Black Pepper variety · Released variety
Panniyur-3
Pepper Research Station, Panniyur, Kerala · Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) · 1991
Late-maturing hybrid; moderate to high yield potential with consistent performance.
Key facts
| Type | Released variety |
|---|---|
| Origin | Pepper Research Station, Panniyur, Kerala |
| Breeder / source | Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) |
| Year released | 1991 |
| Parentage | Uthirankotta × Cheriyakaniyakkadan (hybrid) |
| Yield | reported high yield |
| Tolerance | Phytophthora foot rot |
| Distinctive features | Hybrid vigour; late maturity group |
| Grown in | All pepper-growing tracts of Kerala |
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.
Panniyur-3 in detail
A late-maturing hybrid pepper released in 1991 from Kerala Agricultural University's Pepper Research Station at Panniyur, bred from a cross between Uthirankotta and Cheriyakaniyakadan, known for long spikes with pale-tipped shoots and high oleoresin content.
Origin & story
Panniyur-3 was released in 1991 by the Pepper Research Station, Panniyur, under Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). It is a hybrid cross between Uthirankotta and Cheriyakaniyakadan. The research station started in 1952 as a scheme to improve pepper cultivation and was raised to the status of a research station under KAU in 1972. Per KAU, the station released five pepper varieties, Panniyur-1 through Panniyur-5.
How it grows
Panniyur-3 is late-maturing and is described as suited to all pepper-growing regions of Kerala. Like black pepper generally, it grows in hot, humid tropical conditions with well-distributed rainfall and well-drained soils. Plants produce long spikes with closely-set berries and pale yellow shoot tips. Reported yields vary widely across sources, so growers should treat any single figure with caution and rely on local trial data.
Quality & character
Long spike clusters with closely-set berries. Pale yellow shoot tips distinguish the foliage. Berries are noted for high oleoresin content, which contributes to pungency and flavour.
Why it matters to buyers
Panniyur-3 is available as nursery stock in Kerala, sold commercially by suppliers such as PepperHub. The hybrid vigour and high oleoresin content are the main selling points for growers and processors. Late maturity can give some flexibility in harvest timing. Confirm planting-material provenance and check yield expectations against local conditions, as published yield figures differ considerably between sources.
About black pepper
India's pepper tapestry splits into two worlds—old landraces born from the Western Ghats soil and careful farmer selection over generations, and modern releases from KAU Panniyur and ICAR-IISR that blend tradition with yield ambition. The ancient cultivars like Karimunda, Kottanadan, and Narayakodi remain the anchor, each rooted in its own stretch of humid…
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