Browsing by Author "Sujatha, V S"

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Agrotechniques for including plagiotrops in black pepper (piper nigrum L)
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2014) Ramnarace Sukhna; Sujatha, V S
The investigations on “Agrotechniques for inducing plagiotrops in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)” were conducted under three experiments at the pepper research unit attached to the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University Main Campus, Vellanikkara during 2012-2014. The first experiment was carried out with an objective to elucidate the effects of treatments T1 - IBA 1000 ppm, T2 - cow dung slurry, T3 - tender coconut water, T4 - two per cent sugar and T5 - charcoal paste in enhancing sprouting and root characters in two to three node semi hard wood orthotropic and runner shoots. The effect of different treatments on sprouting was varying in different months. The minimum time recorded from planting to initiation of sprouting in orthotrops and runners was 17 days. Maximum sprouting was observed on 21 and 28 days after planting in runners and orthotrops respectively. There was no significant difference among the treatments with respect to the length of primary roots, number of secondary roots/ plant, weight of roots (g), volume of roots (ml) and number of leaves/ plant in runners and orthotrops. The second experiment was aimed at evaluating rooted orthotrops and runners in the field. Three months old rooted orthotrops and runners planted in the field showed that the height at which first lateral was produced was much lowered in orthotrops than runners. However plant spread was better in runners. The third experiment was conducted to study the influence of pruning, tipping and lowering on the growth of black pepper. Pruning carried out six months after planting showed that unpruned plants produced more number of orthotropic shoots in both Panniyur 1 and 2. Pruning at ten months after planting did not have significant effect on the number of orthotropic shoots produced both in Panniyur 1 and Panniyur 2. When pruning was done six months and ten months after planting, the height at which first lateral was produced was much lower in pruned plants compared to the unpruned plants. Tipping immediately after planting had a negative effect on the number of orthotropic shoot produced and plant spread. However, the height at which first lateral was produced was lower in tipped plants compared to the untipped plants but the difference was not significant. When tipping was carried out three months after planting there was significant lowering of height at production of first lateral but plant spread was more in untipped plants. Lowering had significant positive effect on number of orthotropic shoots produced and plant spread in both Panniyur 1 and Panniyur 2.
Analysis of the processing practices of rubber latex by the small holders in Alathur taluk
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Sasi, M K; Sujatha, V S
Crop-standard interactions in black pepper (Piper nigrumL.)
(Department of plantation crops and spices, College of horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2007) Manjusha, C M; Sujatha, V S
Black pepper, known as the King of Spices, is the most widely used spice in the world. Providing ideal support plays an important role in successful establishment of black pepper plantation. A study was carried out at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture to unravel the interaction patterns of the Black pepper vines with different standards (supports) and to select the standard(s) ideal for trailing pepper. Black pepper var. Panniyur 1 trailed on 17 different standards (16 live + one dead) served as the experimental material. Characterisation of rhizosphere soil of pepper and root and shoot level interactions between pepper and standards were studied. Marked variations in the soil chemical and biological properties were noticed among the rhizosphere soil of different pepper-standard combinations. Significant variation was observed for pH, available Na, Mn, Cu and Zn in surface soil and available Na, Ca, Fe and Cu in subsurface soil. Available Mn and Cu had a significant negative influence on the dry yield of pepper. The rhizosphere region from which plants derive most of their nutrients are considered to be the seat of intense microbial activity. Variation in the microbial population of fungi, bacteria especially nitrogen fixing bacteria (NFB) and phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB) and actinomycetes was significant in the rhizosphere soil of pepper trailed on different standards. Population of NFB and PSB was higher in the rhizosphere soil of pepper vines trailed on Artocarpus and Garuga and lower in Ailanthus and Erythrina. No significant variation was observed among various treatments with regard to dehydrogenase and phosphatase activities of rhizosphere soil. To assess the extent of root competition between black pepper and standards on which they are trailed, 32P soil injection technique was employed. Procedure involved applying 32P at the effective foraging space (EFS) of black pepper followed by quantification of radioactivity absorbed by pepper and standards. The standards viz. Ailanthus, arecanut, coconut and Grevillea had a complementary interaction with the pepper vine associated with them with respect to 32P uptake. Artocarpus, Azadirachta, Bombax and Pajanelia also exerted a similar effect but to a lesser extent. The other standards had a competitive influence on pepper based on the uptake pattern of 32P. For example, Erythrina had a more extensive root system than pepper and that pepper and Erythrina explore same extent of soil surface (Sankar et al., 1988). The effect of different standards on growth, yield and quality attributes of pepper was found to vary significantly in most of the characters studied. Coconut was superior to all other standards for growth characters of pepper like height of bearing column, number of laterals per 0.25 m2, number of berries per spike and spike compactness and expressed higher values for spread at chest height, number of spikes per 0.25 m2 and spike length. All these characters had a positive correlation with yield. Pepper gave high yield when trailed on coconut, Ailanthus and Artocarpus and medium yield when trailed on Acacia, Azadirachta, Bombax, Caesalpinia, Erythrina, Garuga, Grevillea, Gliricidia, Pajanelia, Thespesia and teak pole. Foliar nutrient content of pepper was influenced by the standards used but had no significant correlation with yield of pepper. But the foliar nutrient status of standards had significant correlation with yield of pepper. Phosphorus, iron and copper had recorded a negative effect and Mn, a positive effect on yield. Based on the present study, it could be concluded that the pepper production can be raised substantially by trailing it on suitable supports like coconut, jack and Ailanthus. For quick establishment of pepper gardens using standards propagated through stem cuttings, Garuga was found better compared to other standards propagated in a similar way.
Cyto-morphological investigations in piper spp.
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1997) Ambili Anand; Sujatha, V S
Evaluation and characterisation of promising hybrids of long pepper (Piper longum L.)
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2017) Sruthy, K; Sujatha, V S
Piper longum L., commonly known as long pepper, belongs to family Piperaceae. The species has originated in South Asia. Piper longum is an important medicinal plant used in more than 300 ayurvedic preparations. Inspite of the importance of the species, „Viswam‟ is the only variety released so far. As a part of a KSCSTE funded project, hybridization studies were carried out at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara to develop high yielding types in Piper longum. In the preliminary evaluation trials, four hybrids were found promising. The present study entitled „evaluation and characterisation of promising hybrids of long pepper (Piper longum L.)‟ was conducted with the objective of evaluating these promising hybrids at different shade levels for growth, yield and quality and also to characterise them using molecular markers. The research was conducted in three experiments viz., evaluation of hybrids in pots at different shade levels, field evaluation of selected hybrids and molecular characterisation of promising hybrids and parents. Morphological characterisation of the accessions was done using IPGRI descriptor for Piper nigrum with necessary modifications. Variations were observed among accessions in shape of leaf, immature and mature spike color as well as shape of spike. Characters like plant height, number of primary branches per plant and time taken for production of first lateral were significantly different among hybrids. Flowering and fruit set were higher at zero per cent and 25 per cent shade compared to 50 per cent shade level. Field planted genotypes of P. longum showed significant difference in number of primary branches, internodal length of orthotropic as well as plagiotropic shoots and leaf area. Characters like pedicel length, spike length, spike girth and yield in terms of number of spikes per plant, fresh weight of spikes per plant and dry spike yield per plant also differed significantly. Among the hybrids evaluated in the field, Pl 9 followed by Pl 63 were found to be promising. They were significantly higher yielders compared to other hybrids, female parent and Viswam. Essential oil content was found to be uniform (0.8 per cent) in all the accessions except Pl 141 (0.83 per cent). Pl 9 showed maximum oleoresin (15.2 per cent) and piperine (3.47 per cent) content than other genotypes. For molecular characterisation using RAPD, 30 decamer primers were screened. From these ten best primers were selected. Six primers showed polymorphism between the male and female parents. The hybrids Pl 9 and Pl 63 were closely related with 92 per cent similarity. Pl 140 was found different from the rest of the three hybrids and it was grouped along with the parents. Among the accessions studied, Viswam showed highest variability from others. Among the hybrids evaluated, Pl 9 and Pl 63 were found to be promising in terms of yield. Pl 9 was superior in quality. These hybrids could be further evaluated in multi-location trials to explore the possibility of releasing as high yielding hybrids in future.
Evolving superior types in thippali (Piper longum L) utilizing bisexual variants
(Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2012) Anjana Chandran; Sujatha, V S
The study on “Evolving superior types in thippali (Piper longum L.) utilising bisexual variants” was carried out at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the period 2010 to 2012. The objective of the programme was production of Piper longum hybrids and back crosses and their evaluation for growth, yield and quality. The investigations consisted of three experiments viz., developing hybrids and back crosses, evaluation of hybrids in pots and preliminary evaluation of selected female and bisexual types in the field. To induce bisexual flowers using growth regulators, NAA 50 mg l-1, NAA 100 mg l-1 and BA 500 mg l-1 were applied. Vegetative growth and spike production were adversely affected by both concentrations of NAA and there was no inflorescence production in NAA treated plants. In BA 500 mg l-1 treated plants, there was a marginal increase in bisexual flowers. Utilising bisexual type as one of the parents, spike set and seed set could be obtained only in crosses involving bisexual types as male parent and pure female type as female parent. Maximum per cent of spike set was obtained during October followed by November and maximum seed set during July followed by September when bisexual type I was used as male parent. When bisexual type II was used as male parent, per cent spike set was maximum during December followed by October. However, seeds obtained were maximum during September followed by October. Back crossing was attempted using predominantly bisexual hybrids either as male parent or as female parent. Even though spike set was obtained, when predominantly bisexual hybrids were used as male parent and pure female as female parent, no seed set could be obtained. Detailed observations on vegetative characters were recorded in the hybrids produced under earlier projects (Kanimozhi, 2010; Sujatha, 2011). Leaf lamina was codrate, ovate-elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate. Variation was also observed for shape of leaf base like cordate or oblique. Margins of leaves were either wavy or entire. Venation was acrodromous in all hybrids, which is typical of Piper longum. Colour of immature leaves varied from light green to green and mature leaves from green to dark green. Hybrids showed high amount of variability for reproductive characters like sex form, spike shape, size, colour and per cent of flowers of different sex forms in a spike. Shape of spikes varied from filiform, cylindrical or globular. Colour of immature spikes were green, light green or yellow. Mature spike colour also ranged from light green, green, and dark green or yellow. During the present study, 169 seeds were produced, of which 32 seeds germinated. Observations on germination and early growth characteristics of seedlings were taken. Number of days taken for germination of seeds varied from 33 to 71 days. Number of days taken from germination to opening of cotyledonary leaf varied from 4 to 21. The first true leaf appeared in 10 to 33 days. Ten hybrids, either female or bisexual were selected for preliminary evaluation in the field. Two check varieties, pure female type and the variety Viswam were also planted. The design adopted was CRD with four replications. Even though, the key morphological characters were same for all the accessions, which were typical for Piper longum, high amount of variability was observed for quantitative characters like number of main branches, length of longest stem, length and width of leaves, length of petiole, number of spike bearing branches per stem, spike and pedicel length, fresh and dry weight of spike, yield and driage. Per plant yield was highest for Viswam followed by Acc. no. 9. Spike characters of Acc. no. 9 were comparable to Viswam. Oleoresin content of Acc. no. 9 was superior to Viswam but oil and piperine contents were lower. Pests and diseases scoring were also done. The main disease noticed was leaf spot caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and pests were not severe. Further detailed studies involving more promising hybrids are required to evolve superior varieties with high yield and quality.
Exploitation of bisexual varient in developing high yielding types of piper longum L.
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2010) Kanimozhi, K; Sujatha, V S
Piper longum L. is a dioecious medicinal species. Mature female spike is the officinal part. However, female spikes are small (2.0 - 3.0 cm) compared to male (6.0 - 7.5 cm). A bisexual variant (Acc.P25) was identified in P. longum (Sujatha and Nybe, 2007) with spikes as long as male spikes. The present investigation was undertaken with the objective of studying the reproductive biology of Piper longum L. and for developing long spiked high yielding varieties of Piper longum L. Reproductive biology Spikes were cylindrical and creamy white in female. In male and bisexual types, immature spikes were green, changing to dull yellow on maturity. Time taken for attaining full length of spike was 22 days in female, 43 days in male and 46 days in bisexual types. Anthesis and anther dehiscence were between 7.30 am and 4.30 pm with a peak between 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. Pollen fertility was maximum at 9.30 am (42.54 per cent). Complete opening of flowers in an inflorescence took seven days in male, female and bisexual types. Complete dehiscence of anthers also took one week in male and bisexual inflorescences. Developing bisexual types Effect of growth regulators in developing fully bisexual inflorescences in Acc.P25 indicated that GA3 (5 ppm, 10 ppm and 50 ppm), BA (100 ppm and 500 ppm) and Boron 3 ppm could induce fully bisexual spikes. Different methods of pollination showed that dry method was the most effective for getting seed set in P. longum L. In selfing and crossing experiments, seed set could be obtained only in crosses involving female type as female parent and bisexual type as male parent. Maximum seed set was obtained during September, under dry method of pollination. Seeds germinated in 21- 69 days. Cotyledonary leaves opened in 2 to31 days. The first true leaves opened in 2 to 41 days.
Influence of tribal development rubber planting project on the socio-economic status of the kani tribes of Nedumangad taluk, Thiruvananthapuram
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1997) Harikumar, K; Sujatha, V S
Investigations on yellowing of black pepper (piper nigrum L.)
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2019) Maddirala Surendra; Sujatha, V S
Isoenzyme variation and species relationship in genus piper
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1996) Abraham Sebastian; Sujatha, V S; Nybe, E V; Sreekandan Nair, G; Augustine, A
Eleven species of Piper including Piper rugrum were studied for variations in isoenzymes of three enzymes viz., peroxidase, esterase and glutaraate oxaloacetate transaminase. On grouping based on isoenzyme similarity, P. nigrum Linn.. P. pseudonigrum Velayudhan and Amalraj, P. bababudani Rahirnan and P. galeatum DC formed one group while P. argyrophyllum Miq. and P. attenuatum Buch-Hara constituted the second group and P. chaha Hunter, P. hapnium Miq. and P. colubrinum Link emerged as the third group. P. betle Linn, and P. longum Linn, showed their distinctness from the rest of the species. Least similarity was observed between P. colubrinum on one side and P. pseudonigrum and P. bahabudam on the other side.
Isoenzyme variation in curcuma with special reference to Curcuma longa L.
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1999) Renu Joseph; Sujatha, V S
Isoenzyme variation in different plant parts and at different stages of leaf development in Piper nigrum L.
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1996) Abraham Sebastian; Sujatha, V S
Isoenzyme variation in Piper nigrum L.
(Kerala Agricultural University, 2000) Abraham Sebastian; Sujatha, V S; Nybe, E V; Sreekandan Nair, G; Mallika, V K
Isoenzyme patterns of 26 varieties of P. nigrum were compared for three enzymes viz., csterase, peroxidase and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase. Similarity among the varieties ranged from 0.40 1.00. Wide variation was observed among the cultivated types of P. iiignini for the three enzymes analysed.
Isoenzyme variation in Piper spp.
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1995) Abraham Sebastian; Sujatha, V S
The study on “Isoenyme variation in piper spp. Was conducted in the Department of plantation Crops and Spices , college of Horticulture , Vellanikkara , Thrissur from June 1993 to December 1994. Material included 11 species of the genus piper including piper nigrum linn . Maximum accessions available in each species were analysed for three enzymes viz., peroxidase, esterase and GOT using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis The selection of ideal part for electrophoresis for each enzyme was done based on observations of banding pattern of stem, root and different maturity stages of leaf. Root was selected for peroxidase and tender leaf was selected for esterase and GOT in all species except in p.attenuatum Buch –Ham and P.betle Linn. Where for GOT root was selected. Isoenzyme pattern of 26 varieties of p.nigrum were compared for peroxidase esterase and GOT. When all the three enzymes are taken in to account maximum similarity of ‘one’ was observed between Kottanadan and Ceylon and also among Perumunda, Malligesera and Nilgiri-4. On grouping the 11 species of piper based on isoenzyme similarity p. nigrumLinn., p. pseudonigrum Velayudhan and Amalraj, p. bababudani Rahiman and p.galeatum DC formed one group, p.argyrophyllum Mig. And p.attenuatum Buch-Ham second group and p. chaba Hunter, p. hapnium Miq. And p.colubrinum Link . third group.p. betle Linn. And p.longrum Linn. Showed their distrinctiness from the rest of the species. Least similarity was observed between p.colubrinum on one side and p.pseudonigrum and p.bababudani on the other side (similarity index 0.0512)
Kurumulaku
(Kerala Agricultural University, 2012) Sujatha, V S
Molecular characterization of piper species usiing RAPD technique
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2002) Murugan, C; Sujatha, V S
The study on "Molecular characterization of Piper species using RAPD techniques" was conducted in the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices and CPBMB, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur from December, 1999 to August, 2001. Material included 13 species/accessions of the genus Piper including Piper nigrutn Linn. These were analysed with 20 selected oligomer decamer primers using PCR technique and agarose gel electrophoresis. The selection of ideal DNA isolation technique was done based on observations of purity of bands, quality of the DNA bands and quantity of DNA recovered. The protocol of Edwards et al. (1991) was selected for DNA isolation with additional step of chloroform-isoamyl alcohol treatment. Fifty decamer primers were screened using DNA. of P. nigrum and 20 were selected based on the number of bands produced, reproducibility of the bands and distinctness of the RAPD profile. RAPD profile of the 13 species of Piper were compared for genetic similarity index (using Jaccard's coefficient), with all 20 selected primers separately. Pooled similarity of the twenty primers put together was found out for 9 species which gave amplification for all the 20 selected primers. The results of pooled analysis was subjected to cluster analysis (SAl-IN) and phenetic dcndrogram was constructed employing UPGMA. Four clusters were obtained, comprising of two accessions of P. nigrum In the first, two accessions of P. longum in the second, P. colubrinutn and P. attenuatum forming the third cluster and P. chaba, P. belle and P. arboreum forming the fourth.
Proceedings of the seminar of Post Graduate students (2005 admission) - Vol III -Biotechnology
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices,College of Agriculture,Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 2006) Sujatha, V S; Mini Raj, N
Proceedings of the seminar of Post Graduate students (2005 admission)-Vol.1 Contd.-Crop management
(Dept of Plantation Crops and Spices,College of Agriculture,Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 2006) Sujatha, V S; Mini Raj, N
Proceedings of the seminar of post graduate students (2005 admission)-Vol.1- Crop management,
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture,Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 2006) Sujatha, V S; Mini Raj, N
Stock scion interaction in Piper nigrum L. grafts
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2019) Sarga George; Sujatha, V S
Black Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) also called ‘King of Spices’ and ‘Black Gold’, is one of the most widely used spices in the world, occupying a position that is supreme and unique. India is one among the countries where black pepper is being widely cultivated. However our productivity is low compared to other pepper producing countries in the world. Among the various factors limiting the productivity of Indian pepper, a soil borne disease called foot rot caused by Phytophthora is of prime importance. Piper nigrum is highly susceptible to Phytophthora foot rot. It has been reported that some South American Piper spp. are immune to Phytophthora. Interspecific crossing between Piper nigrum and immune species has not been successful so far. Grafting on resistant rootstock is a method to escape soil borne inoculum. The present study was conducted to assess the stock and scion interaction in grafts of Piper nigrum L. on different South American species of Piper immune to Phytophthora foot rot and to standardize the best time of grafting. The study was carried out as three experiments, viz., grafting studies, anatomical studies on Piper species and anatomical studies on graft union at different stages of development. Orthotropic as well as plageotropic shoots of P. nigrum, variety Panniyur 1 was grafted on three South American Piper species viz., P. colubrinum, P. auduncum and P. arboreum. Grafting of Piper nigrum on the same species was also done to study the feasibility of such grafting. The trial was laid out in completely randomized design. When orthotropic shoot of P. nigrum was used as scion, highest grafting success was recorded by the grafts of P. nigrum on the same species (100%) followed by the grafts on P. colubrinum (96.66%), P. auduncum (66.66%) and P. arboreum (46.66%). Graft survival after one year of grafting was 90.00, 83.33 and 33.33 per cent for P. nigrum/P. nigrum, P. nigrum/ P. colubrinum and P. nigrum/ P. auduncum grafts respectively. Survival of P. nigrum grafts on P. arboreum was very limited. None of these grafts survived for more than three months after grafting. Irrespective of rootstocks, the best month identified for grafting orthotropic shoot of P. nigrum was March. Although, self grafts showed highest per cent success in grafting, based on the growth of grafted plants (six month old), grafts on P. colubrinum was found to be the best with highest plant height (120.55 cm), number of nodes (18.91) and internodal length (6.32 cm). The graft recovery was less when plageotropic shoot of P. nigrum was used as scion. The highest per cent success was recorded by the grafts of P. nigrum on the same species (93.33%) followed by the grafts on P. colubrinum (66.66%), P. auduncum (36.66%) and P. arboreum (26.66%). March was identified as the best month for grafting plageotropic shoot of P. nigrum on P. nigrum, P. auduncum and P. arboreum. However, grafts on P. colubrinum performed best when grafted during June. Graft survival after one year of grafting was 66.66, 30 and 16.66 per cent for P. nigrum/P. nigrum, P. nigrum/ P. colubrinum and P. nigrum/ P. auduncum grafts respectively. Survival of P. nigrum grafts on P. arboreum was very limited. As far as the growth of grafted plants was concerned, highest growth was shown by the grafts of P. nigrum on the same species. In the anatomical studies of Piper spp. it was observed that, Piper species exhibited a peculiar arrangement of vascular bundles. Two rings of vascular bundles comprising of an outer, cortical and an inner, medullary bundles were observed in all the four Piper species examined. Mucilage canal was present only in P. nigrum while an additional medullary bundle was observed in P. colubrinum. Large pith region was the characteristic feature of P. auduncum and P. arboreum. Examination of graft union at three, six and twelve months after grafting revealed that, graft union formation was completed by six months after grafting. One year old P. nigrum/ P. colubrinum grafts and P. nigrum/ P. auduncum grafts exhibited the formation of a dense necrotic area at the graft interface. Based on the observations, it can be concluded that, due to the peculiar arrangement of vascular bundles in Piper species, matching of all the vascular bundles of stock and scion is difficult. However, complete union of parenchymatous tissues of stock and scion was formed within six months after grafting. But, a proper cambial connection between the grafting partners was not evident. Further studies need to be conducted to find out the reasons for the development of dense necrotic area at the graft interface.