High Yielding Paddy Variety: Pusa 1612
30 May 2026, New Delhi: Pusa 1612 is a high yielding paddy variety developed at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, through Marker-Assisted Backcross Breeding (MABB) and released in 2013 by CVRC. It is a near isogenic line (NIL) of Pusa Sugandh 5, developed by pyramiding two blast resistance genes — Piz5 and Pi54 — into the Pusa Sugandh 5 background. It is recommended for Basmati growing areas across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Western UP, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir.
Blast Resistance Through Gene Pyramiding
Pusa 1612 employs a dual-gene resistance strategy — Piz5 and Pi54 — which is more durable than single-gene resistance, as it requires multiple simultaneous mutations in the pathogen to overcome host resistance. The result is a variety significantly more resistant to blast disease than its parent, reducing the need for fungicide applications and providing farmers with greater crop security.
Yield and Grain Quality
Pusa 1612 achieves an impressive average yield of 5.5 to 6.0 t/ha and matures in 115 to 120 days from seed to seed. As a near isogenic line of Pusa Sugandh 5, it inherits all the premium grain quality attributes of its parent — extra-long aromatic grains with excellent cooking quality that are fragrant, separate, fluffy, and non-sticky.
Quick Reference Table
| Parameter | Details |
| Variety Name | Pusa 1612 |
| Type | MAS-derived NIL of Pusa Sugandh 5 (Blast Resistant) |
| Developed By | ICAR-IARI, New Delhi |
| Year of Release | 2013 (CVRC) |
| Yield | 5.5–6.0 t/ha |
| Days to Maturity | 115–120 days (seed to seed) |
| Blast Resistance Genes | Piz5, Pi54 (Pyramided) |
| Grain Type | Extra-Long |
| Aroma | Strong Basmati |
| Recommended States | Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Western UP, Uttarakhand, J&K |
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