High yielding and stable plant of Cymbopogon flexuosus called ‘Chirharit’

Abstract

The present invention is related to the development of a new and chromosomally distinct vegetatively propagated frost resisted plant of Cymbopogon flexuosus by genetic selection in open pollinated seed progeny of high yielding variety "Cauvery'. The selected plant with stay-green habit withstands prolonged frosting in chilling winter and capable of giving an additional harvest during winter, which is not observed so far in normal varieties.

We claim:  
     
       1. A new and distinct cultivar of  Cymbopogon flexuosus,  named ‘Chirharit’, as herein shown and described, having the following combination of plant traits: 
       (a) Said plant is a tetraploid variant (chromosomal mutant) of the normal diploid lemongrass variety ‘Cauvery’ and having distinct morphology,  
       (b) Being highly resistant to frost and adapted to both favorable as well as unfavorable environments of regular frosting situations,  
       (c) Producing high biomass,  
       (d) Having high yield of essential oil,  
       (e) Capable of growing in all seasons and producing the same yield,  
       (f) Producing essential oil with high citral pungency conforming to the standard citral concentration much useful in pharmaceutical and perfumery industries, and  
       (g) Producing essential oil containing about 80% or more of citral.