Spices Genetic Research Germplasm Collection in Indian Institute of Spices Research - Calicut

INTRODUCTION

Germplasm collection and maintenance of Wild and Cultivated types of spices in Ex-situ conservation at IISR, Calicut Experimental farm, Peruvannamuzhi, Calicut - 673 012, Kerala

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Genetic Resource of black pepper

Black pepper (Piper nigrum. L) is perhaps the oldest spices known to the world. P.nigrum belongs to the family Piperaceae. The major center of diversity of the genus Piper is central and northern South America, where 60% of the species are distributed. More than 1000 species are included in the genus of which 110 are of Indian origin. In India the western ghats and the north east region are considered as two independent centers of diversity. There are seventeen Piper species (Table-1) reported from the western ghats.

Table 1. Piper species occurring in South India

Collection, conservation, cataloguing and evaluation of genetic resource of black pepper have been given high priority at the Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode. Systematic surveys of pepper growing areas and the forests of Western Ghats and North East regions were conducted to collect the available variability of cultivated and wild Piper. Presently, IISR is in a unique position of having the largest germplasm collections of black pepper in the world, consisting of about 2366 accessions (Table-2).

Table 2. Status of black pepper germplasm conserved at IISR, Kozhikode

Genetic resource of Cardamom

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum. Maton) belongs to the family Zingiberaceae, indigenous to South India and Sri Lanka where it grows wild or semi wild in the tropical rain forests Three types of varieties are distinguishable in cardamom based on the plant type.

The germplasm collections are maintained at the IISR (Cardamomom Rsearch Center, Appangala, Karnataka). Presently IISR is maintaining 435 accessions in the cardamom repository (Table-3).

Table.3 Status of cardamom germplasm conserved at CRC, Appangala

The germplasm accessions were characterized and catalogued by using a detailed descriptor prepared by IISR, Kozhikode and published by the International Plant Genetic Resource Institute (IPGRI), Rome.

Genetic Resources of Ginger

Ginger (Zingiber officinale.Rosc) is believed to be originated in the South East Asia where it has been used since ancient times by the Chinese and Hindus. India is currently the major producer and exporter of ginger. Ginger has been under cultivation since time immemorial. Good variation for yield and quality in cultivated ginger is encountered in North East India and Kerala. At present about 50 ginger cultivars, possessing various quality attributes and yield potential are prevalent in India. Besides ginger which is used as a spice as well as medicine the other economically important species of the genus are Z.zerumbet and Z. casumunnar. The germplasm conservatory of IISR holds 756 accessions including indigenous collections, exotic cultivars, improved lines, mutants, tetrploids and related taxa.

Genetic Resource of Turmeric

Commercial turmeric is the dried and processed rhizomes of Curcuma longa.L syn. C.domestica. Val. of the family Zingiberaceae, indigenous to southern Asia where it has been highly esteemed as a condiment, dyestuff and medicine since time immemorial. The genus Curcuma is mainly Indo Malayan in distribution and includes about 100 specis. In India, about 150 000 t of cured turmeric is produced annually, of which about 92% is consumed at home and the remaining 8% is exported. The main turmeric growing states are Andhra Pradesh, Maharastra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Collection and conservation of genetic resources of Curcuma are pursued actively by IISR, Kozhikode and NBPGR, Regional Station, Trichur, Kerala. At present IISR germplasm conservatory holds 936 accessions of curcuma, all maintained in large cement tubs to maintain and to control soil borne diseases.

Genetic Resource of Tree Spices

Nutmeg, clove and cinnamon are the three important tree spices grown in India All are introduced to India recently. Allspice is also a recent introduction, but is less popular.

Nutmeg: Nutmeg and mace are the two distinctively different spices ptroduced from the fruits of Myristica fragrans. Houtt, a native of the Moluccas Islands. It was introduced to India during the 18th century. At present the crop is very popular in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka States. The tree is dioecious in nature however; monoecious trees are reported to grow in the Solomon Islands. The nutmeg germplasm conservatory at IISR, Kozhikode consists of 484 accessions including 406 accessions of M. fragrans and 18 accessions of related taxa. IISR Viswasree is an improved variety released from the institute recently.

Clove: The clove (Syzygium aromaticum.L)Merr.& Parry, belongs to the family Myrtaceae, is believed to be indigenous to the Moluccas Islands. It was introduced to India during the 18th century by the British. In India, the cultivation of clove is largely restricted to South India . The dried, highly aromatic, unopened flower buds are used as spice and medicine. Many species of Syzygium occur in Kerala and in Western Ghats. The most important ones are S.arnottianum, S.cuminii, S.fruiticosum. However, none of these species are closely related to the cultivated one.

The germplasm conservatory of IISR, Kozhikode holds 233 accessions including two exotic collections, one each from Zanzibar and Sri Lanka

Cinnamon: Cinnamon, one of the oldest known spices, once used for embalming is now a valuable spice. Cinnamon represents the dried inner bark of Cinnamomum veerum Presl of the family Lauraceae. Cinnamon, though considered to be indigenous to Sri Lanka, occurs rarely in the Western Ghats and this region can be considered as the secondary center of origin of the species.

In addition to the true cinnamon (Cinnamomum veerum) the other economically important species are Chinese cassia (C.cassia Bercht. & Presel)), Indonesian cassia (C. burmannii C.G. and Th. Nees)Bl. Saigon cassia (C.loureiriiNees) and Indian cassia (C.tamala Nees). Among the economically important related taxa , C.camphora. is important as a source of camphor.

The tree spices germplasm conservatory at IISR, Kozhikode has 408 accessions of C. veerum and 72 accessions of related taxa.

In cinnamon nine elite lines are identified based on quality analysis and yield, out of which two lines have been released as 'Navashree' and 'Nityashree'.

Genetic Resource of Vanilla

Vanilla (V. planifolia Andr. Syn. V. fragrans Salisb.) is a climbing orchid native to tropical America and was introduced to India during the nineteenth century. Apart from V. planifolia other cultivated species are V. pompona sch. and V. tahitensis. V. walkeriae Wt. and V. wightiana Lndl. are two wild species of vanilla occurring in Western Ghats besides V. vatsalae. V. pilifera is reported from North East India.

At IISR, Kozhikode 82 accessions of vanilla are conserved in addition to seedling progenies and somaclones. The species conserved, include V. planifolia, V. aphylla, V. andamanica and V. pilifera.