Influence of plant characters on yield in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)

Abstract

Data on 580 genotypes of black pepper were .utilised to estimate the correlations among yield and 20 quantitative characters. The results revealed that the reproductive characters viz., green spike yield per vine, green berry yield per vine, number of spikes per vine and number of under-developed berries per spike as well as the vegetative characters, thickness of node and intemode of orthotrope and angle of insertion of plageotrope are positively and significantly correlated with yield. The inter-correlations among these characters were also positive and significant. Path analysis revealed positive direct effect on yield by the characters green berry yield, spike number, spike length and angle of insertion of plageotrope. The effect of the remaining characters on yield were due to their indirect influence through other component characters.