Development of Screening Method for Moisture Deficit Tolerance of Black Pepper Genotypes
M. Alagupalamuthirsolai *
ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Marikunnu P.O., Kozhikode, Kerala –673012, India.
V. Srinivasan
ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Marikunnu P.O., Kozhikode, Kerala –673012, India.
C. Sarathambal
ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Marikunnu P.O., Kozhikode, Kerala –673012, India.
C. K. Thankamani
ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Marikunnu P.O., Kozhikode, Kerala –673012, India.
K. S. Krishnamurthy
ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Marikunnu P.O., Kozhikode, Kerala –673012, India.
K. P. Subila
ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Marikunnu P.O., Kozhikode, Kerala –673012, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Black pepper is basically a rainfed crop in India. Drought is the chief abiotic stress causing up to 50-80% crop loss in black pepper. Lack of precise screening methodology to develop moisture stress tolerant lines is a limiting factor in black pepper productivity. To develop a rapid screening methodology, a laboratory experiment was conducted with rooted black pepper cuttings under hydroponic culture. The experiment was designed in a completely randomized with four replications. Moisture stress was imposed with six different concentrations of Polyethylene glycol-6000 (5, 8, 10, 12, 15 and 20 per cent) along with control in black pepper cv. Panniyur-1, IISR-Thevam, IISR-Sreekara and IISR-Girimunda. The results showed that Panniyur-1, IISR-Thevam, IISR-Sreekara and IISR-Girimunda at the PEG-6000 concentrations of 8%, 10%, 10%, 10% respectively reduced per cent cuttings survival almost by 50% Lethal dose (LD50) after 10 days of PEG stress and also, a significant increase in proline was recorded up to 10% PEG-6000. Hence, 10% PEG-6000 appears to be an ideal concentration for screening black pepper genotypes for moisture stress tolerance.
Keywords: Black pepper, moisture stress, screening, PEG-6000, proline