Abstract:
Calliclones of different black pepper cultivars viz., Kalluvally, Cheriakanyakkadan, Balankotta,
Karimunda and Panniyur-1 were regenerated from calli, screened against toxic metabolite(s) of Phytophthora
capsici. The regenerants derived from screened and unscreened calli were further tested for resistance /
tolerance to P. capsici using different methods of screening viz., natural screening (keeping in infected field),
screening by electrolyte leakage method and screening by artificial inoculation with culture disc of P. capsici.
None of the regenerated calliclones was found to be completely resistant to the disease in natural screening.
However, some of the regenerants derived from unscreened calli exhibited higher degree of tolerance to the
disease revealing the possibility of exploiting somaclonal variation for Phytophthora foot rot disease
screening in black pepper. The calliclones of Cheriakanyakkadan recorded greater degree of tolerance to the
disease as compared to others.
