Influence of Carbohydrates, Mineral Nutrients and Plant Hormones in Alternate Bearing of Black Pepper (<i>Piper nigrum</i> L.)

Abstract

Alternate bearing habit, a common phenomenon prevalent in some of the fruit trees is observed in black pepper variety Panniyur-1 also. In this study, an attempt was made to investigate the role of carbohydrates, mineral nutrients and plant hormones (IAA and zeatin riboside) in alternate bearing in Panniyur-1 variety. The experiment was conducted for three consecutive years at Murugarajendra estate, Madikeri, Karnataka, India (12.42˚ N, 75.73˚ E). Carbohydrate, mineral nutrient and plant hormone (IAA and zeatin riboside) statuses of the leaves as well as fruiting branches (stem) were compared between good fruiting year (on year) and low fruiting year (off year). Results revealed that concentration of mineral nutrients in leaves was more during on year compared to off year while the reverse was true on the stem. Both stem and leaf metabolite levels at harvest were higher in off year compared to on year suggesting that remobilization of nutrients to the developing berries must have been affected during off year, thus leading to accumulation of more nutrients at harvest in off year compared to on year. Leaf had higher concentration of most of mineral nutrients compared to stem. Spraying of 1% solution of complex fertilizer 19:19:19 (percent N:P:K) three times at an interval of 3 weeks from flower primordial initiation to flowering period enhanced the yield to the extent of around 30% during off year. Auxin to cytokinin ratio was 6.6 and 6.1 in on year and 6.3 and 5.7 in off year at flowering and 3 months after flowering respectively, suggesting that this ratio itself may not play a major role in flowering during on and off years, though the ratio was slightly more during on year. Results of the study indicate that efficient utilization of metabolites and nutrients in on year may render vine weak in the subsequent year coupled with poor remobilization into developing berries, which could make it an off year.

Characteristics of Production and Quality of East Kalimantan Black Pepper

“…Tanaman lada termasuk tanaman yang rakus hara, artinya untuk dapat tumbuh dan menghasilkan dengan baik diperlukan unsur hara yang sangat banyak. Menurut Krishnamurthy et al (2013), pada varietas lada Panniyur-1, produksi dikendalikan oleh cadangan karbohidrat dan ketersediaan nutrisi pada saat inisiasi primordial bunga. Cadangan karbohidrat yang dikombinasikan dengan hormon auksin dan sitokinin sampai batas tertentu dapat berperan dalam inisiasi bunga dan pengisian buah lada.…”

Keragaan dan Produktivitas Perkebunan Lada Tumpangsari Kopi di Lampung Utara

“…Faktor-faktor lain yang berpengaruh adalah ketersediaan bibit unggul, perubahan iklim, serangan hama dan penyakit, harga yang rendah yang dapat mendorong petani mengganti pertanaman lada menjadi pertanaman lainnya (Karmawati et al, 2020;Krishnamurthy et al, 2011). Varietas cuaca dan keadaan unsur hara dalam tanaman akan menyebabkan terjadinya fluktuasi produksi lada yang disebut sebagai "alternate bearing" yaitu produksi lada yang lebat akan diikuti produksi kecil (Krishnamurthy et al, 2013).…”

Detection of biennial rhythm and estimation of repeatability in mango (Mangifera indicaL.)

“…Lavee (2007) found that the main endogenous and environmental factors and their interactions lead to the alternate bearing in olive. Krishnamurthy et al (2013) studied the influence of carbohydrate, minerals and hormones (IAA and zeatin riboside) on alternate bearing in black pepper (Piper nigrum L). Nafeez et al (2013) reported sustainable yield can be obtained in mango by managing irregular bearing through foliar spray of urea.…”