Fennel variety · Released variety
PF-35
Also known as PF-35, Pilwai Fennel-35
Gujarat Agricultural University, Gujarat (selection from Pilwai local germplasm) · Gujarat Agricultural University · 1973
Tall, spreading variety selected from traditional Pilwai local germplasm. Medium-sized hairless green seeds with good essential oil content. Tolerant to common foliar diseases. Well-suited to Gujarat and Rajasthan's rabi season.
Key facts
| Type | Released variety |
|---|---|
| Origin | Gujarat Agricultural University, Gujarat (selection from Pilwai local germplasm) |
| Breeder / source | Gujarat Agricultural University |
| Year released | 1973 |
| Parentage | Selection from Pilwai local germplasm |
| Yield | 1289 kg/ha (alternatively reported as 13 quintals/ha) |
| Tolerance | Sugary disease, leaf-spot, leaf-blight |
| Distinctive features | Tall, spreading plants, medium-sized hairless green seeds, 1.9% essential oil, matures 215–225 days |
| Grown in | Gujarat, Rajasthan |
| Also known as | PF-35, Pilwai Fennel-35 |
Figures are indicative, compiled from public agricultural sources (ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, the Spices Board and the National Innovation Foundation) and vary with soil, season and management. Confirm with your local package of practices.
PF-35 in detail
A tall, spreading fennel from Gujarat's rabi belt, selected in the 1970s for its medium hairless green seeds and steady yields.
Origin & story
Gujarat Agricultural University selected PF-35 from Pilwai local germplasm in 1973. Pilwai refers to a traditional fennel-growing locality in Gujarat. The selection focused on the spreading plant habit and seed quality of the local population. No breeder names are documented for this institutional selection. PF-35 later served as base material for further breeding: TNAU's Co-1 fennel was developed through reselection from PF-35.
How it grows
A rabi-season variety suited to Gujarat and Rajasthan, typically sown in October to November. Plants are tall and spreading, reaching maturity in 215-225 days. Average yield is around 1289 kg/ha. The variety is moderately tolerant to sugary disease, leaf spot, and leaf blight, common foliar diseases of the rabi season.
Quality & character
Medium-sized, hairless, green seeds. Essential oil content is about 1.9%, typical of Indian fennel and lower than European types.
Why it matters to buyers
PF-35 offers consistent seed quality and reliable yields for rabi cultivation in northwestern India. The medium seed size and hairless character suit it to direct market sale or processing into spice blends. Its moderate disease tolerance can reduce fungicide pressure. The relatively low oil content (around 1.9%) makes it better suited to dried fennel fruit for culinary use than to varieties chosen mainly for essential oil extraction.
About fennel
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) has been cultivated across India for centuries, particularly in the arid and semi-arid regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan, which together account for approximately 90-96% of national production. From traditional landraces to modern released varieties bred by ICAR institutes and state agricultural universities, Indian fennel…
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