11th November 2009.The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR has released new varieties of black pepper for cultivation. These include IISR Thevam, IISR Malabar Excel, IISR Girimunda and IISR Sakthi. Of them, IISR Thevam is specially suited for high altitude regions of South India and is field-tolerant to foot rot disease. It is ideal as an intercrop in coffee and tea plantations under rain-fed cultivation.
IISR Malabar Excel and IISR Sakthi can be raised in all black pepper-growing tracts, while IISR Girimunda is a high-yielding hybrid suited for higher elevations. The institute has also released two ginger varieties, IISR Rejatha and IISR Mahima, for cultivation in Kerala and two high-yielding turmeric varieties, IISR Kedaram and IISR Alleppey, which are recommended for all turmeric growing tracts of the country. These apart, the Cardamom Research Institute at Appanagla in Karnataka has developed two cardamom varieties that can be grown in Karnataka and Wayanad district of Kerala.
