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IISR Thevam and Girimunda — ICAR-IISR black pepper releases
IISR Thevam and IISR Girimunda are improved black pepper (Piper nigrum) varieties released by ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode (Calicut). They were developed as clonal selections from the IISR pepper germplasm with the objectives of higher dry-yield stability and field tolerance to [[black-pepper-foot-rot-phytophthora-capsici|Phytophthora foot rot]], the chronic limiting disease of the Kerala pepper sector. Together with earlier IISR releases — IISR Sakthi, IISR Sreekara, IISR Subhakara, IISR Panchami, IISR Pournami, IISR Malabar Excel — they form the institute's modern improved-variety portfolio.
Key characteristics
| Cultivar | Year | Origin | Mean dry yield | Piperine | Oleoresin | Trait highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IISR Thevam | 2004 | clonal selection from Thevamundi | ~2,400 kg/ha (potential); ~1,700 kg/ha average | ~3.2% | ~10.1% | drought-tolerant; bold uniform berry |
| IISR Girimunda | 2008 | clonal selection from cross of Narayakkodi × Neelamundi | ~2,500 kg/ha (potential); ~1,800 kg/ha average | ~5.0% | ~11.0% | tolerant to drought and field foot-rot |
Both cultivars produce medium-long spikes (8-13 cm) with bold, uniformly round berries; dry recovery is ~35%; bulk density of dry pepper is suitable for MG-1 grade.
Cultivation
Standard ICAR-IISR package-of-practice applies: rooted runner-shoot cuttings (2-3 node) raised in polybags for 3-4 months, planted at 3 × 3 m on flat land or 2 × 2 m on slopes, on live or non-live standards (Erythrina, Garuga, silver oak, areca, coconut). Bearing starts in the third year; full economic yield from the seventh. NPK 100:40:140 g/vine/year is recommended for mature bearing vines, applied in two splits (May, September), with 10 kg FYM and green-leaf mulch at the base before the monsoon.
Pest and disease profile
Compared with [[black-pepper-karimunda-traditional|Karimunda]] and [[black-pepper-panniyur-1-to-9|Panniyur 1]], both Thevam and Girimunda show useful field tolerance to Phytophthora capsici foot rot under standard ICAR-IISR integrated management. They remain susceptible to [[black-pepper-pollu-beetle-longitarsus|pollu beetle]] and to slow decline caused by Radopholus similis and Fusarium.
Adoption
Thevam and Girimunda are recommended by ICAR-IISR and by the Spices Board India for replanting in foot-rot-prone gardens of Idukki, Wayanad, Kannur, Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada, and they are increasingly used as part of the variety mix in new plantation development under Spices Board area expansion schemes.
Related entries
See also: Black Pepper Karimunda Traditional, Black Pepper Panniyur 1 To 9, Black Pepper Foot Rot Phytophthora Capsici, Black Pepper Pollu Beetle Longitarsus.
References
- Released varieties of black pepper - ICAR-IISR Calicut. https://www.spices.res.in/research/pepper
- Black pepper cultivation - Spices Board India. https://www.indianspices.com/sites/default/files/blackpeppercultivation.pdf