GNG 1581 (Gangaur, IC 553480) is a desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) variety developed by Agricultural Research Station, Rajasthan Agricultural University, Sriganganagar (Rajasthan) and released by the Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Variety vide Notification No.S.O.72(E) dated 10.01.2008. GNG 1581 (Gangaur) was identified and recommended for normal sown irrigated conditions on the basis of better tolerance against wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri), Ascochyta blight, root rot, Heliothis and significant yield advantage (15.4%) over best check GNG 469 for North West Plain Zone of India comprising Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Uttarakhand, western Utter Pradesh and North West and Central parts of Rajasthan.
This variety is a result of hybridization between GPF-2 (GL-79 X H-75-35) X H-82-2 (F-61 X L 550) developed through pedigree method of selection. The genotype was tested in multilocation coordinated varietal trials conducted by All India Coordinated Research Project on Chickpea during Rabi 2004–05 to 2006–07. Out of 26 locations over years in NWPZ of India, the variety GNG 1581 showed better grain yield performance at 21 locations and included in the top non-significant group (7/8 in IVT, 5/9 in AVT-1 and 9/9 in AVT-2). The average grain yield of GNG-1581 recorded was 2368 kg/ha at 26 locations over three years of testing. On the basis of overall mean, this variety showed 15.4, 17.9, 18.7 and 32.0 percent grain yield superiority over checks, GNG 469, CSG 8962, DCP 92-3 and BG 256, respectively. In multilocation coordinated wilt screening trials in sick plot conducted during 2004–05 to 2006–07, this variety showed less incidence (34.3%) in comparison to susceptible check JG 62 (84.7%). It matures in about 151 days. The average grain size of Gangaur is 16 g/100 seeds with light yellowish seed colour. The plant type is semi-erect of medium height with profuse secondary and tertiary branches. This variety also posseses a good level of protein content (21.88) in the grains.
