CIM-Sunahari: High-yielding, yellow (pili) satawar variety of (Asparagus adscendens Roxb.)

Abstract

Yellow satawar (family: Asparagaceae) is a very important medicinal plant, which is used in Ayurveda and traditional medicine system used as a reproductive tonic. It is also used treating gonorrhea, piles, diabetes, increasing lactation, antihelminthic, rheumatism, cough, diarrhea, dysentery, gastric troubles and headache etc. The major active constituents of Asparagus are steroidal saponin (shatavarin) that is present in the roots. Other active compounds are quercetin, rutin, vitamin A, B1, B2, C, E, Mg, P, Ca, Fe and folic acid. Dry roots of pili satawar with good quality are in high demand in national/international market due to it high prices (250/kg). The global production of pili satawar is around 200 tonns/year in which 150 tonne exported to European countries including USA by the China, India and Nepal. A new variety (CIM Sunahari) of Asparagus has been developed at CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow through half sib family selection) approach for high yield of roots with desirable quality of saponin. The variety CIM Sunahari consistently showed higher root yield in field trials with an average dry root yield of 97.55 q/ha and 11.027% saponins. The newly developed variety CIM Sunahari is able to produce 40 % more root yield than the check. The cultivation of this new variety is likely to boost societal economic impact on farmers societies of Uttrakhand and northern.