Baseline Information on Physico-taxonomical Characteristics of Amomum subulatum Roxb. Cultivars Grown in Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Amomum subulatum is a valuable spice grown in Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Darjeeling District of West Bengal, India. Three cultivars being cultivated in Uttarakhand, viz. ‘Dzongu Golsey’, ‘Sawney’ and ‘Varlangey’, were studied critically for their morphological variations. Dzongu Golsey thrives well in lower altitudes (< 800 m), while Varlangey prefers the altitude between 1000 and 1450 m and Sawney flourishes well between 1000 and 1600 m. Morphologically, the robust maroon tillers of Varlangey reach 200–250 cm in height with a leaf length of 60–80 cm, while the robust maroon tillers of Sawney reach up to 150–190 cm with a leaf length of 40–55 cm. Dzongu Golsey has non-robust green tillers with comparatively lesser height and leaf length. Dzongu Golsey and Varlangey have pale pink rhizome, while Sawney has dark pink rhizome. Dzongu Golsey flowers during the months of March–May, while Varlangey and Sawney flower during May–July. Varlangey produces superior capsule in terms of diameter, weight and number of seeds than Sawney and Dzongu Golsey and also comparatively has more capsule per spike and more spike per tiller. Proper identification of the cultivar is a prerequisite for the optimum and quality yield. Therefore, a detail of the physico-taxonomic characteristics of the cultivars cultivated in Uttarakhand is provided in the present study.