Spices and Condiments

Cultivation

Propagation

• Cardamom is generally propagated by vegetative means, using rhizomes from a clump but usually seedlings are also used for planting due to the lack of adequate clonal material. A micro propagation protocol for rapid multiplication and the synseed technology have been developed.
• In this case, rhizome cuttings are obtained from two and two-and-a¬half years old clumps. The plants thus propagated are noted for their high yields, greater uniformity and earlier bearing than seedlings. However, a serious disadvantage is that the cardamom mosaic disease is spread through rhizomes.
• Propagation by the trench method has been standardised. The multiplication rate in this method is 1:30-40 from one sucker/year. Tissue culture technology of cardamom clones is adopted by the organised industrial sector. Tissue cultured planting material is available in large numbers.