There are many pepper varieties cultivated around the world, each suited to different growing conditions. In India, over 75 varieties are grown including popular varieties like Karimunda. Improved hybrid varieties with higher yields have also been developed like Panniyur 1. In Indonesia, commonly grown varieties include Bulok Belantung and varieties released by research institutes show tolerance to diseases. In Malaysia, recommended varieties are Kuching and Semongok Emas, with Semongok Emas showing resistance to black berry disease and higher yields after 3 years.
There are many pepper varieties cultivated around the world, each suited to different growing conditions. In India, over 75 varieties are grown including popular varieties like Karimunda. Improved hybrid varieties with higher yields have also been developed like Panniyur 1. In Indonesia, commonly grown varieties include Bulok Belantung and varieties released by research institutes show tolerance to diseases. In Malaysia, recommended varieties are Kuching and Semongok Emas, with Semongok Emas showing resistance to black berry disease and higher yields after 3 years.
There are many pepper varieties cultivated around the world, each suited to different growing conditions. In India, over 75 varieties are grown including popular varieties like Karimunda. Improved hybrid varieties with higher yields have also been developed like Panniyur 1. In Indonesia, commonly grown varieties include Bulok Belantung and varieties released by research institutes show tolerance to diseases. In Malaysia, recommended varieties are Kuching and Semongok Emas, with Semongok Emas showing resistance to black berry disease and higher yields after 3 years.
There are many pepper varieties cultivated around the world, each suited to different growing conditions. In India, over 75 varieties are grown including popular varieties like Karimunda. Improved hybrid varieties with higher yields have also been developed like Panniyur 1. In Indonesia, commonly grown varieties include Bulok Belantung and varieties released by research institutes show tolerance to diseases. In Malaysia, recommended varieties are Kuching and Semongok Emas, with Semongok Emas showing resistance to black berry disease and higher yields after 3 years.
ach producing country has identified and developed for cultivation a number of pepper varieties most suitable for the conditions prevailing in their pepper growing regions. These varieties vary in growth characteristics and yield. Since these varieties are suited to the agro-climatic conditions existing in each region, it is not desirable to use varieties from other regions as planting material without confirming their suitability in appropriate trials and scientific studies.
3.1.
India In India over 75 varieties or cultivars of pepper are grown. Karimunda is the most popular among them. Other important varieties are Kottanadan, Narayakodi, Aimpiriyan, Neelamundi, Kuthiravally, Balancotta, and Kalluvally in Kerala State and Billimalligesara, Karimalligesara, Doddigya, Mottakare and Uddagare in Karnataka State. Table 13 shows the important characteristics of the traditionally cultivated pepper varieties in India.
Table 13. Important cultivars of pepper in India and their characteristics
Yield (kg per vine, fresh)
Oleoresin
Aimpirian
4-5
12-13
4-5
2.5-3.0
34-35
Arakkulam Munda
1.5-2
9.8
4.4
4.7
33
Balankotta
1-3
9.0
4.2
5.0
33
Karimunda
3-5
7-13.1
4.4-6.2
3.5
32-38
Kalluvally
1-2
8.4-11.8
2.5-5.4
3.0
35-38
Kottanadan
17.8
6.6
2.5
34-35
Kuthiravally
15.0
6.0
4.5
35
Narayakodi
1.5-2.0
11.0
5.4
4.0
36
Neelamundi
2.0
13.9
4.6
3.3
33-34
10.8
4.2
3.2
Name of cultivar
Vadakkan
Quality Attributes (%)
Essential Piperine oil
Dry Yield
Distinguishing features/ attributes
Vigorous plant, large leaves, cordate with even margin Large, ovate leaves with wavy margin Vigorous growing plant, very large elliptical, slightly drooping leaves and branches with even margins. Ovate small leaves with even margins. Dark green leaves and spikes. High spiking intensity. A hardy medium sized plant with round elliptical dark green leaves and even margins. A cultivar resembling Aimpirian, vigorous with broad leaves with even margin Long horse tail like spike, leaves ovate and medium large with even margin Field tolerant to Phytophthora foot rot. Moderately vigorous vine with small to medium sized leaves having wavy margin and twisted leaf blade. Berries have persistent stigma. Reported tolerant to Phytophthora foot rot. Vigorous vine having medium/large ovate leaves with even margin. A vigorous plant with very bold berries. Leaves large, ovate and thick. Bold stem and loose spikes. Triploid.
Source: Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode
Pepper Production Guide for Asia and The Pacific
19
3.
Pepper Varieties Some of these cultivars have been used for selection of high yielding varieties and for hybridization programmes. The first hybrid, Panniyur 1 (Fig.4), was produced at Panniyur Pepper Research Station in Kerala over three decades ago. This hybrid variety is very popular among pepper farmers in India. Panniyur-1 has big berries compared to berries from the Karimunda variety; Srikara and Subhakara (Fig.5) are selections from Karimunda. Kottanadan is good for extraction of oleoresin. At present 12 varieties have been released including Panniyur 1 for cultivation in India by different research stations located at Kozhikode, Panniyur and Palode, in Kerala. The names and characteristics of these high yielding varieties are shown in Table 14. Table 14 Improved pepper varieties in India and their characteristics Variety
Av. dry yield (kg/ha)
Driage (%)
Quality attributes (%)
Oleo- Essential Piperine resin Oil
Characteristics/ distinguishing features
Panniyur-1
1242
35.3
5.3
11.8
3.5
Panniyur-2
2570
35.7
6.6
10.9
3.4
Panniyur-3
1953
27.8
5.2
12.7
3.1
Panniyur-4
1227
34.7
4.4
9.2
2.1
Long spikes with large berries, early
bearing, performs well in the open. Suitable to all pepper growing areas, except under heavy shade. Shade tolerant. Suited to all pepper growing areas in Kerala. Late maturing, performs well in open conditions. Vigorous, suited to all areas in Kerala. Performs well under adverse conditions including partial shade, a stable yielder suited to all growing areas in Kerala.
Panniyur-5
1098
35.7
5.3
12.3
3.8
Suitable for all pepper growing areas,
shade tolerant and good for arecanut gardens, tolerant to nursery disease.
PLD-2
2475
3.3
15.5
3.5
Recommended for Trivandrum and
Quilon districts of Kerala.
Subhakara
2352
35.5
3.4
12.4
6.0
Suited to all growing areas in Kerala
and southern Karnataka. High quality.
Sreekara
2677
35.0
5.1
13.0
7.0
Adapts to varying conditions
in all pepper growing areas.
Panchami
2828
34.0
4.7
12.5
3.4
Suitable for all areas of Kerala, except
drought prone regions, as it is late maturing.
Pournami
2333
31.0
4.1
13.8
3.4
Tolerant to root-knot nematode. Suited
to all regions of Kerala.
Panniyur-6*
2127
33.0
4.9
8.3
1.3
For all regions of Kerala under open
cultivation as well as partial shade.
Panniyur-7*
1410
33.6
5.6
10.6
1.5
Vigorous, hardy and a regular bearer.
Recommended for Kerala under open conditions and partial shade.
Source: Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode
Pepper Production Guide for Asia and The Pacific
20
3.
Pepper Varieties Fig. 4 Spikes of Panniyur-1, worlds first hybrid pepper
Source: Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode
Fig. 5 Subhakara, a selection from a popular cultivar, Karimunda
Source: Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode
3.2.
Indonesia There are six cultivars commonly grown in Indonesia, namely Bulok Belantung, Jambi, Kerinci, Lampung Daun Lebar (LDL), Bangka (Muntok) and Lampung Daun Kecil (LDK). From the germplasm collection maintained, 7 high yielding Pepper Production Guide for Asia and The Pacific
21
3.
Pepper Varieties varieties were released for cultivation either in all the pepper growing areas in Indonesia or for specific locations in the country. The high yielding varieties showing some degree of tolerance to diseases and pests are shown in Table 15. Table 15 Tolerance to Diseases and Pest of High Yielding Varieties in Indonesia Variety Petaling 1 Petaling 2 Natar 1 Natar 2 Choenuk LDK Bengkayang
Degree of Tolerance Yellow Disease Stem Borer Tolerant Susceptible Susceptible Susceptible Susceptible Tolerant Tolerant Tolerant Susceptible Susceptible Susceptible Susceptible Medium Not known
Yield High High Low Medium Medium High High
Research Institute for Spices and Medicinal Crops, Bogor
Only Natar 1 is tolerant to Phytoththora foot rot and shoot borer. All other varieties are tolerant to either one disease or pest.
3.3
Malaysia The currently recommended cultivars in Malaysia are Kuching (Fig.6) and (Fig.7) and Semongok Emas (Fig.8).
Fig.6. Traditional system of pepper cultivation in Malaysia
(a) Clean weeding (b) Extensive planting of Kuching variety
Pepper Production Guide for Asia and The Pacific
22
3.
Pepper Varieties (c) Use of deadwood supports
The Research Division of the Department of Agriculture is developing new
varieties. The performance of several promising genotypes is currently being assessed under field conditions. Kuching is the most widely grown cultivar in the States of Sarawak and Johore. It has vigorous growth and is high yielding. However, it is susceptible to many diseases, particularly Phytophthora foot rot, black berry, Fusarium wilt and wrinkle leaf. (a) Kuching pepper plant
Fig. 7 (b) with flowers
Pepper Production Guide for Asia and The Pacific
23
3.
Pepper Varieties (c) with fruit spikes
Fig.8. Fruit spikes of Semongok emas
(a) Fully developed (b) Ready for harvest
Pepper Production Guide for Asia and The Pacific
24
3.
Pepper Varieties The Semongok emas was derived from breeding work at the Agriculture Research Centre, Semongok near Kuching and it was released in 1991. During the early years of crop production, there are no marked differences in terms of green berry yield between Semongok emas and Kuching, but the former is superior from the third year onwards. The canopy of Semongok emas is not as dense and thick as Kuching and this facilitates the easy picking of fruit spikes. Ripening of berries is also more even and this allows harvesting to be reduced to three rounds instead of five or six for Kuching. Semongok emas is also more resistant to black berry disease. However, the conversion ratio to white pepper is less than that of Kuching due to the thicker pericarp. Semongok perak cultivar (Fig.9) was derived from clonal selection of an introduced variety. Its leaves and fruit spikes are darker green than those of Kuching and Semongok emas. It was selected and released in 1988 as an additional cultivar due to its precocity and impressive yield in the first year. Its yields in the second and third year are quite similar to those of Kuching and Semongok emas, but declines in subsequent years. This variety is highly susceptible to infestation by pepper weevil that causes the fruiting branches as well as the terminal shoot to break off and hence decline in yield. This variety is still being planted by farmers as it is an early yielder and is not as susceptible as Kuching to Phytophthora foot rot and black berry diseases. Fig. 9. Semongok perak
(a) with fruit spikes
(b) with fruit spikes
(c) Mature plants
Semongok 1 is a selection of Panniyur 1 that was originally introduced from
India under the IPC Intervarietal Exchange Programme in 1993. It has longer spikes and bigger and broader leaves with longer internodes when compared to those of Kuching, Semongok emas and Semongok perak. However, the Pepper Production Guide for Asia and The Pacific
25
3.
Pepper Varieties number of spikes produced per plant is much lower than these three varieties and so the yield per plant is the lowest of the three. Semongok 1 (Fig.10) is extremely susceptible to pepper weevil infestation.
(a) Semongok-1 pepper vine
Fig.10 (b) with fruit spikes
(c) Semongok-1 fruit spike
Uthirancotta (Fig.11) was introduced from India in 1957. It is one of the
traditional varieties cultivated in the early years of pepper development in India. This variety is the female parent of the first hybrid pepper Panniyur-1 evolved in India. Fig. 11. (a) General view of Uthirancotta fruiting brances
(b) Close up
Pepper Production Guide for Asia and The Pacific
26
3.
Pepper Varieties Nyerigai (Fig.12) with Accession No. PN137 is another variety cultivated in Malaysia. Fig. 12 Nyerigai variety of pepper (a) Mature plant
(b) Close-up of lateral branches
Only one variety, Kuching is extensively cultivated in Malaysia. Mother plants of
this variety are selected based on health and vigorous growth, freedom from pests, diseases and nutritional disorders. Age of the mother plants should preferably be 1-2 years.
3.4
Sri Lanka Panniyur-1, originating in India and Kuching from Malaysia were field tested for the last 25 years in Sri Lanka and both varieties have been recommended for cultivation in many parts of the country. Several local selections collectively called PNMI are also used for cultivation in Sri Lanka.
