ICAR
ITM-ABI
Institute Technology Management – Agribusiness Incubation Unit

Spice varieties

Improved spice varieties

Thirty Seven improved varieties of spices crops have been released.

Varieties released

Crop Varieties released

Black pepper

Sreekara, Subhakara, Panchami, Pournami, PLD-2, IISR Thevam, IISR Girimunda, IISR Malabar Excel, IISR Sakthi, Arka Coorg Excel

Cardamom

Appangala - 1, IISR Avinash, IISR Vijetha, Appangala-2, IISR Manushree

Turmeric

Suguna, Suvarna, Sudarsana, IISR Prabha, IISR Prathiba, IISR Kedaram, IISR Alleppey Supreme, IISR Pragati

Ginger

IISR Varada, IISR Mahima, IISR Rejatha, IISR Vajra

Cinnamon

IISR Navashree IISR Nithyashree

Nutmeg

IISR Viswashree, IISR Keralashree

Significant characteristics of the varieties of spice crops identified, recommended for release and popularized

Black pepper
Sl. No Variety/ Year of release Pedigree/Parentage Av. yield kg ha-1 (dry) Salient features Recommended State/ Region

1

Sreekara

1990

Clonal selection from Karimunda

2677

High quality variety with piperine 5.1%, oleoresin 13%, essential oil 7% and dry recovery 35.0%. Adaptable to various climatic conditions in all the pepper growing tracts.

Kerala, South Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

2

Subhakara

1990

Clonal selection from Karimunda

2352

High quality variety with piperine 3.4%, oleoresin 12.4%, essential oil 6% and dry recovery 35.0%. Suitable for intercropping and high elevations and medium maturing type

Kerala, South Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

3

PLD –2

1996

Clonal selection from Kottanadan

2475

Late maturity high quality cultivar contains piperine 3.0%, oleoresin 15.45%, and essential oil 4.8%. Suitable for plains and higher elevations.

Kerala

4

Panchami

2001

Clonal selection from Aimpiriyan

2828

A high yielding variety with excellent fruit set. Spike twisted in appearance due to high fruit set. Oleoresin content is high. Piperine 4.7%, oleoresin 12.5%, essential oil 3.4% and dry recovery 34.0%.

Kerala and Southern Karnataka

5

Pournami

2001

Clonal selection from germplasm

2333

Tolerant to root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita). A moderately high yielding vine with high oleoresin content. Shade tolerant & suitable for intercropping with arecanuts and banana. Piperine 5.3 %, oleoresin 11.18 %, essential oil 3.5 % and dry recovery 35.3%

Kerala and Southern Karnataka

6

IISR Shakthi

2004

Open pollinated progeny of Perambramundi

2352

Moderately resistant to Phytophthora foot rot. Piperine content 5.6%, oleoresin 10.6%, essential oil 1.5% and dry recovery 34.0%

Kerala and Karnataka

7

IISR Thevam

2004

Clonal selection from germplasm of Thevanmundi

2481

Field tolerant to Phytophthora foot rot. Piperine 1.6%, oleoresin 8.15%, essential oil 3.1% and dry recovery 32.5%. Suitable to high altitude areas, coffee & tea estates of South India

Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

8

IISR Girimunda

2004

Hybrid of Narayakodii X Neelamundi

2880

High yielding and better stability. Medium maturing type. Suited to high altitude areas, coffee & tea estates. Piperine 2.2%, oleoresin 9.65%, essential oil 3.4% and dry recovery 32.0%

Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

9

IISR Malabar Excel 2004

Hybrid of Cholamundi X Panniyur 1

1440

High quality variety with piperine 5.1%, oleoresin 13%, essential oil 7% and dry recovery 35.0%. Suitable for higher elevation, plains and coffee & tea estates

Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

10

Arka Coorg Excel

2012

Seedling selection

3267

Bold seeded, long spiked, high yielding pepper variety

Kodagu district or similar climatic areas

11

IISR Chandra

 

Hybrid

2788

Vigorous, regular bearer, Early maturing hybrid with high fruit set and long spike

Suitable for all Pepper growing regions

Cardamom
Sl. No Variety/ Year of release Pedigree/Parentage & Plant type Av. yield kg ha1 (dry) Salient features Recommended State/Region

1

Appangala 1/ IISR Suvasini

1993

Selection from open pollinated progeny of CL-37

745

(potential yield 1322)

High quality variety and produces 89% bold (7.2 mm and above) capsules. Suitable for high production technology. Responds well for nutritional inputs. Contains 8.7% essential oil, 42.0% 1, 8 cineole, 37.0% α-terpinyl acetate and 22.0% dry recovery. Tolerant to thrips & shoot borer

All cardamom growing tracts of Karnataka

2

IISR Avinash

1999

Selection from open pollinated progeny of Appangala 1

847 (potential yield 1483)

High yielder, tolerant to rhizome rot, suitable for planting in valleys. Has extended flowering period. Yields well at 2.5 x 2 m spacing. High essential oil (6.7%), 30.4% 1,8 cineole and 34.6% α terpinyl acetate content

Kodagu, Hassan and Chikka-magaluru in Karnataka and Wayanad in Kerala

3

IISR Vijetha (NKE 12)

2001

Clonal selection from a field resistant katteplant, a Malabar type

643 (potential yield 979)

Virus resistant selection with 77.0% bold capsules. Oil 7.9%, 1, 8 cineole 42.0%, α-terpinyl acetate 23.4%, dry recovery 22.0%. Recommended for moderate rainfall areas with moderate to high shaded and mosaic infected areas, field tolerant to thrips and borer as well as mosaic

Karnataka and Wayanad in Kerala

4

Appangala-2

2014

Hybrid of Appangala 1 × NKE 19

927.3 kg dry capsules ha-1

First Katte resistant hybrid. Malabar type, has high oil and high α-terpinyl acetate. Contains 6.3% essential oil, 40.3% α-terpinyl acetate and 21.10% dry recovery

Kodagu, Karnataka and Wayanad, Kerala

5

IISR Manushree

2022

Selection from germplasm

550 kg dry capsules/ha under irrigated conditions and 360 kg dry capsules/ha under moisture stress conditions

Malabar type tolerant to drought. Essential oil 8.74 % (irrigated conditions) and 8.84 % (moisture stress conditions) and 50 % of the capsules are bold (having > 8 mm). Drought susceptibility index is 0.89 and drought tolerance efficiency is 70.71%. No significant changes in composition of α-terpinyl acetate and 1,8 cineole under irrigated and moisture stress conditions.

Kerala, and Karnataka

6

IISR Kaveri

2022

Selection from germplasm

482 Kg dry capsules/ha under irrigated conditions and 308 kg dry capsules/ha under moisture stress conditions

Malabar type, compact flowering variety with 80 % of the capsules are > 7 mm, relatively tolerant to moisture stress. High essential oil 9.08 % (irrigated conditions), 9.51 % (moisture stress conditions) content

Karnataka

Ginger
Sl. No Variety/Year of release Pedigree/Parentage Av. yield kg ha-1 (fresh) Salient features Recommended State/Region

1

IISR Varada

1995

Clonal selection

22.6

Good quality, high yielding variety with plumpy rhizomes having flattened fingers and medium sized reddish brown scales. Contains essential oil 1.70%, oleoresin 6.7%, dry recovery 19.5%, fibre content 3.29-4.5% (low fibre). Dry ginger less prone to storage insect damage.

All ginger growing regions

2

IISR Mahima

1995

Selection from germplasm

23.2

High yielder, plumpy extra bold rhizomes, resistant to M. incognita and M. javanica pathotype 1. Contains essential oil 1.72%, oleoresin 4.5%, dry recovery 23.0%, fibre content 3.26%.

All over Kerala

3

IISR Rejatha

2004

Selection from germplasm

22.4

High yielder, plumpy and bold rhizomes. Contains essential oil 2.36%, oleoresin 6.3%, dry recovery 23.0%, fibre content 4%. Relatively free from diseases

Kerala and Karnataka

4

IISR Vajra

2020

Developed through germplasm selection

11.77

Desirable flavor owing to its high zingiberene content (29.83%). Contains essential oil 2.45%, oleoresin 7.26%, dry recovery 20.7%, fibre content 5.67%

Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha and West Bengal

5

IISR Surasa

 

Selection (Participatory breeding)

24.33

Bold and plumpy rhizomes with slight whitish yellow rhizome core. Dry recovery (21.97%) if used for dry ginger. High mean oleoresin of 4.45% with a potential of 6.27% and high Zingiberene content (26.18%).

Kerala

Turmeric
Sl. No Variety/Year of release Pedigree/Parentage Av. yield t ha-1 (fresh) Salient features Recommended State/Region

1

Suguna

1991

Selection from germplasm collected from Assam

29.3

Short duration type (190 days), curcumin 4.9%, oleoresin 13.5%, essential oil 6.0% and dry recovery 20.4%, field tolerant to rhizome rot.

Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala

2

Sudar-shana

1991

Selection from germplasm collected from Singhat, Manipur

28.8

Early maturing (190 days), field tolerant to rhizome rot. Curcumin 4.9%, oleoresin 13.5%, essential oil 6.0% and dry recovery 20.4%

Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala

3

Suvarna

1991

Selection from germplasm collected from Assam

17.4

Bright orange coloured rhizome with slender fingers. Maturity 200 days, field tolerant to rhizome rot, leaf blotch, leafspot, rhizome scale and shoot borer. Curcumin 4.3%, oleoresin 13.5%, essential oil 7.0% and dry recovery 20.0%.

Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

4

IISR Prabha

1996

Open pollinated progeny selection

28.8

High yielding and high quality variety, curcumin content 6.5%, oleoresin 15.0%, essential oil 6.5% and dry recovery 19.5%, crop duration 205 days.

Kerala and Tamil Nadu

5

IISR Prathiba

1996

Open pollinated progeny selection

37.5

High yielding and high quality line, 6.2% curcumin content with high yield, 16.2% oleoresin, 6.2% essential oil, 18.5% dry recovery, crop duration 225 days.

Kerala, Tamil Nadu and other states

6

IISR Alleppey Supreme 2004

Clonal selection from Alleppey turmeric

35.4

5.58 (dry)

Shows tolerance to leaf blotch disease. Rhizomes contain 5.55% curcumin, 16.0% oleoresin, 19.0% dry recovery, crop duration 210 days

Kerala (rainfed) Maharashtra, Karnataka and North Bengal (irrigated)

7

IISR Kedaram

2004

Clonal selection from germplasm

34.5

5.28 (dry)

Tolerant to leaf blotch disease, Rhizomes contain 5.5% curcumin, 13.6% oleoresin, maturity 210 days and 18.9% driage.

Kerala (rainfed) Maharashtra, Karnataka and North Bengal (irrigated)

8

IISR Pragati

2016

Clonal selection from germplasm collections

33.19

High yield potential, short duration nature, moderately tolerant to root-knot nematodes and curcumin content of 5.02%, oleoresin 15.29%,

essential oil 6.3%

Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana

9

IISR Surya

2025

Clonal selection from germplasm collections

41.00

The Curcumin content ranges from 2-3% on par with other light-coloured turmeric varieties. Rich in major and minor compounds viz. zingiberene (21.07%), ß-sesquiphellandrene (14.13%), 1,8-cineole (3.42%) and a-humelene(6.30%) having unique flavour and curucminoids profile (DMC > BDMC > CUR)

 

 

Cinnamon
Sl. No Variety/Year of release Pedigree/Parentage Average yield kg bark ha-1 Salient features Recommended State/Region

1

IISR Navasree

1995

Seedling selection from Sri Lankan collection

200 kg dry quills ha-1

Higher shoot regeneration. Bark oil 2.7%, leaf oil 2.8%, bark oleoresin 8.0%, bark recovery 40.6%, cinnamaldehyde in bark oil73%,

cinnamaldehyde in leaf oil 15%, eugenol in bark oil 6.0%, eugenol in leaf oil 62%

All cinnamon growing areas of India

2

IISR Nithya-sree

1995

Clonal selection

200 kg dry quills ha-1

Higher cinnamaldehyde and oleoresin. High quality quills with bark oil 2.7%, leaf oil 3.0%, bark oleoresin 10.0%, bark recovery 30.7%, cinnamaldehyde in bark oil 58%, cinnamaldehyde in leaf oil 14%, eugenol in bark oil 5.0%, eugenol in leaf oil 78%

All cinnamon growing areas of India

Nutmeg
Sl. No. Variety/Year of release Pedigree/parentage Average yield (kg ha-1) Salient features Recommended State/Region

1

IISR Vishwa-shree

2002

Clonal selection from elite trees (Mannoor, Calicut)

1000 fruits tree-1

Bushy, compact canopy with high quality and low incidence of fruit rot. Nut oil 7.14%, mace oil 7.13%, nut recovery 70%, mace recovery 35%, oleoresin in nut 2.48%, oleoresin in mace 13.8%, butter in nut 30.9%, myristicin in nut oil 12.48%, myristicin in mace oil 22.0 %, elemicin in nut oil 13.65%, elemicin in mace oil 20.8%

All nutmeg growing areas of Kerala

2

IISR Kerala-shree

2012

Seedling selection from Burliar. The first variety developed by Farmer’s Participatory Breeding

2000 fruits tree-1

High yield, high quality and extra bold fruit mace and nut. Nut oil 5.9%, mace oil 7.5%, nut recovery 70%, mace recovery 35%, oleoresin in nut 9.1%, butter in nut 24.9%, myristicin in nut oil 1.6%, myristicin in mace oil 9.4 %, elemicin in nut oil 1.4%, elemicin in mace oil 0.07%, α- pinene in nut oil 7.1%, α –pinene in mace oil 4.7%, sabinene in nut oil 35.4%, sabinene in mace oil 29.4%

All nutmeg growing areas of India

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