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Small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)

Small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton), 'Queen of Spices', is a shade-loving rhizomatous perennial of the Western Ghats and Cardamom Hills of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode and its Cardamom Research Centre, Appangala (Karnataka) coordinate AICRPS varietal trials and curate 622 accessions across Appangala and Pampadumpara field gene banks.

Key characteristics

  • Mandate Institute: ICAR-IISR, Kozhikode (Calicut); CRC Appangala
  • Habitat: shade-loving perennial of Western Ghats evergreen forests
  • Germplasm: 622 accessions in field gene banks (Appangala, Pampadumpara)
  • AICRP Coordination: AICRP on Spices coordinates varietal trials

Cultivation and adoption

Improved varieties include high-yielding, disease-tolerant releases for the Cardamom Hill region.

See also: Cardamom Leaf Blight, Cardamom Root Rot, Cardamom Shade Management, Cardamom Stem Borer, Cardamom Curing Grading.

References

  1. Cardamom cultivation practices - ICAR-IISR. https://www.indianspices.com/sites/default/files/cultivation_practices-Cardamom.pdf
  2. ICAR-IISR Profile - GKToday. https://www.gktoday.in/indian-institute-of-spices-research-icar-iisr/