“Amla (Aonla), the Indian gooseberry, is an important fruit crop of the tropics and subtropics. It is planted at 7.5 x 7.5 m during February-March and August-September,” said the horticulture experts of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The experts have advised the farmers, “As amla is basically cross pollinated crop, to get proper yield, plants of two or more varieties should be planted together.”
The Head, Department of Horticulture, Dr G.S. Kahlon, informed that the PAU has developed three new amla varieties which include “Balwant,” “Neelam,” and “Kanchan.” Telling that the varieties have been recommended for general cultivation in Punjab, he said that the variety “Balwant,” is a chance seedling developed from cultivar Banarasi. Its fruit is flattened round and moderate in size and the fruit skin is rough, yellowish green with pink tinge. The flesh is slightly fibrous, whitish green, soft, juicy and highly astringent, told Dr Kahlon, adding that the stone is moderate in size and nearly rectangular in shape. Describing it as earliest variety, he said that it matures in mid-November and its average yield is 121 kg per tree.
Referring to “Neelam” variety, the horticulturist Dr H.S. Dhaliwal said, “It is a seedling selection from open pollinated strain of cultivar Francis. The tree is tall with semi-spreading growth habit and dense foliage. Its fruit is medium to large in size and conical in shape and the fruit skin is smooth, semi translucent and yellowish green. The flesh is almost fibreless and soft and stone is medium in size and oval round in shape.” Dr Dhaliwal told that it is a mid-season variety and matures in the end of November. Its average yield is 121 kg per tree.
Elaborating, the expert Dr R.S. Boora said the variety “Kanchan” is a chance seedling from cultivar Chakaiya. Its fruit is flattened, oblong in shape and small to medium in size whereas the flesh is fibrous, hard and ideally suitable for processing. It is late in maturity and matures in mid-December; he added and informed that its average yield is 111 kg per tree.
Highlighting that the amla has great potential due to its high medicinal and nutritive values, the PAU horticulturists said that it has high productivity even on marginal lands. Rich in vitamin C, pectin and minerals, amla fruit is valued high among indigenous medicines in India and is popularly known as “Amrit phal,” they told.
