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Guntur Sannam (S-4) chilli

Guntur Sannam, identified in trade by the codes S-4 and S-334, is a thin-fruited, long, hot chilli (Capsicum annuum var. longum) grown across the Guntur, Prakasam, Khammam and Warangal districts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The chilli is traded predominantly through the Guntur Mirchi Yard, India's largest chilli market, and was granted Geographical Indication registration in 2009 on application by the Spices Board of India.

Key characteristics

  • Botanical classification: Capsicum annuum var. longum
  • Trade code: S-4 / S-334
  • Fruit: 5-15 cm long, thick pericarp
  • Pungency: approximately 35,000-40,000 SHU
  • Colour: ASTA value around 32, capsaicin ~0.226%
  • GI status: registered 2009, applicant Spices Board of India

Cultivation

The variety is grown across the south Indian chilli belt of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with concentration in Guntur, Prakasam, Khammam and Warangal. It is a long-duration dry-pod type managed under irrigated or partially irrigated systems, with standard package-of-practice operations including nursery raising (Practice Chilli Nursery Raising), staged NPK application (Practice Chilli Fertilizer Schedule) and the eight-spray protection calendar (Practice Chilli Spray Schedule).

Pest and disease profile

Like other south Indian dry-chilli varieties, Guntur Sannam is vulnerable to the invasive black thrips (Pest Thrips Parvispinus Black Thrips), yellow mite (Pest Mites Chilli), chilli leaf curl virus (Disease Chilli Leaf Curl Virus) and fruit anthracnose (Disease Chilli Dieback Anthracnose).

Adoption and use

Annual production of Guntur Sannam is approximately 280,000 tonnes, and the variety contributes the bulk of India's dry-chilli exports. Post-harvest handling follows the standard sun-drying and tarpaulin protocol (Practice Chilli Picking Drying) to meet export-grade colour and moisture specifications. The closely related Teja segment (Chilli Teja Segment) and the Byadgi colour segment (Chilli Byadgi Segment) make up the other major south Indian dry-chilli trade types.

Chilli Teja Segment, Chilli Byadgi Segment, Practice Chilli Picking Drying, Disease Chilli Dieback Anthracnose, Pest Thrips Parvispinus Black Thrips

References

  1. Guntur Sannam Chilli — Geographical Indication document. origin-gi.com.
  2. Guntur Sannam. Wikipedia (cross-reference).
  3. Chilli — Spices Board India catalogue. indianspices.com.