IPB University Successfully Breeds Indonesia's First Local Habanero Chilli Varieties

Plant breeding expert at IPB University, Prof Muhamad Syukur, has successfully developed four local habanero chilli varieties: Tabia Sala 1 IPB, Margi 2 IPB, Tabia Sala Oranye IPB, and Tabia Sala Kuning IPB. These are the first habanero-type chillies to be officially registered with Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture and to receive Plant Variety Protection (PVT) rights. “Essentially, there were no habanero chillies in Indonesia before. Only the Katokkon Sayang from South Sulawesi was registered. So, the first to receive variety protection for the habanero type is our creation from IPB University,” said Prof Syukur, a professor in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at IPB University, in a statement on Tuesday (14/7). The key attraction of this innovation is the extraordinary heat level, measured using the Scoville heat units (SHU) scale, which can be five times spicier than common bird’s eye chillies. Each variety has distinct colour and heat characteristics. “Tabia Sala 1 IPB is red with an extreme heat level reaching 1 to 1.3 million SHU. Margi 2 IPB is peach-coloured with a heat level of 350–500 thousand SHU. Tabia Sala Oranye IPB is orange and Tabia Sala Kuning IPB is yellow, both also with a heat level of 350–500 thousand SHU,” Prof Syukur detailed. Beyond their heat, the main advantage of these IPB-bred habaneros lies in their adaptability. Imported habanero chillies generally have low adaptability in tropical climates, whereas these IPB varieties are specifically designed to be robust and resistant to pests and yellow leaf curl disease. The seeds for all four varieties have been disseminated by Benih Dramaga, making them widely accessible to farmers across Indonesia. Prof Syukur hopes these new chilli varieties will be adopted by both farmers and industry, seeing strong potential in domestic and global markets. “Domestically, the demand for high-heat chillies is very large because it can reduce the total amount of chilli needed. A processing company in Bogor is interested in developing chilli powder from the IPB habanero varieties. Additionally, there is significant potential for export to Korea as a material for making hot packs used during winter,” he explained. The research team began the variety development process in 2020. Over the six-year research journey, the team faced various challenges in the field. “Firstly, sustainable funding. Secondly, limited land and the need for greenhouses. Thirdly, supporting human resources, from breeding assistants and field assistants to field workers. Fourthly, supporting facilities such as expensive equipment for heat analysis,” he concluded.