Hybrid grapes with increased juice
capacity developed at Pune’s ARI
W
inters this year went on longer in some parts of the
country, and now summer is here. Grapes are planted
in the late winter to early spring months. The plants start
to grow in spring and continue to grow throughout the
summer season.
Scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), an
autonomous institute of Pune’s Department of Science and
Technology (DST) Institute, have developed a hybrid variety
of grapes with increased juice production capacity.
They claim that it is resilient to fungal diseases and high-
yielding and has outstanding juice quality. It is also appropriate
for the preparation of juice, raisins, jam and red wine, and
farmers are heartily embracing the variety.
The hybrid variety ARI-516 has been developed by inter-
breeding of two species from the same genus: Catawba
variety of Vitis labrusca and Beauty seedless variety of Vitis
vinifera.
The work has been
published in the
Proceedings of
the International
Symposium on Grape
Production and
Processing which was a
result of the partnership
between Maharashtra
Association for the
Cultivation of Science
(MACS) and ARI and
can benefi t farmers, the
processing industry and consumers.
Dr Sujata Tetali, scientist, genetics and plant breeding
group, MACS-ARI, has developed this inter-specifi c variety
by working on necessary properties. The fungal resistance
of ARI-516 has been derived from Catawba, which is an
American grape variety.
Mirakle: A Vitamin C-rich immunity
booster drink
C
oronavirus infection is accelerating its spread in India
and the world. ABT has launched Mirakle, a drink fi lled
with 1,000 mg of Vitamin C. The mango-fl avoured drink
is a preventive supplement to boost one’s immunity. It is
available for `30 in retail stores all over Tamil Nadu and
on Amazon.in. The company is planning retail distribution
across the country.
According to Pollachi Manickam Mahalingam, Chairman, ABT
Ltd, “Given the viral infections that are being discovered
every day, coupled with the current lifestyle, there is a dire
need to stress on building and improving one’s immunity.”
This drink contains liposomes, which are four times more
effective than an average IV drip, and besides, are 20 times
more effective than oral delivery Vitamin-C methods, he
added.
“The product is now available with sugar and we expect to
launch a sugar-free version as well, in the next two weeks.
We hope to ramp up production depending on the market
demand and then introduce a few other variations to boost
immunity and health,” added Mahalingam.
Drink Asia
9
March-April 2020