CROP IMPROVEMENT OF CARDAMOM breeding

1. CROP IMPROVEMENT OF
CARDAMOM
BY
J.PREETHI FETRICIA

2. CARDAMOM
Small Cardamom
• Botanical name : Elettaria cardamomum
• Family : Zingiberaceae
• Origin : Western Ghats of South India and Srilanka
• Queen of Spices
• Chromosome number : 2n═ 48,52, X═12
• Distribution : Guatemala, Srilanka Tanzania ,
Vietnam , Cambodia, Papau New Guinea and India
• Distribution : Kerala, Karnataka , TamilNadu

3. Volatile oil of cardamom
Constituent
Indian
cardamom
Guatemalan
Cardamom
Sri Lankan
Cardamom
Pinene 1.95 1.43 1.93
Sabinene+
Myrcene
7.11 5.62 7.00
Limonene 3.60 3.67 3.63
1,8 Cineole 32.55 27.89 31.39
α-terpinene 2.31 2.32 1.90
Linalyl acetate 0.79 1.81 3.31
Geraniol 2.00 2.94 2.1
α –terpinyl
acetate
41.2 37.93 34.92

4. • India was the main producer and exporter of cardamom until
the 1980s, with Guatemala emerging later as a keen
competitor to India in the international cardamom market.
• Tanzania, Sri Lanka, El Salvador, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and
Papua New Guinea are also cardamom-growing countries.
• After World War II, cardamom production in Guatemala
increased on account of high demand and a rise in the
international price.
• The cultivation of cardamom has also grown in popularity in
the virgin forest lands of Papua New Guinea, though it is
restricted to private estate owners (Krishna, 1997).
• Guatemala emerged world’s premier producer and exporter of
cardamom 90% In global trade
• India is the second largest consumer of cardamom in the
world After Saudi Arabia
• Kerala accounts for 60% of the cultivated area in India

5. Elettaria cardamomum

6. Amomum subulatum – Nepal or Large
Cardamom

7. Aframomum korarima – Ethiopian cardamom

8. Aframomum angustifolium- madagascar cardamom

9. Amomum kepulaga sprague and Burkil – Java
cardamom

11. Amomum globosum – large round
chinese cardamom

12. Amomum aromaticum – Bengal cardamom

13. Botany
• Small or lesser cardamom is 2-4 cm tall herbaceous perennial plant with branched
rhizomes from which leafy shoots arise forming a cluimp.
• Leaves – Lanceolate, dark green and shiny on upper side and pale green on lower side.
• Inflorescence type: Long panicle arises with base of leafy shoots with 45-120cm long
• It is a self sterile.
• Flowers are borne in racemose, bisexual and zygomorphic
• Calyx – tubular green, shortly three toothed
• Corolla – long with narrow spreading pale green lobes
• Flower contains attractive petalloid labellum which is made up with modified stamens.
• Ovary – inferior, one style. trilocular and is of axile placentation.There are numerous
ovules in each carpel.
• Pollination - cross pollination. Self-pollination is hindered due to the slight protrusion
of the stigma above the stamens.
• Pollinator – Honeybees (Apis cerana, Apis indica and Apis dorsata)
• Fruit – trilocular capsule

15. Floral biology
• The peak flowering is between May and October.
• The time required from flower/bud initiation to full bloom stage ranges
• from 26 to 34 days.
• Capsule development takes about 110–20 days from the full bloom stage
(Krishnamurthy et al., 1989).
• The early hours of the day are when the maximum number of flowers open.(Anthesis).
• Cardamom flowers remain in bloom for 15–18 hours per day.
• In the Mudigere region of Karnataka, anthesis at 3.30 am and continues until 7.30 am.
• The dehiscence of anthers takes place immediately followed by anthesis at 3.30 am
which continues up to 7.30 am.
• The maximum pollen bursting occurs between 5.30 am and 6.30 am. The pollen
grains are round and mostly found individually.
• Stigma receptivity and pollen viability are at maximum during the morning hours.
Receptivity is at maximum between 8 am and 10 am, when 72 % of the opened flowers
set fruit.
• After 10 am the stigma receptivity decreases gradually. It is reported that receptivity of
the stigma is highest between 8 am and 12 noon (Krishnamurthy et al., 1989; Kuruvilla
and Madhusoodanan, 1988).

16. Germplasm Conservation
S.No Centre Cultivated Related
taxa
Total
1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research,
Regional Station, Appangala, Karnataka
592 13 605
2 Indian Cardamom Research Institute,
Myladumpara, Kerala, Spices Board
600 12 612
3 Cardamom Research Station, Pampadumpara,
Kerala (Kerala Agriculture University)
177 177
4 Regional Research Station, Mudigere,
Karnataka (University of Agriculture and
Horticultural Science)
132 132
 Survey, collection and conservation of cardamom genetic resources were initiated, and
a good number of accessions are collected and these are now being conserved by
following organisation

17. Breeding Objectives
• High yield of capsule
• Selection of plants with bold capsules
• Selection of plants with more number of seeds /fruit
• Resistance to biotic stress viz., viral diseases such as katte ,
fungal diseases such as rhizome rot, clump rot and capsule rot
,pest like capsule borer etc.,
• Tolerance to abiotic stresses especially drought
• Higher percentage of dry capsule recovery (> 22%)
• Higher seed: husk ratio.
• Breeding for higher quality i.e. higher percentage of essential
oils, ά- terpenyl acetate which is responsible for the aroma and
flavour
• Developing location specific varieties suitable to different agro-
climatic conditions.

18. Classification of cardamon
Two botanical varieties of Ellettaria cardamom have been
categorized based on the size of fruit (Wardini and Thomas,
1999).
1. Var.major :
Wild cardamom of Sri Lanka. Robust plant of 3m length with
broadleaves and erect panicles. Fruit is larger eg. 2.5 to 5 cm ,
larger and less aromatic seeds. Known as Long wild native
cardamom in trade.
2. var. cardamomum (syn.var.minor):
This includes most of cultivatedv races.Fruits are 1-2cm long
(smaller) and more aromatic seeds.

19. • Var minor comprising cultivated types viz
I. Malabar type
II. Mysore type
III. Vazhukka type ( natural hybrid between Mysore and
Malabar)
Particulars Mysore type Malabar type Vazhukka
Plant stature Robust erect Medium sized Robust semi-erect
Panicle capsule Bold,Elongated Prostrate round
or oblong
Round to oblong
Adaptability Highr altitudes
900-1200m
MSL
Lower altitudes
600-900m MSL
Wide range

20. Difference between Malabar and Mysore
S.No Malabar Mysore
1. Plant grow upto 2.7m in height Plant show robust growth upto 5m
2. Leaves are short and smooth
surface having hairs on lower
surface
Large and coarse and glaborus
beneath
3. Panicles are prostrate Panicles are erect and arching
4. Fruits are small Fruits are longer
5. Susceptible to katte mosaic
virus
Resistant to katte mosaic virus
6. Cultivated chiefly in karnataka
(Mysore , coorg and travancore)
More suited to higher elevation and
grown in Kerala
7. Less sensitive to sunlight More sensitive to sunlight
8. Bud development & ripening
takes 3 months
Bud development & ripening takes
4 months

21. Malabar Mysore
9. Ripening completes indicated by
paling of fruits
No paling of fruits has been
reported
10. Most pleasant and mellow aroma and
flavour
Harsher aroma and flavour
11. Not suited for green cardamom
preparation because seeds has
developed their full flavour capsule
has begun to turn pale yellow
well suited to green spice the seeds
reach flavour maturation when
capsules are still green
12. Cannot withstand sun Can withstand sun
13. Cured fruits are generally rounded
shape – 18.5 mm in length.
Cured fruits are three cornered and
ribbed and tend to be slightly longer
- 21mm in length
14. Oil has lower cineole and higher alpha
terpinyle acetate
Oil poses higher cineole and lower
alpha terpinyle acetate
15. Important cultivars under this group
are ICRI-1, ICRI-3, ICRI-4, TDK-
4,PV-1, TDK-11,Mudigree-1,MCC-40
ICRI-2

23. Vazhuka type
• Exhibit intermediate characters.
• Wide range of adaptability
• Vazhuka cultivars possess more tillering ability
• Life span of tillers is around 23 months in Malabar, 26
months in Mysore and 29.5 months in Vazhuka
• Fruit set percent is high in Vazhuka (61%), whereas the
shedding percentage of immature capsules is high in Malabar
type 19%.
• For yield of fresh and dry capsules , Vazhuka (710g and
175g, respectively) and Malabar type (651g and 150 g) while
Mysore cultivars ( 322g and 78g )are comparatively lower
yielders.
• Important cultivars of Vazhuka type : PV-2, NCC-
200(Nijalini),MCC-12 and MCC-16

24. Varieties of Small cardamom
VARIETY TYPE INSTITUTE YIELD
(Kg/ha)
DRY
REC
OVE
RY
FEATURES
Mudigere-1 Clonal sln ,
Malabar
type
RRS,
Mudigere
,Karnataka
250-300 - Suitable for high
density planting.
Oval bold capsule
Mudigere-2 Malabar ype RRS,
Mudigere
476 - Early, round to oval
and bold capsule
PV-1 Clonal sln,
Malabar
type
CRS,
Pampadumpar
a
260-520 20% Oval and bold capsule,
Long panicle
PV-2 Malabar
type
CRS 1250 Bold, oil(10.4%),
Tolerant to clump and
capsule rot, early
maturing
ICRI -1 Malabar
type
ICRI,
Myladumpara
325-650 22.9
%
Oil 8.3%, early
medium sized panicle

25. Variety Type Institute Yield
(Kg/ha
)
Dry
recover
y (%)
Features
ICRI-2 Mysore type ICRI,
Myladumpar
a
375-
760
22.5 Oil (9%),Tolerant
azhukal disease
ICRI-3 Malabar
type
ICRI, 790 - Early,oblong bold berry,
tolerant to rhizome rot
ICRI-4 Malabar
type
ICRI
TDK-4 Malabar
type
ICRIRS,
Thadiyankud
isai
961 Early, globose &bold,
Medium panicle.
MCC-
61
Selection Mudigere 375 Tolerant to azhukal
MCC-
49
selection Mudigere 325 Bold capsule
RR-1 Malabar
type
CRSI,Appan
gala
476-
848
Elongated capsule,
resistant to rhizome rot
CCS-1 Malabar
type
CRS,
Appangala
408 22 Oil(8.7%) oblong &
bold capsule

26. Variety Type Institute Yield(kg/h
a)
Dry
recov
ery
%
Features
SKP-14 Malabar
type
ICRI-RS,
Saklespur
430-590 - -
IISR
survasini
Sln from OP
progeny of
CL 37
CRS,
Appangal
a
1322
irrigated
condition
Suitable for high density
planting, early, long
panicle
IISR
Vijetha
Clonal sln
from field
resistant
plant for
katte,
979 Virus resistant with high
% of bold capsules.
IISR
Avinash
Sln of OP
seedlings os
CCS-1,
1483 Dark green capsules,
Tolerant to rhizome rot
Nijalini
Green
Gold
Clonal sln
from
Vazhukka
type
Farmers
selection
1600 (
potential
to >3000)
High yielding, Yielding
upto 5000 kg/ha recorded.
Capsules bold

27. Large cardamom
• Botanical Name- Amomum subulatum
• Origin – Eastern Himalayan Region
• World – Nepal, Bhutan, India
• India- Sikkim, Darjeeling
Uses- Tonic for Cough, apprtizer, diuretic, Stimulant, etc
• Pregnant women should not use cardamom because there is a
fear of abortion
• Heart disease – powdered large cardamom with powdered fig
roots with honey – daily in the morning

28. Varieties
Ramshai/ Ramsey : Tall plants (2.5m) .Fruits are small
and of inferior quality ,suitable for growing at higher
altitude
Sawaney: Tall plants with wider and shorter leaves.Fruits
are bold and brown. Popular variety of lower altitudes.
Golshai / Golsey :Short plants with 5-6 shoots and short
and broad leaves. Fruits bold, big , round in shape and
yellow coloured. Good market value- attractive
appearance
Other derived varieties – Ramla, Chiba, Ramnag,
Madhurai and Mongney

29. References
• V. A. Parthasarathy and D. Prasath, Indian
Institute of Spices Research, India Chapter 8
Caradamom
• Mohammedsani Zaki.Review on Breeding
Method and Achievements of Cardamom
(Elettaria cardamomum Maton) and Future
Prospects(2019). International Journal of Research
in Agriculture and Forestry.,6(12):16-23