Berseem (for Delhi as a kind): (CVRC-Notification no. 5505 dated 20th October 1971)
Berseem: (CVRC- Notification no. 361(E) dated 30th June 1973)
Pusa Giant: It is an auto-tetraploid variety developed by IARI, New Delhi from the diploid variety C-10. It has dark green broader and thicker leaves than those of diploids. Tetra and penta foliate leaves are also quite frequent in this variety. It has bigger flowers and inflorescences as compared to diploids. It has nearly twice as many inflorescences per plant as in diploids. It yields about 10–15% more than Mescavi. It has got greater winter hardiness and frost resistance. (CVRC- Notification no. 440 dated 21st August 1975).
Mescavi: The variety is an introduction from Egypt followed by selection at HAU, Hisar. It is recommended for cultivation in all berseem growing regions of India especially Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Plants are shrubby and erect growing up to a height of 45–75 cm, with profuse tillers. Stem is succulent which gives off branches terminating in 2 or 3 leaves. Leaves are rounded at the tip, bright green, slightly hairy on the upper surface. Flower heads are round and white. Seeds are small (2.67 g/1000 seeds), oval and yellow to brown in colour. It yields about 65 t/ha green fodder in 4–6 cuttings. (CVRC- Notification no. 440 dated 21st August 1975).
Berseem Ludhiana-1 (BL-1): The variety has been bred through selection by PAU, Ludhiana from Mescavi. It is adapted to Punjab situation and released in 1978. it is quick growing diploid variety that produces more tillers than Mescavi. Its first cutting is ready about a week earlier than that of Mescavi. It continues to supply green fodder up to the end of May about 2 weeks late than Mescavi. It yields 80–110 t/ha green fodder. (CVRCNotification no. 13 dated 19th December 1978).
Jawahar Berseem-1 (JB-1): The variety has been developed from single plant selection from Chindwara followed by pedigree method of selection at JNKVV, Jabalpur. It is recommended for cultivation in all berseem growing areas of the country especially central and north western zones. The average plant height is 47 cm; average number of branches is 5.2 and leaf: stem ratio is 1.61. Fully developed inflorescence is cylindrical and elongated in shape. Its productivity is 70–75 t/ha green fodder and 12–15 t/ha dry fodder. (CVRCNotification no. 41 dated 12th November 1981).
Wardan: The variety has been evolved through selection by IGFRI, Jhansi from the large genetically diverse polyploid material and released in 1981. The plant habit is erect, flower colour is white, days to 50% flowering is 150–165 days, days to maturity in 175– 190 days, head colour is brown which possess 80–90 pale yellow coloured seeds. It provides green fodder yield 70–75 t/ha and dry fodder 12–15 t/ha. This is a diploid variety of Berseem. Its growth is slow in cold temperatures and fast in rising temperatures at the end of winter season. (CVRC- Notification no. 19(E) dated 14th January 1982).
BL-10: The variety has been bred through selection from irradiated material of Mescavi by PAU, Ludhiana and released in 1983. (CVRC- Notification no. 832(E) dated 18th November 1985).
BL-22: The variety has been developed by PAU, Ludhiana from irradiated material of variety Mescavi followed by pedigree selection. This variety has been released for temperate and north west zone. The green fodder production is 70 t/ha and it supplies green fodder for longer duration (up to the end of June). (CVRC- Notification no. 10(E) dated 1st January 1988).
BL-2: The variety has been released in 1989 and developed by PAU, Ludhiana by multi-line selection method. (CVRC- Notification no. 599(E) dated 31st July 1989).
UPB-10: The variety has been developed by developing composite of 5 lines followed by selection at GBPUA&T, Pantnagar. It has prolific crown branching with succulent thick stem. The basal shoots and side branches develop freely after cutting. It matures in 200–210 days. The seed size is medium bold and colour is bright yellow and green fodder yield is 70–75 t/ha. (CVRC- Notification no. 615(E) dated 17th August 1993).
Bundel Berseem-2 (JHB-146): The variety has been bred through mass selection by IGFRI, Jhansi from indigenous material no. 25776 followed by pedigree selection. This variety flowers in 150–160 days and matures in 180–190 day. The plant height ranges from 55–65 cm under optimal cutting regime. It has dark green leaves. The crop is fairly tolerant to acidic conditions and is fertilizer responsive. The green fodder yield is 90–100 t/ha. It is released for cultivation in central zone. (CVRC- Notification no. 647(E) dated 9th September 1997).
Bundel Berseem-3: The variety has been bred through colchiploidy followed by recurrent single plant selection followed with mass selection of the parent material JHB- 83-3, 1-90-P3-g-bl-hs-sb. The plants are erect with white flowers achieving 50% flowering in 155–170 days and maturity in 175–185 days. The variety is resistant to moderately resistant to stem rot and root rot diseases and have mean green fodder yield of 50–55 t/ha and dry fodder 8–10 t/ha. It in released for north east zone, Bihar Orissa, WB and eastern UP.(CVRC- Notification no. 92(E) dated 2nd February 2001).
JB-5: The variety has been developed through recurrent selection from the colchicine treated seed material by JNKVV, Jabalpur. The variety has been recommended for cultivation in irrigated areas of MP, part of UP, Maharashtra, Gujrat and Chattisgarh. The variety matures in 185-195 days and the average green fodder yield is 4.8 t/ha. (CVRC- Notification no. 1566 (E) 5th November 2005).
Hisar Berseem-1 (HFB-600): The variety has been developed through selection from germplasm lines no. 6 (307011, 11-OP) by CCSHAU, Hisar. It is different from Mescavi in form of head shape and has medium maturity of 205–210 days. It yields 75 t/ha green fodder and suitable for late sowing in hill areas of the country. (CVRC- Notification no. 599(E) dated 25th April 2006).
BL-180: The variety has been developed by PAU, Ludhiana by irradiation of variety BL 10 followed by selection and released in 2006. The variety has been released for cultivation in Punjab, Haryana, Uttranchal, J&K and Himachal Pradesh under irrigated conditions. The variety matures in 260–265 days and the average yield under normal conditions is 60–65 t/ha. It is capable of supplying green fodder late in the season. (CVRCNotification no. 599(E) dated 25th April 2006).
BL-180: The variety was developed by PAU, Ludhiana in 2005 by selection from irradiated material of BL 10. This variety is suitable under irrigated condition and matures in 260 265 days in north western zone and north hill zone. Average yield is 60–65 t/ha of green fodder and 3–4 t/ha of seed yield in north western zone. (CVRC- Notification no. 1178(E) dated 20th July 2007).
