Radish (Raphanus sativus)

• Family: Cruciferae
• Origin: Europe
• Chromosome No.: 2n = 18
• Edible Part: Root & Leaves
• Temperature: Optimal growth at 18–25°C
• Photoperiodism: Biennial, long-day plant
• Soil pH: 5.5–6.8
• Propagation: Seeds
• Sowing Time: Plains: Sept.–Oct. in Hills: June–July
• Spacing: 15 cm × 10 cm
• Seed Rate: 10 kg/ha
• Yield: 20–30 t/ha (Ready in 45–60 days)
• Stacking: Root preparation for seed production

• Boron Deficiency: Causes brown heart disorder. Sporophytic self-incompatibility is common
• Major Insect-Pests: Aphids, Painted Bug, Mustard Sawfly → Spray Malathion 50 EC @ 1 ml/L (2–3 sprays at 10-day intervals)

Varieties:

• Plains: Pusa Chetki, Pusa Desi, Pusa Rashmi, Pusa Himani, Arka Nishant, Japanese White
• Hills: White Icicle, Scarlet Globe, Rapid Red White-Tipped
• Hybrids:
  • Pusa Himani = Radish Black × Japanese White
  • Pusa Rashmi = Green Type × Desi Type
  • Pusa Safed = White-5X × Japanese White
• Special Varieties:
  • Arka Nishant – Resistant to white rust, bolting, pithiness, forking
  • Pusa Himani – Only variety grown throughout the year

Carrot (Daucus carota)

• Family: Umbelliferae
• Origin: Afghanistan
• Chromosome No.: 2n = 18
• Photoperiodism: Biennial, long-day plant
• Temperature: Ideal at 15–20°C
• Seed Rate: 4 kg/ha
• Thinning: Hills: 10 cm. Plains: 5 cm
• Yield: 25–30 t/ha (100–120 days)

Nutrition: Rich in β-carotene. Black carrot used in Kangi beverage

Types:

• Tropical (Asiatic): Annual, high yield, low carotene, anthocyanin-rich
• Temperate (European): Biennial, orange, rich in carotene, better core

Disorders:

• Forking: Due to undecomposed FYM & hard soil
• Splitting: Sudden moisture after drought

Varieties:

• Plains: Pusa Kesar, Pusa Meghali (Highest vitamin A), Half Long Danvers
• Hills: Ooty-1, Early Nantes, New Korda, Zeno (Nilgiris)
• European Types: Chantenay (Processing), Nantes Half Long
• Hybrids:
  • Imperator = Nantes × Chantenay
  • Pusa Meghali = Pusa Kesar × Nantes
  • Pusa Yamdagni = EC-9981 × Nantes

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris)

• Family: Chenopodiaceae
• Origin: Mediterranean/Europe
• Chromosome No.: 2n = 18
• Growth Habit: Biennial
• Temperature: Best at 20–22°C
• Seed Rate: Each seed ball has ~50 seeds
• Seed Depth: 1.5–2 cm, Spacing: 6–7 cm
• Thinning: After 20 days
• Yield: 20–25 t/ha (120 days)
• Inflorescence: Spike
• Harvest: At 3.5 cm root diameter

Root Color Pigments: Betacyanins (Red-Violet). Betaxanthins (Yellow)

• Nutrition: Rich in Folic acid – essential during pregnancy. No Indian variety officially released
• Varieties: Detroit Dark Red, Crimson Globe, Red Ball, Ooty-1, Early Wonder, Crosby Egyptian

Turnip (Brassica rapa)

• Family: Cruciferae
• Origin: Indo-China
• Chromosome No.: 2n = 20
• Inflorescence: Terminal Raceme
• Climate: Hardy cool-season crop (10–15°C)
• Propagation: By seed
• Yield: ~400 q/ha
• Harvest: At 6–10 cm diameter
• Thinning: After 2 weeks

Reproduction: Strong sporophytic self-incompatibility. NaCl + CO₂ treatment overcomes SI

Varieties:

• Asiatic: Pusa Kanchan, Pusa Swati, Punjab Safed
• European: Pusa Swarnima, Pusa Chandrima, Golden Ball, Purple Top White Globe, Snowball

High Production States: Bihar, Punjab, HP, Tamil Nadu, Haryana

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

• Family: Convolvulaceae
• Growth Habit: Perennial vine
• Soil pH: 5.6 – 6.6
• Growing Season: June–July, Sept.
• Planting Material: 10–15 cm terminal cuttings (3 months old, 2–3 nodes)
• Spacing: 20 cm (80,000 cuttings/ha)
• Earthing up: 25th, 50th, 75th day
• Yield: 20–25 t/ha in 110–120 days

Varieties: CO 3, Sree Nandini, Sree Vardhini, Kiran, Sree Bhadra, Sree Rethna, Gouri, Sanka