Collection: CHILLI

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Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum

Family: Solanaceae

Genus: Capsicum

Other common names of Chilli Seeds: Chilli Pepper Seeds, Hot Pepper Seeds

Other alternate names of Chilli Seeds

Chilli Seeds in Telugu: మిరపకాయ విత్తనాలు (Mirapakaya viththanaalu)

Chilli Seeds in Hindi: मिर्च के बीज (Mirch ke beej)

Chilli Seeds in Bengali: লঙ্কা বীজ (Lanka beej)

Chilli Seeds in Gujarati: મારચા બીજા (Marcha bija)

Chilli Seeds in Malayalam: മുളക് വിത്ത് (Mulaku vithu)

Chilli Seeds in Marathi: मिरची बीज (Mirchi beej)

Chilli Seeds in Odia: ଲଙ୍କା ବିଜ (Lankaa beej)

Chilli Seeds in Punjabi: ਮਿਰਚ ਦਾ ਬੀਜ (Mirch da beej)

Chilli Seeds in Tamil: மிளகாய் விதை (Milagai vidhai)

Chilli (Mirchi) is one of the most important commercial spice crops in the world and is often referred to as the "Wonder Spice." Chilli is used in cuisines worldwide to add a hot flavour to various dishes. Apart from its culinary use, chillies are also employed in making medicines, beverages, and more. Among the spices consumed per capita, dried Mirchi fruits make up a significant portion.

In India, chillies are grown in almost every state, with Andhra Pradesh leading the nation in Mirchi production, followed by Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, and West Bengal.

Chilli belongs to the Solanaceae family. In India, two species, Capsicum annuum and Capsicum frutescens, are most commonly known. The majority of cultivated chilli varieties belong to the species Capsicum annuum.

Climate for Chilli Farming

Chilli is grown in both tropical and subtropical areas. For vegetative growth, Mirchi crop requires a warm, humid climate. For fruit maturity, chilli requires warm, dry weather. Chilli grows best at 20–30°C. Growth and yields suffer when temperatures exceed 30°C or drop below 15°C for extended periods. Fruit development is adversely affected at 38°C.

Mirchi plants require a well-distributed annual rainfall of about 800–1200 mm. Heavy rainfall leads to poor Chilli fruit set, and high humidity leads to fruit rot. A day length of 9 to 10 hours of light stimulates Mirchi plant growth.

Soil for Mirchi Farming

Chilli plants can be grown on a wide variety of soils, provided they are well-drained, well-aerated, and rich in organic matter. Black soils are best suited for Mirchi cultivation as a rainfed crop. Irrigation can be applied to light soils (red loams, sandy loams, chalky soils) and alluvial soils. Soils with poor drainage are not suitable, as chillies cannot tolerate waterlogging. In poorly drained soils, Mirchi plants shed their leaves.

Strongly acidic or alkaline soils are not suitable for growing chilli plants. The ideal pH of the soil needs to be in the range of 6 to 7 for the cultivation of Mirchi crop. Chilli Seed germination and plant vigour are also affected by salinity.

Land Preparation for Sowing Chilli Seeds

To prepare the land for Mirchi farming, the soil must be finely tilled. For direct sowing of chilli seeds, plough the field 3–4 times. For the transplantation of Mirchi seedlings, ploughing the field 2–3 times is sufficient. Remove any stones or gravel and apply 12 to 15 tonnes per acre of FYM during the final ploughing.

After ploughing, levelling should be done using either bullock-drawn or tractor-drawn levellers. Levelling the land ensures efficient water flow, making irrigation more effective. It also allows for proper drainage of excess water, preventing stagnation during heavy rain or after irrigation.

Chilli Seeds and Propagation Material

Selection of a Chilli Variety: The selection of a chilli variety depends on various factors such as the purpose of cultivation, local market preferences, climatic conditions, soil type, availability of irrigation facilities, the incidence of pests and diseases in the area, etc.

Procurement of Quality Chilli Seeds: Chilli seeds need to be procured from a reliable or authenticated source. At Desikheti, we offer a wide portfolio of quality chilli seeds conveniently delivered to your doorstep.

Chilli Seed Rate:

• Open-Pollinated Varieties:
• 250 g of chilli seeds per acre for transplanted crops.
• 400 g of chilli seeds per acre for direct sowing.
• Hybrids: 80–100 g of chilli seeds per acre.

Chilli Seed Treatment: Hybrid seeds sold by private companies are usually treated with chemicals before sale. However, if the seeds are not pre-treated, treat them with Trichoderma viride @ 4 g/kg, Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g/kg, or 2–3 g of Captan per kg of chilli seeds.

Time of Sowing Chilli Seeds

Direct Sowing:

• In the Kharif season, sow chilli seeds from July to August.
• In the Rabi season, sow chilli seeds from September to October.

Transplanting:

• Sow the chilli seeds in a nursery from July to August.
• Transplant the seedlings from August to September.

Method of Sowing Chilli Seeds

Chilli Seeds can either be sown directly in the field or raised in a nursery bed, followed by transplanting to the field. Generally, the transplantation method is preferred in Mirchi cultivation.

Nursery Management

Proper nursery management is essential to ensure quality chilli seedlings.

Types of Nursery Raising:

1. Raised Nursery Beds
2. Protrays

Raised Nursery Bed

• The selected area needs to be ploughed to a fine tilth. Well-decomposed FYM at 20 to 25 kg per bed is thoroughly mixed into the seedbeds one month in advance.
• Raised seedbeds are prepared with a width of 1 m, a height of 15 cm, and a convenient length. Chilli seeds are sown in lines spaced 5 cm apart.
• Sand and well-decomposed compost are sprinkled over the Mirchi seeds to cover them.
• Paddy straw is used for mulching and can be removed once the Mirchi seeds start to germinate.
• The nursery bed needs to be irrigated daily, but heavy watering should be avoided.
• To protect against damping-off, drench the nursery bed with copper oxychloride (3 g/L) on the 9th and 15th days after sowing (DAS).

Protrays

• Protrays are filled with sterilized coco peat.
• One seed is sown per cell and covered with coco peat.
• Protrays are usually kept in insect-proof nets to ensure healthy seedlings.
• A net measuring 5 m x 4.5 m x 2 m can accommodate 100–120 protrays (98 cells each), producing approximately 10,000–12,000 seedlings, which is sufficient for one acre.
• Water the seedlings daily.
• Drench the seedlings with a solution of 5 g/L of 19:19:19 fertilizer 18 days after sowing.

Transplantation of Chilli Seedlings

Chilli Seedlings are ready for transplantation 35 to 45 days after sowing chilli seeds. Short, thick-stemmed Mirchi seedlings are preferred for better establishment. For older Mirchi seedlings, topping needs to be done one week before transplantation.

Chilli seedlings can be planted with a spacing of 30 to 45 cm between chilli plants and 60 to 75 cm between rows. The exact spacing may vary depending on the Mirchi variety, local preferences, and season.

Irrigate the field immediately after transplantation to help the Chilli seedlings establish properly. Gap filling of Mirchi seedlings can be done 15 to 20 days after transplantation.

Nutrient Management for Chilli Farming

Chilli requires fertile soil for optimal growth. The general NPK recommendation for chilli cultivation is 75 kg N, 75 kg P, and 55 kg K per hectare. However, the exact fertiliser requirements may vary depending on factors such as region, soil fertility, and season.

Apply half of the nitrogen as a basal dose during land preparation. The remaining nitrogen needs to be applied as a top dressing in 2 to 3 equal splits at one-month intervals after transplanting, i.e., 30 DAT (Days After Transplanting), 60 DAT, and 90 DAT. Apply the entire dose of phosphorus and potassium as a basal dose during land preparation.

Irrigation Management for Chilli Farming

The first irrigation should be given immediately after transplanting to aid in better establishment of the chilli seedlings in the soil. The second irrigation is generally provided 10 days after transplanting Mirchi seedlings. Later on, irrigation can be given according to the Mirchi crop requirements. Typically, 8 to 9 irrigations are needed, depending on rainfall, soil type, humidity, temperature, etc.

The ridges and furrows method of irrigation is commonly adopted, but drip irrigation can also be used. Chilli plants are sensitive to waterlogging, so it is important to avoid over-watering and ensure proper drainage is maintained.

Weed Management for Chilli Cultivation

Chilli is a slow-growing crop that struggles to compete with fast-growing weeds. To keep the fields weed-free, it is essential to practice hand weeding, hoeing, or herbicide application. Regular shallow cultivation can help improve soil aeration and promote healthy root growth. However, deep cultivation should be avoided, as it can harm the roots of the Mirchi plants. Hand weeding can be carried out every 20 to 25 days to keep the weeds under control.

Pest and Disease Management in Chilli Farming

Common pests of Chilli

Thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis, Caliothrips indicus, Frankliniella sulphurea)

• Infested chilli plant leaves curl upward, crumble, and shed.
• The infested Mirchi flower buds turn brittle, with petioles becoming brown and dropping off.
• Affected Mirchi plant fruits show light brown scars.
• This pest infestation is severe in dry weather.
• Early-stage infestation leads to stunted growth in Mirchi plants, and flower production and fruit set are arrested.

Chilli Pod Borers (Spodoptera litura, Spodoptera  exigua, Utetheisa pulchella, Helicoverpa armigera)

• Feeding by Spodoptera litura and Spodoptera exigua leads to irregular holes in the chilli plant leaves and fruits.
• Affected Mirchi pods turn whitish and dry up.
• Mirchi seeds are also eaten by pests in fruits.
• An attack by Helicoverpa armigera leads to round holes in Chilli fruits.
• Utetheisa pulchella may feed on the pericarp, leaving the Mirchi seed intact.
• Ladder-like marks are seen on Mirchi pods due to infestation by Utetheisa pulchella.

Aphids (Aphis gossypii, Myzus persicae)

• Aphids suck sap from the chilli plant leaf.
• Aphids excrete honeydew, and due to this, black sooty mould develops on Mirchi plant leaves, affecting photosynthetic activity.
• This leads to retardation in growth and a decrease in the fruiting capacity of the Mirchi plant.

Mites (Polyphagotarsonemus latus, Tarsonemus translucens)           

• Mites suck sap from the Mirchi plant.
• Affected Mirchi plant leaves become inverted boat-shaped with downward curling.
• In some cases, the leaves turn dark green.
• Younger leaves at the branch tips cluster together.
• Severe infestation may result in the stunted growth of chilli plants.

Chilli Blossom Midge (Asphondylia capsici)

• The fly lays eggs in the chilli plant flowers.
• The maggot feeds on the flower parts, leading to poor fruit development. The ovary is also distorted into a gall-like structure of varied shapes.
• Mirchi fruit yield is affected.

Root Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita)

• Chilli seedlings infected in the nursery do not normally survive transplanting, and those that survive have reduced flowering and fruit production.
• This nematode infects plants in patches.
• The primary symptom is the formation of galls on the host plant's root system.
• Roots branch profusely, starting from the gall tissue, causing a "Beard root" symptom.
• In severely infected Mirchi plants, the root system is reduced, and the rootlets are almost completely absent.
• The roots are seriously hampered in their function of uptake and transport of water and nutrients, affecting the growth of the Mirchi plants.

Common Diseases of Chilli 

Damping-off (Pythium aphanidermatum)

• Damping off is of two types, namely pre-emergence damping off and post-emergence damping off.
• In Pre-emergence damping off, Mirchi seedlings disintegrate before they emerge from the soil surface.
• Post-emergence damping off is characterized by the development of the disease after chilli seedlings have emerged from the soil surface.
• Water-soaked lesions appear on the collar region of Mirchi seedlings.
• Browning and shrivelling of stem tissues occur at the collar region.
• As a result of the weakening of tissues at the collar region, the Mirchi seedlings collapse and topple over.

Powdery mildew (Leveillula taurica)

• A white powdery coating appears on the lower surface of the chilli leaf.
• Correspondingly, yellow patches can be seen on the upper surface of the Mirchi leaf.
• Sometimes, the powdery coating can also be seen on the upper surface of the leaf.
• Severe infection results in the drying and shedding of the affected Mirchi plant leaves.

Fruit rot and Die-back (Colletotrichum capsici)

• Brown, water-soaked patches appear on the skin of the Mirchi fruit.
• Severe infection results in the shrivelling and drying of fruits.
• Such fruits become white in colour and lose their pungency.
• The affected Mirchi plant fruits may subsequently fall off.
• Ripe chilli fruits are more susceptible to the attack than green ones.
• Under favourable conditions, this infection spreads to the stem through the flower stalk and causes the die-back of branches.

Cercospora Leaf spot (Cercospora capsici)

• Circular spots with brown margins appear on chilli plant leaves.
• The central portion of the spot becomes white.
• The Mirchi plant leaves turn yellow and defoliate.
• Spots also appear on Mirchi plant stems and twigs as dark brown, irregular lesions with whitish centres.
• In severe cases, die-back of twigs occurs.

Bacterial Leaf spot (Xanthomonas Campestris Pv. vesicatoria)

• Chilli plant leaves, fruits, and stems are affected.
• Small circular to irregular water-soaked areas can be observed on the lower surface of the Mirchi plant leaves.
• Later on, the leaves dry and die.
• Narrow, elongated lesions or streaks can occur on Mirchi plant stems.
• The green chilli fruits are also infected, and they turn brown to black. 

Mosaic diseases (Chilli Mosaic Virus, Cucumber Mosaic Virus, Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus, etc.)

• Light green to dark green patches occur on the Mirchi plant leaves.
• Stunted plant growth with poor root development.
• Mosaic mottling, distortion, and a filiform shape of the leaves can be observed.
• Infected Mirchi plants bear few flowers and fruits.
• Mottling can also be seen on the chilli fruits.

Choanephora blight (Choanephora cucurbitarum)

• Flowers, buds, and tender young shoots of Mirchi plants are affected.
• This disease results in blossom blight, fruit rot, and occasionally leaf blight.
• Blossoms exhibit a lack of turgidity as petals begin to wilt.
• The pathogen grows as black pinheads on the infected blossoms, causing blossom drop.
• Also, young chilli fruits may become infected, soften, and abort.

Harvesting Chilli Fruits

Chilli plants begin flowering 40 to 60 days after transplanting, depending on factors like variety and climate. The fruits typically start ripening around three months after transplanting. If the chillies are intended for use as vegetables, they can be harvested while still green. However, for drying purposes, it's best to let them fully ripen before picking. Harvesting may continue over a span of 2 to 3 months.

Chilli Fruit Yield 

Open Pollinated Varieties: 4 – 6 t/acre (green chillies); 0.8 – 1 t/ha (dry pods) 

Hybrid Varieties: 20 to 30 t/ha (green chillies)