Performance of black pepper (Piper nigrum L., var. Panniyur-1) trained on different shade trees as live standards

Thepraductivity of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) mainly depends on moisture content of soil and light availability. Mathai & Chandy (1988) reported that low productivity at the lower parts of the canopy in black pepper is due to low light availability to the vines at this region. &nbsp

Enhancement of yield in nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) through pruning

Enhancement of yield in nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) through pruning &nbsp

Performance of black pepper (Piper nigrum L., var. Panniyur-1) trained on different shade trees as live standards

Thepraductivity of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) mainly depends on moisture content of soil and light availability. Mathai & Chandy (1988) reported that low productivity at the lower parts of the canopy in black pepper is due to low light availability to the vines at this region. &nbsp

Evaluation of small cardamom accessions for moisture stress

High biomass and high yielding cardamom genotypes viz., Green gold, Mysore-2, APG 277,Malabar-18, Compound panicle 7 (CP 7) and Hybrid 36 were screened for moisture stresstolerance. Clonally propagated seedlings were planted in cement pots and grown for one anda half year with recommended package of practices under rainout shelter with three replicationsand two treatments (control and moisture stress). Moisture stress was imposed by withholdingirrigation for two months. Data on morphological and physiological parameters related todrought tolerance were recorded at the initiation, middle and end of stress.  Plant height andnumber of leaves per clump did not record significant variation among the accessions at theinitiation of stress.  Number of dried leaves increased under stress in all genotypes at themiddle of stress.  Compound panicle 7 recorded higher reduction in biomass at end of stressperiod compared to all other accessions. Variation in relative water content between thetreatments was non significant. Chlorophyll florescence yield reduced significantly undermoisture stress treatment compared to control. Results indicate that genotypes Mysore 2,Green gold and Malabar 18 have better adaptability to drought conditions. &nbsp

Status of major nutrients in soils of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) plantations in Kodagu District, Karnataka, India

Soils were collected from various cardamom (EZellaria cardamomum) plantations in Kodagu District (Karnataka, India) and assessed for nutrient status. The soils were acidic (5.0 to 6.6 pH) in nature with high organic carbon content, which decreased with depth of the soil. The soils were medium (56.82%) to high (43.18%) in available nitrogen, low (79.55%) in available phosphorus and low (38.63%) to medium (52.27%) in available potassium. The soil profile collected from cardamom fields indicated relatively higher level of available nitrogen and organic matter than from uncultivated area due to recycling of organic materials in the former. The organic carbon content was correlated positively and significantly with available nitrogen content. &nbsp

Status of major nutrients in soils of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) plantations in Kodagu District, Karnataka, India

Soils were collected from various cardamom (EZellaria cardamomum) plantations in Kodagu District (Karnataka, India) and assessed for nutrient status. The soils were acidic (5.0 to 6.6 pH) in nature with high organic carbon content, which decreased with depth of the soil. The soils were medium (56.82%) to high (43.18%) in available nitrogen, low (79.55%) in available phosphorus and low (38.63%) to medium (52.27%) in available potassium. The soil profile collected from cardamom fields indicated relatively higher level of available nitrogen and organic matter than from uncultivated area due to recycling of organic materials in the former. The organic carbon content was correlated positively and significantly with available nitrogen content. &nbsp

Heterosis for seedling characters in cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton)

A study was conducted to assess the nature and extent of relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis and economic heterosis in cardamom (EZettaria cardamomum) hybrids under nursery conditions. Among the 54 cardamom hybrids evaluated for seedling characters, NKE-9 x NKE-34, NKE-19 x NKE-12, NKE-3 x RR-1 and NKE-34 x NKE-12 were the best for plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf length and leaf breadth, respectively. No positive and significant economic heterosis was observed in the hybrids for number of leaves per plant. Nine hybrids exhibited significantly higher and positive heterobeltiosis and economic heterosis for all the characters studied except number of leaves per plant. &nbsp

Studies on multiple branching panicles in cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton)

Field investigations were carried out at Kodagu (Karnataka, India) to study the nature of branching of panicles in 49 entries of cardamom (EZettaria cardamomum) of Malabar type (CI-37, prostrate type). Considerable variations in the nature of branching and basal branching, terminal branching and uniform branching throughout the length of the main axis of the panicle were observed. The pattern of branching was secondary and tertiary in nature. The 49 entries were also assessed for growth and panicle characters and considerable variations were observed for number of tillers, number of bearing tillers, number of panicles per plant and number of branches per panicle. The number of panicles per plant ranged from 12-148 and number of branches ranged from 17-31 per panicle. &nbsp

Occurrence of teleomorphic phase of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu lato, the incitant of black pepper anthracnose

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu lato, the ascomycetous pathogen is a major constraint in black pepper cultivation. In the present study, surveys carried out in black pepper cultivating regions of Karnataka, India revealed the prevalence of anthracnose disease manifested as diverse array of foliar symptoms. An atypical foliar symptom was also noticed in the black pepper nurseries, characterized by grayish necrotic lesions with brown-blackish margins and randomly distributed blackish structures of pin-head size in the lesion area manifested particularly on the older leaves. The pin-head structures produced orangish exudation embedded with asci, ascospores and perithecia, when incubated under high humid conditions. Typical anthracnose symptoms were developed on susceptible host in pathogenicity studies and subsequent isolation yielded two distinct colonies designated as black and orange. The perithecia were induced artificially under in vitro conditions, which retained fertility and infectivity more than three months. Alternation of generation was observed when the perithecia were cultured on potato dextrose medium which resulted in the formation of acervuli with abundant conidiation. The results of present investigation shed light into the occurrence and potential role of perithecial (teleomorphic) phase in the survival of C. gloeosporioides s. l. infecting black pepper

Screening small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) field gene bank accessions for phenotypic characters, yield potential and disease resistance

Evaluation of 117 field gene bank accessions of small cardamom for phenotypic characters along with yield potential and disease resistance (rhizome rot and leaf blight) at ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research Regional Station, Appangala revealed significant variation with respect to phenotypic characters. The highest plant height (350 cm) and number of bearing tillers (36.4) were recorded in the accessions, field gene bank (FGB) 65 and FGB 16, respectively. The highest fresh weight of capsules (399.61 g) and maximum number of capsules (244.20) plant-1 were recorded in the accession, FGB 13. Further, based on screening for disease resistance, 35 and 15 accessions of cardamom were identified as resistant to leaf blight and highly resistant to rhizome rot, respectively. Based on the multivariate cluster analysis, 117 FGB accessions were classified into 5 clusters viz., clusters 1 and 2 encompassing equal number of accessions (44), cluster 3 with one accession (FGB 10), clusters 4 and 5 with 8 and 20 accessions, respectively