TY  - BOOK
AU  - Satheesan K N 
AU  - Nybe E V (Guide)
TI  - Physiological and biochemical aspects of flowering, berry set and developement in Black Pepper
U1  - 633.8 
PY  - 2000///
CY  - Vellanikkara
PB  - Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture
N2  - Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is an important cash crop of Kerala and 
contributes significantly to the agrarian economy of the State. In spite of 
achievements in crop improvement and technological advances In crop 
management, the productivity of black pepper is consistently low. Hence an 
experiment entitled 'Physiological and biochemical aspects of flowering, berry set 
and development in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)' was conducted at Pepper 
Research Station, Panniyur and College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1997 
to 1998 to analyse the physiological basis of productivity in this crop. The 
objectives of the experiment were to trace the chronological events in the growth 
and development of laterals and to analyse the influence of morphological, 
physiological, biochemical and photosynthetic parameters on productivity and to 
elucidate the seasonal pattern in the accumulation of photosynthates in component 
organs of the laterals. The cultivar Karimunda and a hybrid, Panniyur 1, were 
selected for the study. 
Flushing of the vines commenced within a week after continuous rains 
during the monsoon in June and the variety Panniyur 1 was earlier to flush. The 
leaf area development completed in about 35 days in both the varieties. Fresh and 
dry weights of leaf increased till 50 days after flushing and thereafter these 
parameters registered wide fluctuation up to berry maturity. Leaf production was 
more in Karimunda and upper canopy levels produced more leaves. The 
plastochron index was 23 days on an average in both the varieties. 
There was synchronous flushing and flowering and the emergence of spike 
was delayed up to 6-9 days after flushing among the varieties. Spike growth was 
completed within 35-42 days after emergence. The fresh weight of spikes 
increased up to 150 days after berry set. The number of spikes produced per 
lateral and per vine was significantly higher in Karimunda and spike production 
was more in the upper canopy levels. 
 
The fresh weight and volume of berries increased up to 165 to 180 days 
after berry set and increase in dry weight continued for another fortnight. The 
extension growth of laterals ceased after a period of 13 to 14 weeks. 
The leaf and spike productions in the laterals were more in Karimunda and 
the leaf area was more in Panniyur 1. The leaf production, leaf area and spike 
production increased towards upper canopy levels. 
The total fresh weight and dry weight of the lateral during a season was 
more in Panniyur 1 and was higher in the upper canopy levels. Biomass 
partitioning to the spikes at berry maturity period also showed superiority of 
Panniyur 1. Partitioning of fresh weight and dry weight was in the decreasing 
order of spike, leaf and stem in Panniyur 1, while this was in the order of leaf, 
spike and stem in Karimunda. The partitioning of fresh weight and dry weight to 
spikes were also more in the upper canopy levels. 
Spike length, berry size, number of developed berries and total number of 
berries per spike, average spike weight and green and dry pepper yield was more 
in Panniyur 1. However, more number of spikes per lateral and per vine were 
observed in Karimunda. 
Specific leaf weight and spike to leaf ratio were higher in Karimunda and 
leaf area duration was more in Panniyur 1. The variety Panniyur 1 recorded a 
higher average leaf photosynthetic rate compared to Karimunda. Maximum 
photosynthetic rate coincided with flushing and flowering, and the spike bearing 
laterals recorded higher photosynthetic rate. 
Stomatal conductance, leaf surface temperature, transpiration, vapour 
pressure deficit and PAR at leaf surface recorded by the leaves are more in 
Panniyur 1. The sub-stomatal C02 level and stomatal resistance of leaves were 
higher in Karimunda. The leaves of the upper canopy recorded higher stomatal 
conductance, sub stomatal CO2 level, transpiration rate, leaf surface temperature, 
PAR and VPD. The stomatal conductance, sub stomatal CO2 and stomatal 
resistance declined gradually towards berry maturity. Transpiration rate, leaf 
surface temperature and VPD increased towards berry maturity. 
 
Chlorophyll development was completed in 35 days after flushing and 
chlorophyll 'a' and total chlorophyll content of leaves were higher in Karimunda. 
Middle canopy recorded more chlorophyll content and spike bearing laterals had 
higher chlorophyll content of leaves. 
Carbohydrate content was more in the leaves of Panniyur 1 while the 
phenolic content was higher in Karimunda. There was no significant difference in 
the amino acid content between varieties. Carbohydrate accumulation was more in 
the lower canopy while the upper canopy levels recorded higher phenolic and 
amino acid contents. The carbohydrate and amino acid contents of leaves 
fluctuated with the season while the phenolic content of leaves was almost stable 
except at berry maturity. The spike bearing laterals recorded more foliar 
carbohydrates, phenols and amino acids. 
The electrpophoretic pattern of proteins in the berries showed variation 
between varieties. The number of bands seen was six and eight respectively for 
Karimunda and Panniyur 1. 
The pattern of partitioning of labelled photosynthates among component 
organs showed that in Karimunda, maximum amount of photosynthates were 
fixed by the fed leaf itself during flushing, flowering and berry set. In Panniyur 1, 
except at flushing stage, the berries partitioned the maximum labelled 
photosynthates. During all the stages, the percentage of labelled photosynthates 
partitioned by the spikes was higher in Panniyur 1 compared to Karimunda. 
Fresh weight and dry weight of the lateral, fresh weight and dry weight of 
spikes, number of developed berries in a spike, spike length and number of spikes 
showed significant correlation with dry pepper yield. Leaf photosynthetic rate, 
chlorophyll and carbohydrate content of leaves also were significantly associated 
with economic yield in black pepper. 


UR  - http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810015085
ER  -