Black Pepper variety · Released variety
Sreekara
Also known as IISR Sreekara
ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut, Kerala · ICAR-IISR · 1990
Highest piperine content among IISR releases; superior pungency; excellent essential oil profile.
Key facts
| Type | Released variety |
|---|---|
| Origin | ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut, Kerala |
| Breeder / source | ICAR-IISR |
| Year released | 1990 |
| Parentage | Selection from Karimunda (KS-14) |
| Yield | 2677 kg dry pepper/ha (average); potential 4200 kg/ha |
| Tolerance | Phytophthora foot rot |
| Distinctive features | Piperine 5.1% (highest); oleoresin 13.0%; essential oil 7.0% (highest); strong aroma and pungency |
| Grown in | All pepper-growing tracts of Kerala and Southern Karnataka |
| Also known as | IISR Sreekara |
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.
Sreekara in detail
Sreekara is an IISR-released black pepper clone from 1990 with the highest piperine (5.1%) and essential oil (7.0%) content among the institute's main varieties—delivering exceptional pungency and aromatic depth.
Origin & story
Released in 1990 by ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Calicut, Sreekara is a clonal selection from Karimunda (KS 14), a traditionally cultivated variety. It was developed as a high-piperine clone suited to the spice trade.
How it grows
Medium maturity group. Suited to cultivation across Kerala and Southern Karnataka pepper-growing regions, and noted as adaptable to varied climatic conditions. Yield averages 2,677 kg dry pepper per hectare; under optimal management and clonal material, potential reaches 4,200 kg/ha. Requires clonal planting material only (cannot be grown from seed). Spike length 8.6 cm; leaves 11.6 cm x 6.2 cm. Like all peppers, it benefits from protective irrigation in dry months and mulching during summer.
Quality & character
Piperine 5.1% (highest among IISR releases), oleoresin 13.0%, essential oil 7.0% (highest among IISR releases). This chemical profile delivers pronounced pungency and strong aroma. The berries are noted for high quality. Character reflects clonal selection from Karimunda stock.
Why it matters to buyers
Valued by exporters and processors for its piperine strength—useful for spice blends, ground pepper products, and oleoresin extraction. High essential oil content appeals to flavour and fragrance buyers. Use only clonal planting material to maintain quality and trueness to type.
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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