Abstract:
Systematic studies were carried out in centre for Advanced Studies, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara to study different aspects of rooting of cuttings and anatomy of the root initiation and development in black pepper. For propagation studies, four different types of planting materials viz., runners (stolons), growing shoots (orthotrophs), hanging shoots (geogrophs) and laterals (plageotrophs) were treated with seradix-B, IAA, IBA, and IAA + IBA combination each at 500, 1000 and 1500 ppm concentrations planted under mist and open conditions. The results revealed that in all the planting materials IBA 1000 ppm treatment was superior with regard to rooting percentage and other root growth parameters such as number, length, fresh weight and dry matter production of roots.
Regardless of the growth regulator treatments, mist had pronounced influence on root growth in all the planting materials. However, mist decreased the shoot weight and shoot/root ratio particularly in the final stages of observation.
All the planting materials except laterals rooted readily during March but laterals recorded maximum rooting during June. Though there was not much difference among the planting materials with regard to their rooting ability, laterals were shy rooters and produced roots only after six weeks of planting while all other types produced root readily within three weeks of planting.
For anatomical studies, rooting regions of the cuttings from all the treatments were used. The tissue origin of roots was found to be the parenchyma situated in the interfascicular region and three steps were identified in the process of root development. Structure of the stem and roots were also studied and described.
