VRKALE-1: a tropical kale, first of its kind in the world

Abstract

Kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. virdis L.), a very versatile leafy vegetable, is typically a temperate cole crop and is an excellent source of health benefiting phyto-nutrients. A unique tropical kale genotype, first of its kind in the world, has been identified at ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Christened as ‘VRKALE-1’, it bolts and flowers under North Indian plain conditions (11.8–23.5 °C temperature) and doesn’t require vernalization (low temperature <7 °C for 6–8 weeks). This is a smooth leafed kale (subvar. plana Peterm.) having soft, young, tender and crispy leaves, measuring 22–30 cm in length, are ready for first picking in 23–28 days after transplanting and thereafter at weekly interval. A single plant produces 100–125 leaves in 9–12 pickings weighing 1.5–1.8 kg leaf biomass and the leaf yield potential is very high (55–60 t/ha). It bears flowering stalk after 110–120 days of transplanting, having racemose type of inflorescence. Like tropical cauliflower which evolved in India; it is expected that tropical kale will certainly play a pivotal role in expanding the adoption, popularity and genetic base of kale in future, particularly in hitherto unexploited areas.