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Introduction

Introduction

Botanical Names : Capsicum annuum Linn. and Bird Chilli: Capsicum frutescens Linn.
Family : Solanaceae
Plant parts used : Fresh and dried fruits
Indian Names : Hindi- Lal mirch, Bengali- Lanka, Nepali- Khorsani, Marathi- Mirchi, Punjabi- Lalmirch, Gujrati- Marcha, Tamil- Milagay etc.


Chili is an important cash crop in India and is grown for its pungent fruits, which are used both green and ripe (the latter in the dried form) to impart pungency to the food. Green chillies are rich in Vitamin A and C, minerals and protein. Dry chillies are also rich in Vitamin A and D. As a condiment, it has become indispensable in every Indian home. It is also used medicinally, sauces, chutneys and pickles. Nadkarni (1927) has reported many medicinal value of chilli. Its paste is externally used as rubefacient and as local stimulant for the tonsils in tonsillitis. It is irritant internally and produces gastroenteritis. It is used with many ingredients for local remedies. In West Indies it is used to relieve the sinking at the epigastrium felt by drunkards. The pungency is due to the oleoresin ‘capsicin’ (a volatile alkaloid and its acridity is due to capsicin) contained in the skin and the septa of the fruit. Chilli was known to Indians about 400 years ago, when this crop was first introduced into India by Portuguese, towards the end of the 15th century. Its cultivation became popular in the 17th century. It is now grown in all parts of India covering about 7,33,800 hectares. Chilli is valued for its diverse commercial uses. Only a few perennial chilli varieties characterized by small-sized pods upright fruiting and high pungency are rarely cultivated commercially belong to C. frutescens.

 The largest producer of chillies in the world is India accounting for 11 lakh tons of production annually followed by China with a production of around 4 lakh tons. Mexico and Pakistan produces 3 lakhs tonnes each of chili every year. India also leads in the context of maximum area covered under chilli cultivation. In Sikkim, cherry pepper also known as dale khorsani is the most favorite chili grown in almost every kitchen garden.

Economic Importance
Capsicum (chillies) constitutes the most important spice grown all over the world except in colder parts. There are many varieties differing in habit, size, shape, color and pungency of fruit. Among these paprika’s with mild pungency cultivated mainly in European countries, viz. Hungary, Spain, Bulgaria, Rumania and Poland. Chilies with higher pungency grown in tropical countries , viz. India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Malaysia, Japan and Turkey are Important. Total world chilli production in green form is 7 to 8 million tones (2 to 3 million tones in dry form). 

Production of chilli in India
As already mentioned, India is the largest producer of chillies in the world. Its production level covers around 1.1 million tons annually. India also has the maximum area dedicated to the production of this crop. The major regions where chilli is cultivated in India are AP, Karnataka, Maharashtra, UP, Punjab, TN, Rajasthan, Orissa, West Bengal and M.P. 

Andhra Pradesh stands first in the list of leading chilli-producing states in India and also constitutes the maximum average for chilli cultivation in the country. It occupies 49% share in the Indian total production and produces around 2.7 lakh tons of chillies. Karnataka follows Andhra Pradesh, which share 14% of the production in the country. The major chilli producing States in India namely Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu contribute to around 86% of total area for the chilli crop cultivation in the country and 90% of the total Indian produce.

General Botanical Aspects:
Capsicum plants, belonging to the family Solanaceae, are herbaceous or semi-woody annuals or perennials. C. annuum and C. frutescens are commercially cultivated species. C. annuum is a variable herb to sub-shrub, erect, branched, and grown as an annual. Leaves are ovate, tapering to a sharp point, entire (up to 14 cm long), dark green on the upper surface and pale on the lower surface. Flowers are usually white and solitary or in clusters of 2 or 3 in the leaf axils. Fruits are variable in size, shape, color and pungency. C. frutescens is perennial sub-shrub and bears more but smaller fruits which are erect. Fruits are extremely pungent and small in size. Both the species are inter-crossable (2n = 24).