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Black Pepper variety · Released variety

Panniyur-6

Pepper Research Station, Panniyur, Kerala · Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) · 2000

More spikes per unit area with close berry setting; performs under both open and partial shade; bold medium berries.

Key facts

TypeReleased variety
OriginPepper Research Station, Panniyur, Kerala
Breeder / sourceKerala Agricultural University (KAU)
Year released2000
ParentageClonal selection from Karimunda (PRS 22)
Yield2127 kg dry pepper/ha (average); 6460 kg green pepper/ha
TolerancePhytophthora foot rot; shade tolerant
Distinctive featuresMore spikes per unit area; close berry setting; attractive bold medium berries; excellent field durability
Grown inAll pepper-growing areas 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-6 in detail

A clonal selection from the Karimunda cultivar, released in 2000, Panniyur-6 gives stable, regular yields across Kerala's pepper-growing tracts with dense spike setting and good field persistence.

Origin & story

Panniyur-6 (accession PRS 22, a Karimunda type designated Karimunda III) originated from a farmer's field in Taliparamba Taluk, Kannur district, Kerala. Kerala Agricultural University's Pepper Research Station evaluated the clonal material in the late 1990s and released it in 2000 for cultivation across Kerala's black pepper-growing tracts.

How it grows

Panniyur-6 performs well under both open and partially shaded conditions, with vigorous vine growth and around 2073 spikes per vine. It has a high berry-setting percentage (99%), medium spike length (7.92 cm), and bold medium berries. It is reported to tolerate adverse climate, Phytophthora foot rot, and common pepper pests. Average yield is about 6460 kg green pepper/ha and 2127 kg dry pepper/ha.

Quality & character

More spikes per unit area with close berry setting and attractive bold medium berries, with a light purple shoot tip. Reported chemical profile: 8.27% oleoresin, 4.94% piperine, 1.33% volatile oil.

Why it matters to buyers

Stable, regular yields and field durability suit growers across diverse Kerala microclimates, performing under both open and partial shade. Consistent production, reported disease tolerance, and compact berry setting appeal to traders and processors seeking reliable supply.

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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