Pusa Purple Broccoli-1: A high-yielding firstanthocyanin-rich subtropical heading broccoli

Abstract

Pusa Purple Broccoli-1, developed by ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, is India's first shortduration, subtropical purple-heading broccoli variety, offering a breakthrough for the National Capital Region. This innovative variety is rich in powerful antioxidants, containing 30.31 mg/100g fresh weight of anthocyanins alongside essential health-beneficial glucoraphanin to combat non-communicable diseases.
Unlike the traditional varieties, Pusa Purple Broccoli-1 matures in just 75–85 days after transplanting. This allows it to set seeds abundantly in the North Indian plains and expands market availability from December through March. Yielding compact, intense purple heads with an average weight of 570g, it offers a high potential marketable yield of 20.9 t/ha. Its versatile, mediumstature
profile allows high-density planting and presents excellent prospects for premium diversified uses like health-secure sprouts, attractive microgreens, and fresh edible heads.