Varieties and Ecotypes of Moringa oleifera
Introduction
After extensive searching, we were unable to find any published compilation of data on varieties and ecotypes of moringa. The available information focuses on varieties developed in India. Information on varieties from other regions is scattered among numerous publications, many of them obscure. In this section, we present the data on moringa varieties that we have collected and excerpted from published sources so far. We will also be adding information provided by growers on the performance of seeds of different varieties and ecotypes from our bank to seed lot data sheets. From this data, new varieties and ecotypes may be identified and described, and summary information on these will be added to this section.
Note: The data presented here has not been reviewed by other experts and should be considered provisional. Corrections and contributions of information about moringa varieties are welcome.
Classification Terminology:
The terminology used to classify the various types of moringa is often confusing, with overlapping definitions and inconsistent usage among the many sources of information. Here we define the terms as used on this section of our website.
- Species and Varieties. In some of the popular literature about moringa, species of moringa are confused with varieties. These terms are not interchangeable. Varieties and cultivars are not species; they are of a taxonomic (classification) rank below that of species and subspecies. Varieties have characteristics that distinguish them from other varieties of a species or subspecies. They may be naturally occurring, or developed by plant breeding programs.
- Varieties and Cultivars are terms often used interchangeably. In other sections of this website we usually refer to varieties deliberately developed in cultivation as “cultivars”. However, most authors refer to cultivars of moringa as “varieties” so we will use that term here.
- Ecotypes are distinct varieties, forms or races of one species occupying a specific habitat. This habitat may not be in isolation from other populations of the species. Some of the seeds in our bank are from trees grown in multiple generations at specific geographical locations such as Tamil Nadu, India and adapted to these areas. These may be considered ecotypes. Seeds with sources identified from large, non-specific regions such as “Hawaii” or “India” that have many diverse growing environments are not considered ecotypes.
- Landraces are domesticated, locally adapted, traditional varieties that have developed over time, through adaptation to the plant’s natural and cultural environment of agriculture and pastoralism, and in isolation from other populations of the species.
- Pure lines are varieties in which certain characteristics appear in successive generations as a result of inbreeding or self-fertilization. The term “pure line” may also refer to a self-pollinated descendant of a self-pollinated plant.
- Pure line selection is a plant breeding method used to develop a new variety by selection of the single best progeny among established varieties or landraces.
Terminology Relating to Size and Form of Species
The terms used by various authors to describe and classify the various forms and sizes of moringa are not well developed and lack clear definitions. The size and form of the trees may also be variable within a species or variety.
Mark Olsen (Olsen 2014) grouped the 13 species of Moringa into three broad categories reflecting their form and geographic distribution:
Bottle trees. Massive trees with bloated, bottle shaped trunks, and small radially symmetrical flowers. Moringa drouhardii, M. hildebrandtii, M. ovalifolia and M. stenopetala are in this group. The branches and leaves of some of these such as M. drouhardii and M. hildebrandtii may grow only at the tops of the trees giving them a palm-like appearance.
Slender trees. Trees with a tuberous early stage and pink to cream colored, slightly bilaterally symmetrical flowers. Moringa concanensis, M. oleifera and M. peregrina are in this group.
Trees, shrubs, and herbs of Northeast Africa. The eight remaining species of Moringa are all from northeast Africa and are highly variable in form, ranging from herbs to trees. Some are tuberous as juveniles and become fleshy-rooted in maturity, while others are tuberous as adults. The flowers are bilaterally symmetrically and colorful.
Terminology Relating to Size and Form of Varieties
Olsen’s species classification scheme is not usable to describe the form and size of the varieties because the differences between varieties are not as distinctive as those of the species. All of the named varieties moringa are also of one species, Moringa oleifera, and it has a single geographic origin.
No uniform scheme has been developed to describe the form and shape of the many varieties of moringa and such a scheme is needed to simplify descriptions and categorize varieties in our seed bank. To meet this need we have adopted the terms listed below and will begin the task of classifying the many varieties listed on this website. In most cases there is still insufficient information to classify varieties according to these terms.
Indeterminate or Standard Forms. These are the tallest trees with a form that is probably most similar to that of the natural or wild type. The young trees rapidly grow upward attaining a maximum height of about 12 meters (40 feet). These varieties typically have a single trunk and few lateral branches making it difficult to reach the leaves and pods for harvesting. They require frequent topping and severe trimming to maintain a suitable height, force lateral branching and improve productivity.
Determinate Forms. These varieties have been developed by plant breeding programs in India to have a bushier shape with more side branches, and not exceed a height of 2 – 4 meters, suitable for harvesting. They generally do not require topping and need less trimming than the indeterminate forms. Examples of widely grown determinant varieties are Periyakulam 1 and 2 (PKM1 & 2), and Oddanchathiran 3 (ODC3).
Dwarfs. These are determinant varieties developed to grow to shorter maximum heights than the common determinate varieties, usually from 2 – 3 meters. The height ranges defining the different dwarf designations (extra dwarf, dwarf and semi-dwarf) have no consistent usage. There does not appear to be any significant size differences between trees advertised as “extra dwarf” and “dwarf”. Here, semi-dwarfs are assumed to be those attaining a maximum height of about 3 meters; dwarfs, about 2 meters. The dwarf varieties of Periyakulam 1 and 2 are most commonly grown.
Institutions Developing Improved Varieties of Moringa
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), India. Extensive efforts to develop new cultivars of Indian moringa have been in progress for many years in India and are ongoing there. Much of the early pioneering work in developing improved varieties of Indian moringa was conducted by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in Coimbatore. The Research Institute of TNAU, Periyakulam, has an assemblage of 85 moringa accessions. The germplasm collection block contains perennial and annual moringa accessions with heavy fruit-bearing, cluster bearing, drought tolerance, dwarfing stature, and pest and disease resistance traits (Agriculture Forum 2012). In current seed breeding programs varieties with these traits are sought (TANU 2017):
- Dwarf statured plants
- Varieties suitable for leaf production
- High yielding types
- Varieties with more seed and oil content
- Development of types resistant to pest and diseases
The status of varietal development in India was summarized in a presentation at the University by Dr. H.P. Singh in 2010 (Singh 2010). This information was updated recently in a new publication by TANU2. Much of the following discussion on Indian varieties presented here was excerpted from these sources.
Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi at Paramaddi, Karanataka, India. At least two varieties of moringa have been developed here: Bhagya KDM1 and Dhanraj.
University of Hawaii. The Sustainable Organic & Framing Systems Laboratory at the University of Hawaii carries out research to replace imported produce with alternative crops including moringa. Assistance with variety selection and evaluation has been identified as a high priority need by farmers and extension agents. A primary intent of these evaluations has been to optimize grower profits by enhancing quality and reducing costs of production. Currently activities by the laboratory’s Moringa Working Group include evaluations of germplasm, and mycorrizal dependency of varieties of two moringa species. Moringa variety trials are conducted at Poamoho, O‘ahu (Radovich 2010). Investigations aimed at optimizing the agronomy of the crop for leaf, pod and oil production are pending (UH e2010-2015).
Yunnan Tropical Crops Research Institute. China and Cuba have developed a cooperative research program on moringa and opened a large research center in Xishuangbanna, the southernmost prefecture of Yunnan province, in April 2014. The program will include seed exchanges and development of improved varieties (Qian and Anfei 2014).
South China Agricultural University, Guangdong conducts a breeding program focused on exploiting the functional genes associated with important agronomical traits (Deng et al. 2016).
Varieties of Moringa oleifera
Most cultivars of this species have been developed for improved production of drumsticks, also referred to as pods or fruit. Few cultivars have apparently been specifically developed for leaf production although seeds for unnamed large leaved varieties are available.
Moringa varieties may be broadly classified into two groups: perennial and annual1.
Perennial types have probably been in cultivation for thousands of years. In India perennial types are typically propagated from cuttings. These types have several characteristics that have constrained their use for in commercial production, and favored development and cultivation of annual varieties: long growing time before reaching maturity for production of pods, limited availability of suitable planting materials (stem cuttings), less resistance to pests and diseases and greater rainfall requirements. They may be unsuited for areas with short growing seasons or shortages of water.
Annual types such as Periyakulam-1 and Periyakulam-2 (PKM1 & 2), are largely the products of recent plant breeding research and have now replaced most the perennial varieties that previously dominated commercial production in India. They are seed propagated, offer rapid maturation, higher yields and greater adaptability to varied soil and climatic conditions1.
Annual types may have significant variation in some cultural characteristics. Suthanthirapandian et al (1989) cited in Agricultural Forum (2012)1 studied the variability of nine traits in seedling populations of annual moringa. Among the traits studied, the number of flowers per inflorescence (19.0-126.0), fruit weight (25.0-231.5g) and yield by number of fruit per plant (1.0-155.0), showed widest variability.
Disadvantages of annual types compared with perennial types may include shorter lifespans, requirements for more frequent replanting and reduced genetic diversity.
Ayurvedic Classification
Three varieties of Moringa are referenced in Ayurvedic text books (Agarwal 2017).
- Shyama– black variety (most common),
- Shveta– white variety and
- Rakta– red variety. It is also called as Madhu shigru.
Varieties from India
AMAR 32
This variety was developed by Amar Seeds Pvt. Ltd, in the Pune area of the western Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a high yielding, rapid maturing variety, ready to harvest within 5-6 months of planting.
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety are available from our seed bank’s ONLINE STORE .
Andipatty is a semi-dwarf variety of undetermined origin. The quality and taste of leaves and pods are good. The pods are long and the number of seeds per pod—up to 22-25 is also higher than other varieties. The trees are allowed to reach a height of 25 feet and bear 30-35 branches. They are resistant to pest and diseases, and grow quickly even in poor soil (Duraisamy 2021).
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety may be available from our seed bank’s ONLINE STORE .
Anupama is a variety developed by the public sector for drumstick production variety released from Kau, India.. We do not have additional information about it.
Bhagya KDM1 is a fast growing, perennial dwarf or semi-dwarf variety.
History of Development: Bhagya KDM was developed by Drs. B. M. Madalgeri and Ravindra Mulge of the Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi at Paramaddi, Karanataka. It was from selection of plants from the variety Periyakulam 3 (PKM 3) beginning in 1998 and released in 2011. Seeds of this institute-developed variety were in high demand locally but the lack of promotional activities and limited supplies limited plantings and awareness of it outside of the Karnataka.
Characteristics: This is a semi-dwarf variety suitable for high-density planting and can be maintained at a height of two to four meters by pruning and training. They flower after 100 to 110 days from planting and harvesting of the pods can begin in 160 to 180 days. The fruit length is of a desirable medium length of 45 to 75 cm.
Yield: The trees produce 350 to 400 pods in the first year and 800 to 1000 in the second year, a yield of 17-20 tons per acre. They can be maintained in production for 15 years. Borer infestations and poor management practices may reduce the yield and productive life of the trees requiring replanting after 8 to 10 years (Haraman 2020; USB 2021).
Oil Content: Testing performed by International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) methods at a nationally accredited laboratory in India indicated that the seeds have a crude oil content of 37+1 %, and an oil content of 30 – 33%.
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety are usually available from our seed bank’s ONLINE STORE
Bombay. A variety of uncertain origin and characteristics mentioned in Radovich (2011).
Chemmurungai is a regional ecotype of the Jaffna moringa, which was a perennial type introduced into India from Sri Lanka. This variety is high yielding and bears pods throughout the year. The tips of its pods are red (TNAU 2017).
Coimbatore 1
This variety is widely available in India and considered superior for drumstick production and quality. Drumsticks are from 45-60cm long with two harvests per year. Tree yield product for eight to ten years. For additional information on this variety refer to the AgriFarming Drumstick Farming Guide (Anonymous 2017).
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety may be available from our seed bank’s ONLINE STORE .
Coimbatore 2
This is now a more popular variety than Combiatore 1 in Tamil Nadu with bulky, shorter drumsticks (25-35cm long). It is a high yielding produces 500 to 900 pods per plant. The production life of the trees is from three to four years.
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety may be available from our seed bank’s ONLINE STORE by July 2023.
Dhanaraj (S 6/4) is a dwarf variety was developed by TNAU. The trees have a canopy of only 2.00 – 2.5m in height. It flowers early in 7-8 months, is high yielding (250 -300 pods/plant/year) and of good cooking quality (TANU 2017).
Dhanraj
The following information was provided by our supplier of seeds of this variety in India and was edited to improve organization and clarity:
History of Development: Developed at the Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi at Paramaddi, Karanataka.
Characteristics: The trees grow to a height of 4 – 6 meters and come to flower in 90 – 100 days after planting. The first harvest starts 160-170 days after planting.
Yield: Each tree produces an average of 200-225 pods per year.
Availability: Seeds of this variety are expected to be offered for sale from our ONLINE STORE by July 2023.
Durga is a regional landrace identified by farmers or others. We do not have additional information about it.
G.K.V.K. -1, G.K.V.K. -2 and G.K.V.K. -3 are improved drumstick varieties developed by the public sector.
Seed Availability. We do not have seeds of these varieties in our seed bank.
Jaffna
This traditional perennial variety has been grown in the Thangachimadam area of India from cuttings originally brought from Jaffna, Sri Lanka during the cargo service between India and Sri Lanka. It grows very well in coastal sandy soils. A 40 year old tree produces 1500 drumsticks (pods) from March – June. It is not usually affected by pests and diseases (TANU 2021).
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety are usually available from our seed bank’s ONLINE STORE
Kadumurungai (Kadu) is a perennial wild ecotype of uncertain origin producing small inferior quality pods (Kadhar Mohideen et al.,1982) cited in Agricultural Forum (2012). Another reference indicates that is actually a wild form of Moringa concanensis found in the forest of Tamil Nadu (TANU 2017).
KM 1. A TNAU recommended variety (TNAU 1). It is also preferred annual variety in the growing areas of southern India.
Kodikkal murungai is a perennial ecotype grown predominantly in the betel vine growing areas of the Tiruchirapalli district of Tamil Nadu. The trees are short statured with small leaves (TANU 2017).
Konkan Ruchira is a variety developed by the public sector. We do not have additional information about it.
MOL’E
MOL’E is a non-GMO cultivar developed by Advanced Biofuel Center (ABC) of Moringa India for leaf production in highly intensive cultivation (Maharshi 2020a, 2020b). According to information provided by DP Maharshi, Founder and CEO of ABC, the trees reach a height of 1-2 m and are planted 20 to 60 apart in rows 60-120cm apart. This arrangement allows for continuous harvesting of leaves.
Some of the other claimed characteristics of this variety are:
- Life span of 5-8 years
- Days from planting to first leaf cutting: 50
- Harvests per year: 5-7, depending on climatic conditions
- Number of plants per ha: 30,000 – 167,000
- Wet biomass per ha: 90-500 tons
- Dry leaf weight is 6% of wet weight
- Protein content of fresh leaves is 10%, dry leaves 22% and dry leaf powder 29%. (It is unclear why the reported protein content of the dry leaves and leaf powder differs).
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety are available from our seed bank’s ONLINE STORE
MOMAX3
MOMAX3© is a named perennial, non-GMO, proprietary variety for seed oil production developed by Advanced Biofuel Center (ABC) of Moringa India in a research program that began in 2008 (Maharshi 2020a, 2020b). ABC’s research team identified and collected 42 high-yielding Moringa oleifera candidates and evaluated genetic association and variability in seed and growth characteristics to develop improved varieties. MOMAX3© released in 2016 was the product of that research program. According to the developer it is the world’s highest yielding variety for seed oil production. The seeds have an oil content of 40%.
Some of the other claimed characteristics of this variety:
- Life span of 15-20 years
- Seeds per pod: 16
- Weight of 100 seeds: 30.2g
- Pods per tree in first year: 350-500
- High Yield: 5-9 tons of seeds per ha per year
- Uniform growth and maturity
- Harvest frequency: twice a year
- Free from pests and diseases
- Withstands adverse growing conditions
The trees are shown in a video provided by ABC here.
Seed Availability. We do not have this seed variety in our seed bank and are not authorized to distribute it at this time.
Moolanur is is a perennial semi-dwarf dwarf ecotype cultivated by farmers in Tamil Nadu. The trees reach a height of 15 feet. The pods are 30-53cm long with soft flesh. One tree yields about 500-600 pods per year. The trees can be maintained up to 15 years without pruning (TANU 2017, Duraisamy 2021).
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety are usually available from our seed bank’s ONLINE STORE
MS Series
MS01 and MS02 are believed to be perennial types with high productivity and germination rates intended for large scale planting. MS01 is a variety apparently developed in India by the private sector [Ancient Greenfields PVT LTD (AGF)]. We have not confirmed the description of MS01 and do not have information on the characteristics of MS02.
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety are usually available from our seed bank’s ONLINE STORE
Multiplex is a PKM1 and PKM2 hybrid dwarf with a maximum height of 4-6 meters. It produces pods twice a year with a yield of 200-350 pods per tree. The trees have wide adaptability (Duraisamy 2021).
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety are usually available from our seed bank’s ONLINE STORE
MX3
A high yielding variety of undetermined origin suitable for seed oil extraction. The seeds have an oil content reportedly in the range of 35-40%.
Oil Content: Testing performed by International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) methods at a nationally accredited laboratory in India found that the seeds in Lot # MO-IND(P)-MX3-03 have a crude oil content of 37+1 %, and an oil content of 35 – 38%.
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety are usually available from our seed bank’s ONLINE STORE .
Oddanchathiran (ODC)
This famous drumstick variety being grown widely across India appears to have been developed with both public and private sector efforts. It was apparently named after Oddanchatram, an area in the Dindigul district in the southwest of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
ODC is favored because of its reduced water and fertilizer demand, high pod yield, taste, shelf life and consumer preference. [Thampalayagowder (2017) et al.]. It can be planted with the normal spacing of 3 m row to row distance, and 2.4 plant to plant distance, or in 2 m row to row spacing and 1.5 m plant to plant spacing for intensive cultivation with 1200- 1500 plants per acre. The trees grow rapidly and three months after planting they begin profuse branching. Pods reach edible size 65 days after flowering. The anticipated yield per plant is 200-300 pods and the total annual yield per acre is estimated to be about 25 -30 tons. Ratooned trees can be maintained for 10- 15 years. Every year the trees should be cut back 1 m from ground level (Thampalayagowder 2017 et al.)
ODC3. The description of the source and development of this subvariety provided by a seed supplier with editing for clarity follows:
“We visited number of ODC drumstick farms located in different states of India. From these farms we brought 45 samples and planted them in our own farm in 2012. This is a pure line selection from these trees developed by continuous selfing for six generations and was released in the year 2017. In each generation, we observed for various characteristics of the trees e.g., flowering season, fertilizer applications, water requirements, fruit set, taste, size, weight and yield but only those trees with desirable characteristics were selected. The resulting cultivar has these characteristics:
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- The fruits are fleshy and tasty.
- The trees flower within 3-4 months of sowing and pods are harvestable in 6 months.
- The trees grow to a height of 8–10 feet in a year and produce 6-10 primary branches.
- The flowers are in clusters of 50–200 per cluster.
- Only one pod usually develops from each cluster, and rarely 3-5.
- The pods are 2 feet to 2.5 feet long with a girth of 2.5 inches and weight of 70 – 80 grams with 80 % flesh.
- The average yield of the variety is 300 fruits per tree.
- The estimated yield is around 25 -30 tons per acre per year
Comparison with PKM Varieties. ODC 3 is reportedly a better variety to grow than PKM1 for several reasons (OMAR 2021):
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- The drumstick pods have a less grooved surface, look evenly fleshy, have greater girth, better taste, aroma and keeping qualities.
- Approximately twice the amount of oil produced per kilogram of seeds.
- Requires less water, is more drought tolerant and less susceptible to pests during drought conditions.
- Greater adaptability to fluctuations in weather and climate.
- Can be grown in a wider range of soil types.
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety are usually available from our seed bank’s ONLINE STORE
Palamedu
The following information was provided by our supplier of seeds of this variety in India and was edited to improve organization and clarity:
Characteristics: This is an annual variety. The pods are 60 cm long, with a pod weight of 95-100.
Oil Content: Testing performed by International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) methods at a nationally accredited laboratory in India determined that the seeds of this variety have a crude oil content of 37+1 %, and an oil content of 30 – 33%.
Availability: Seeds of this variety are expected to be available for sale from our ONLINE STORE by July 2023.
PAVM. The PAVM variety was developed by a farmer in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu and is in wide use. It is a high yielding drumstick variety that starts yielding pods from the 5th or 6th month of planting. The variety is propagated from by cuttings made by air layering (Prabu 2009).
Seed Availability. We do not have seeds of this variety in our seed bank.
Periyakulam 1 and 2 (PKM1 and PKM2) are the two most common and commercially viable annual varieties for pod production. They were developed by the Horticulture Research Station of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in southern India. These varieties revolutionized the food production industry in India, rapidly replacing 60% of the old long-lived (perennial) moringa species in the southern states of India because of their wide adaptability to various soils, suitability for areas with shorter growing seasons and colder climates. While these two varieties have marked advantages over perennial species, as annuals, they may need to be replanted more often, usually producing for four to five years before they have to be replaced. Refer to the Agricultural Forum reference (Anonymous 2012) for summary characteristics and comparison of these two varieties.
Periyakulam 1 (PKM1)
TNAU released the variety in 1989. It was developed from trees collected in the Eppothumvendran area of the Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu and is a pure line selection from continuous selfing for six generations. It is propagated only from seeds.
PKM1 is an early variety of bushy form and medium to dwarf size, reaching a height of 4 m in the first year after planting and it regrows rapidly after cropping. The leaves are wide and dark green on the upper side and pale green on the lower side. This variety is suitable for leaf production in high intensity cultivation and may be the most widely planted variety for large scale plantation drumstick production. It can produce flowers within 3-4 months of sowing, and the first pods in just 6-7 months. Though the flowers are in clusters of 25–150 per cluster, only one pod usually develops, rarely 2–4. The pods attain an edible size 65 days after flowering, are 45 – 75 cm long, of uniform length and color, tender even in late harvest, and good tasting. Their flexible form reduces breakage and they have an extended shelf life. Each tree produces 200-400 pods. They have a potential pod yield of 50-54 tons per hectare, seed yield < 1 ton. A full characterization of the oil from seeds of this variety has been reported (Lalas and Tasaknis 2002).
This variety is suitable for growing in a wide variety of well drained soils and on stubble lands that have been used to produce other crops. It has reduced water and fertilizer requirements (TANU 2017; Maharshi 2020a, 2020b; et al.).
Periyakulam 1 (PKM1) Ecotype from Nicaragua
We have obtained seeds of this variety grown in Nicaragua and some of them were planted in small varietal trials here on Hawai`i island. One trial was conducted at a low elevation dry, unirrigated farm site located near South Point; the other was at a higher elevation farm on the north coast near Honokaa, an area that receives heavy rainfall. In both trials the Nicaraguan seeds outperformed PKM1 seeds from India, and were one of the best performing varieties overall. We believe that this may because the Nicaraguan trees may be better adapted to our volcanic soils than their Indian counterparts. They may have been grown for multiple generations away from pollinators of Indian origin forming a new landrace.
This outcome illustrates the importance of testing seeds from diverse sources when planning farm operations in areas where moringa has not been previously grown.
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety from trees grown by several sources in India and the one ecotype from Nicaragua are available from our ONLINE STORE.
Periyakulam 2 (PKM2)
This variety is a higher yielding hybrid derivative of a cross between MP 31 (Eppothum vendran local) and MP 28 (Arasaradi local) and was released in 2000. It is propagated from seeds.
PKM2 is an improvement over PKM-1 with more lateral branching, desirable for production of more leaves at a lower height for ease of harvesting, and pods with more flesh than seeds. It produces an average of 240 fruits per tree with an average yield of 98 tonnnes/ha. The pods can be harvested in 7-8 months from planting and are long, about 125-130 cm with a girth of 8.40 cm and an average weight about 280 g. They are fleshy (70% flesh), with lower fiber and good cooking quality. Each tree produces about 220 pods per tree and they have an average pod yield of 98 tons per hectare, seeds less than 1 ton.
PKM2 is suitable for growing for in different cropping systems, can be maintained as a ratooon crop for three years and grows in most soil types with good drainage. According to a TNAU website, optimal planting densities for maximum yield differ for these two varieties. For PKM1 spacing is 1.5 X 1.0 m with two plants/hill; for PKM2 the closest spacing of 1.2 x 1.2 m. PKM2 requires more water than PKM1. It is also suitable for intercropping as an intermediate crop with coconut and tropical fruit orchards (TANU 2017; Maharshi 2020a, 2020b).
Seed Availability. Seeds from India of this variety are available from our online store.
PKM3
The variety Bhagya KDM1 was repotedly developed from selections made from this variety at the Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture. Additonal information about PKM3 is not available.
Periyakulam 1 (PKM1) Dwarf. One of the more common dwarf varieties. We have been are growing this variety in containers to observe its characteristics. The plants have been growing well for 2-3 years, are producing pods and do not appear to be root bound.
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety are currently out of stock.
Periyakulam 2 (PKM2) Dwarf. One of the more common dwarf varieties.
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety are available from our seed bank’s ONLINE STORE
Periyakulam 2 (PKM2) Extra Dwarf Hybrid is a variety was developed by Tamil Nadu Agricultural Unviersity (TANU). It was a hybrid derivative developed by a cross of MP31 X MP28. The pods are fleshy, 128 cm long and weigh 280 g each. They can be harvested in 7-8 months of planting and the trees can be ratooned three times. The yield is 98 tons per hectare.
We have not been able to replace our seeds of this variety. A small amount of seeds from one tree grown at our facility in Hawai`i is sometimes available. These are the products of open pollination and may be crosses with standard varieties blooming at the same time.
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety are out of stock.
Punamurungai or Palmurungai? is a perennial ecotype grown in home gardens of Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts (TANU 2017). It is preferred for its thick pulp and taste but other references describe it as bitter and the variety unpopular.
Rohit 1
A variety developed by a farmer, Balasaheb Marale, at Sinnar, Nashik District in the northern region of the Indian state of Maharahtra. He obtained 18 varieties from other areas, planted them on his farm in 1999, observed them for about 5 years and developed this variety from these trees. The first pods are produced 4 to 6 months after planting and the trees are productive up to 10 years. A five year old tree produces 585 to 650 drumsticks, or about 45 to 50 kg per year. In irrigated, well-drained soils the yield is 7 to 12 tons per irrigated acre.
The pods are dark green in color, 45 to 60 cm in length, the pulp is soft and tasty and the keeping quality is very good.
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety are usually available from our seed bank’s ONLINE STORE
Saragvais is a regional landrace identified by farmers or others. We do not have additional information about it.
Sarpan SD2
A medium sized, perennial variety developed by Dr. Nijagunadev Gaddagimath of Dharwad’s Sarpan Agri Horticultural Research Center and Sarpan Hybrid Seeds.
Its pod size ranges between 15-18 inches and they are fleshy, pulpier and soft-seeded. As a very high-yielding hybrid, the mature trees yield between 300-500 pods per plant. It has two flushes of pods, the first between December- March with heavy fruiting, followed with a smaller crop by June-July. Pruning of the plant material above 5-6 feet every alternate year is recommended to manage the canopy spread and for easy harvesting of the pods (Hariman 2020).
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety may be available from our seed bank’s ONLINE STORE .
Shobhanjana. A dwarf variety of undetermined origin.
Seed Availability. Limited quantities of seeds of this variety are usually available from our seed bank’s ONLINE STORE
Yalpanamis a regional landrace identified by farmers or others. We do not have additional information about it.
Yazhpanamis a regional landrace identified by farmers or others. We do not have additional information about it.
Valayapatti
Characteristics: A perennial ecotype type cultivated in and around the the Usilampatti, Andipatti areas of Tamil Nadu. The pods are around 65 cm long, and weigh about 120 g.
Yield: The yield is reported to be 1000-1200 pods per tree (TANU 2017).
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety may be available from our seed bank’s ONLINE STORE by July 2023.
Dwarf and Semi-dwarf Indian Varieties
Several compact varieties of Moringa oleifera have been developed in India. Information on the origins of some varieties is scant but dwarfs known to be derived from the annual, determinant height PKM1 and PKM2 varieties are the most widely available.
The dwarf varieties are most suited for gardeners with limited outdoor space and for growing permanently in containers. They can be grown indoors in cold climates or moved indoors during the winter in temperate climates.
The true dwarf varieties have the same general form as their standard sized counterparts but generally grow to a maximum height of only about 1.0 – 2.5 meters (3 – 8 feet). The standard forms can grow to 10 – 12 meters (30 – 40 feet) if untrimmed. Semi-dwarf varieties with intermediates heights are also available. As with the standard sized trees, dwarf and semi-dwarf trees should be trimmed regularly to encourage side branching and maximize leaf production. Start trimming when the tree is about 1 meter (3 feet tall). It may be necessary to cut the trees down to about 50% repeatedly to force side branching. Untrimmed trees will grow quickly to their maximum height with most of the leaves and pods at the top. It may be necessary to cut the these overgrown trees down to about 50% of their height repeatedly to force side branching.
Another advantage of the dwarf trees is that may be less likely than the standard varieties to become root bound when grown in containers. The photo below is of the root ball of a PKM-2 extra dwarf tree grown in a pot for several years. Examination of the root system revealed development of several tubers with small roots. There was no root circling or other indications of the tree being root bound.
Listing of the Varieties:
Dwarfs
Bhagya KDM1
Dhanaraj (S 6/4)
Periyakulam 1 (PKM1) Dwarf
Periyakulam 2 (PKM2) Dwarf
Periyakulam 2 (PKM2) Extra Dwarf Hybrid
Semi-dwarfs
Andipatty
Moolanu
Multiplex
Shobhanjana
Refer to the alphabetic listings above this section for additional information on these varieties.
Varieties from Other Regions
Chavakacheri is an ecotype of the perennial Jaffna moringa, which was introduced into India from Sri Lanka (TANU 2017).
Chemmurungai is another regional ecotype of the Jaffna moringa, which was a perennial type introduced into India from Sri Lanka. This variety is high yielding and bears pods throughout the year. The tips of its pods are red (TNAU 2017).
Congo-Brazzaville. This name was applied to trees growing in neighborhood gardens around the Marien Ngouabi University Campus in Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Oil obtained from the seeds of these trees has been characterized, exhibits good physicochemical properties and could be useful as edible oils and for industrial applications (Nzikou et al. 2009).
Jaffna (Yazhpanam). A drumstick variety from Sri Lanka introduced into Southern India and cultivated commercially in the Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts of Tamil Nadu (TNAU 2017). The natural antioxidants present in the seed oil of this variety has been determined and compared with that of other vegetable oils (Bhatnagar and Krishna 2013). There are three other varieties from Sri Lanka distinguished by the color and length of the pods (Anonymous 2012).
Malawi. A variety from Malawi. The the seed oil from this variety has been characterized and the antioxidants identified (Lalas and Tsaknis 2002; Tsaknis et al. 2002).
Seed Availability. Seeds of believed to be of this variety are available from our ONLINE STORE.
Mbololo is a variety developed by the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KFRI) of Nairobi, Kenya. It grows well in our area without irrigation, is wind resistant and a heavy pod producer.
Oil from the seeds of this variety has been characterized (Tsaknis et al. 1999). It has high resistance to oxidation and a high ratio of monounsaturated to saturated fatty acids that may make it an acceptable substitute for olive oil in the diet. (Tasakinis et al. 1999) [20]
Seed Availability. We have lost our supplier of seeds of this variety. Very very limited quantities may be available from our ONLINE STORE. Also available are seeds from the tree shown below growing at Discovery Harbour, Hawai`i. These seeds were from open pollination in a varietal trial where many other varieties were present.
Peru (Unnamed Variety)
Seed lots from trees grown in Peru have been the best performers in two small varietal trials on volunteer farms here on Hawai`i island. One trial was conducted at a low elevation dry, unirrigated farm site located near South Point; the other was at a higher elevation farm on the north coast near Honokaa, an area that receives heavy rainfall. One of the farmers is growing moringa for production of fresh leaves and reported that the leaves from the Peruvian trees had the best flavor and tenderness of the many varieties planted.
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety are available from our ONLINE STORE.
South Texas (STX-1 and STX-2)
These cultivars were developed by Toni Ramirez of Lorado, Texas (Ramirez 2016). The following information was obtained and excerpted from personal communications and his seed advertisements:
The growing area were the cultivars were developed is in a dry, subtropical desert area of South Texas on the eastern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert. The climate there has high summer temperatures reaching 112ºF and higher, and mild winters with temperatures sometimes reaching freezing or slightly below for brief periods. Over a period of 35 years the grower evaluated many strains of Moringa oleifera and selected these two varieties, finding them to be to be the most tolerant of conditions in this growing area.
STX-1
“This is an indigenous landrace non-GMO strain which is quite cold-hardy, heat and drought tolerant, fast-growing, and very productive. STX-1 concentrates most of its energy into leaf production, and less on flowering and pod production. Flowering can take up to two or more years to begin.
Since STX-1 produces very few pods, leaf production is heavy and continuous. Pod production is low with short, thick pods under 20 inches in length.
STX-1 will also tolerate increased soil moisture and can be grown in areas with colder winters than STX-2. In South Texas, STX-1 withstood 25 degrees with minimal damage while STX-2 was decimated. STX-1 resists cold, heat, drought, excess soil moisture, and wind better than PKM-1 and STX-2.” STX-1 is also a very long-lived strain of Moringa with some trees living over 25 years in the growing area.”
Seed Availability. Seeds of this variety are available from our ONLINE STORE.
STX-2
“This is an improved non-GMO landrace variety developed through pure line selection from the PKM-1 variety. It is somewhat less cold-hardy than STX-1, but just as heat and drought tolerant. STX-2 is extremely fast-growing, highly productive, and can begin to flower in less than 90 days from planting, and at less than three feet tall. It is a strong producer of leaves and a heavy producer of very large pods of 24-30 inches in length. Pod production on STX-2 can be so heavy that the branches and pods will literally be dragging on the ground from the weight. The grower believes that the STX-2 rivals or exceeds the qualities and productivity of the PKM-1.”
Seed Availability. Small amounts of seeds of STX-1 and STX-2 are available from from our ONLINE STORE. These were obtained directly from the grower/developer of these varieties in South Texas.
Varieties of Other Moringa Species
We are not aware of varieties or any named cultivars of Moringa species except for Moringa oleifera (Indian moringa).
Reference List
Agarwal, V. 2017. The magical moringa by: Vanita Agarwal. http://www.ayurvedacollege.com/articles/students/MagicalMoringa [Accessed May 30, 2017].
Anonymous. 2012. Agriculture Forum. All about moringa. http://greenagrow.blogspot.com/2012/11/all-about-moringa.html [Accessed May 30, 2016].
Anonymous. 2017. Drumstick farming detailed information guide. http://www.agrifarming.in/drumstick-farming/ [Accessed May 30, 2017].
Bhatnagar AS, Krishna A.G.G. 2013. Natural antioxidants of the Jaffna variety of Moringa Oleifera seed oil of Indian origin as compared to other vegetable oils. Grasas Y Aceites. 64 (5):537-545.
Deng L-T, Wu Y-L, Li J-C, OuYang K-X, Ding M-M, Zhang J-J, et al. 2016. Screening reliable reference genes for RT-qPCR analysis of gene expression in Moringa oleifera. PLoS ONE 11(8): e0159458. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0159458.
Duraisamy L. 2020. Moringa International, India. Personal communication.
Duraisamy L. 2021. Moringa International, India. Personal communication.
Hiraman. 2020. Bhagya KDM & Sarpan 2: Next-Gen Moringa Varieties. Sunday Farmer. September 8, 2020. https://sundayfarmer.wordpress.com/2020/09/08/bhagya-kdm-sarpan-2-next-gen-moringa-varieties/ [Accessed 12 September 2021].
Lalas S, Tasaknis J. 2002. Characterization of Moringa oleifera seed oil variety “Periyakulum 1”. J Food Composition and Analysis. 15: 65-67. DOI: 1006/jfca.2001.1042.
Maharshi DP. 2020a. Personal communications.
Maharshi DP. 2020b. Most Popular Moringa Seed Varieties. Building on Success. A Fresh Perspective. https://medium.com/@dpmaharshi/most-popular-moringa-seed-varieties-1e31e974aee4 [Accessed 26 November 2020].
Nzikou JM, Matos L, Moussounga JE, Ndangui CB, Kimbonguila A, Silou Th, Linder M, Desobry S. 2009. Characterization of Moringa oleifera seed oil variety Congo-Brazzaville. J. Food Technology. 7(3): 56-65.
Patil V. 2016. Drumstick, the game changer for him. The Hindu. April 3, 2016. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/drumstick-the-game-changer-for-him/article8427905.ece [Accessed May 30, 2017].
Prabu MJ. A farmer’s experimentation leads to a highly popular drumstick variety. The Hindu. January 29, 2009. Updated September 16, 2010. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sci-tech-and-agri/A-farmerrsquos-experimentation-leads-to-a-highly-popular-drumstick-variety/article15951226.ece [Accessed May 30, 2017].
Qian W., Anfei G. 2014. China, Cuba cooperate on moringa research. China Daily. 07JUL2014. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2014-07/28/content_17944672.htm [Accessed June 1, 2017].
Radovich, T. 2011 (revised). Farm and forestry production and marketing profile for Moringa (Moringa oleifera). In: Elevitch, C.R. (ed). Specialty Crops for Pacific Island Agroforestry. Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa Hawai’i. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/RadovichT/downloads/Moringa_specialty_crop.pdf [Accessed July 2, 2017].
Ramirez, T. 2016. Personal communications.
Ramu. 2021. How ODC 3 differs from PKM 1 Moringa? Farmnest.com. https://discuss.farmnest.com/t/how-odc-3-differs-from-pkm-1-moringa/31637 [Accessed 22 September 2021].
Singh, H.P. 2010. Moringa: A Crop of Future. Presentation to the Brain Storming Session on Moringa organized at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India, September 23, 2010. Available: http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/horticulture/pdf/Moringa%20-%20A%20Crop%20of%20Future.pdf [Accessed July 6, 2016].
Thampalayagowder R. 2017. An ODC Moringa Variety – Nutritious and High Yielding Drumstick. Agriculture at Department of Agriculture , Government of Tamilnadu – VIRALIMALAI – PUDUKOTTAI. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/odc-moringa-variety-nutritious-high-yielding-ramu-thampalayagowder-1 [Accessed 02 November 2020]
TNAU (Tamil Nadu Agricultural University). 2017. Advances in Production of moringa. http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/horticulture/pdf/Moringa%20English%20book.pdf [Accessed June 1, 2017].
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU). 2021. TANU AgriTech Portal. Traditional Vegetable Varieties Grown in Tamil Nadu. https://agritech.tnau.ac.in/itk/itk_crop_vegetables_Jaffna_Moringa.html [Accessed December 17, 2021]
Tsakinis J, Sapiliotis V, Lalas S, Gergis V, Dourtoglou V. 1999a. Quality changes of Moringa oleifera, variety Mbololo of Kenya seed oil during frying. Riv. Ital. Sost. Gras. 75(1): 21-27.
Tsaknis J, Lalas S, Gergis V, Spiliotis V. 1998b. A total characterisation of Moringa oleifera Malawi seed oil. Riv. Ital. Sost. Gras. 75(1), 21–27. Cited in Lalas and Tsaknis (2002).
UH (University of Hawaii). e2010-2015. Alternative crops and germplasm selection. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/RadovichT/lab-germplasm.html [Accessed May 30, 2017].
UHSB (University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkote). 2021. Crop Improvement – Variety developed and approved for release. https://uhsbagalkot.in/index.php/research/technologies-developed/crop-improvement [Accessed 12 September 2021]
This page was last updated on May 16, 2023.