IISR Vajra

IISR Vajra is a newer clonal selection from the ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, recommended for commercial cultivation by the All India Coordinated Research Project on Spices and the Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Varieties for Horticultural Crops. It is cleared for the ginger tracts of Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha and West Bengal. Vajra carries the highest yield potential of the IISR line at 26.38 tonnes per hectare and was described in Indian Horticulture as a new savour for Indian ginger, because its distinguishing feature is flavour chemistry rather than raw tonnage: essential oil is 29.83% zingiberene, the compound most responsible for the warm, classic ginger aroma. It is marketed for both vegetable-purpose fresh ginger and for processing, with bold plumpy rhizomes carrying a yellow core.