New rootstock offers watermelon growers a shield against Gummy Stem Blight
Scientists at IIHR unveiled the Arka Shakti rootstock, which confers resistance to Gummy Stem Blight in watermelon. The breakthrough promises to safeguard yields for farmers in Karnataka and beyond.
The Concrete Rupture: Researchers demonstrated that grafting watermelon onto the Arka Shakti rootstock halted the spread of the fungal disease in field trials across Karnataka. The Underlying Tension & Institutional Friction: The discovery challenges entrenched seed‑company monopolies that have long dictated varietal choices, while agricultural extension services scramble to update recommendations. The Downstream Casualties & Tangible Outcome: Smallholders stand to recover lost income, yet the rollout may marginalise growers who lack access to certified grafting material, creating a new divide in rural prosperity.
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