 days) than Sugar Baby
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
- Tamil Nadu
- Maharashtra
- Telangana