Ajwain variety · Released variety
Ajmer Ajwain-1
Also known as AA-1
ICAR-National Research Centre on Seed Spices (NRCSS), Ajmer, Rajasthan · ICAR-NRCSS · In use since 1980s-1990s
Dual-purpose variety for irrigated and rainfed cultivation. Plant height 112 cm, bears 219 umbels per plant. Seeds contain 3.5% essential oil with thymol content around 67.79%, superior aromatic quality.
Key facts
| Type | Released variety |
|---|---|
| Origin | ICAR-National Research Centre on Seed Spices (NRCSS), Ajmer, Rajasthan |
| Breeder / source | ICAR-NRCSS |
| Year released | In use since 1980s-1990s |
| Parentage | Recurrent selection from Pratapgarh local (Rajasthan desi landrace) |
| Yield | Reported 14.26 q/ha under irrigated conditions; 5.8 q/ha under rainfed; maturity 165 days. |
| Tolerance | Moderately tolerant; susceptible to root rot (Rhizoctonia solani); sensitivity varies across Rajasthan districts. |
| Distinctive features | Bold seeds, greenish-brown colour, long-duration type. National check variety used in multi-location trials. |
| Grown in | Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka; broad adaptability across semi-arid tropics |
| Also known as | AA-1 |
Figures are indicative, compiled from public agricultural sources (ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, the Spices Board and the National Innovation Foundation) and vary with soil, season and management. Confirm with your local package of practices.
Ajmer Ajwain-1 in detail
Ajmer Ajwain-1 (AA-1) is a long-duration ajwain variety with high thymol content, suited to both irrigated and rainfed cultivation in arid and semi-arid regions.
Origin & story
Developed at ICAR-NRCSS, Ajmer, Rajasthan, AA-1 has been in use since the 1980s-1990s and has served as a national check variety in multi-location trials. Reports describe it as a selection from local germplasm.
How it grows
Suited to both irrigated and rainfed situations in arid and semi-arid regions. Plants reach about 112 cm in height and bear around 219 umbels per plant. It is a long-duration type. Under irrigated conditions it has recorded seed yields of roughly 14.26 q/ha (about 1,420 kg/ha).
Quality & character
Bold, greenish-brown seeds. Seeds contain about 3.5% essential oil with thymol content around 67.79%, giving it strong aromatic quality valued in the spice and oleoresin trade.
Why it matters to buyers
The high thymol level (around 67.79%) is of interest to spice merchants and essential-oil processors looking for aromatic, premium-grade material. Its use as a national check in variety evaluation reflects a well-characterised, widely trialled variety. Its suitability for both irrigated and rainfed cultivation gives growers some flexibility.
About ajwain
Ajwain—the heat-packed seeds of *Trachyspermum ammi*—remains a defining seed spice across India, with Gujarat accounting for roughly 33% of national production, followed closely by Rajasthan (28%) and Madhya Pradesh (27%), together representing nearly 90% of India's output. Over five decades, ICAR institutes like NRCSS Ajmer and regional research stations…
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