Attfl-1 gene homolog in spike branching black pepper type (Piper nigrum L.) and local variety karuimunda

Abstract

Spike branching in black pepper is very rare phenomenon. Profuse spike branching is observed in an uncharacterized black pepper type from idukki district of Kerala. Single spike had three to four times more berry yield, compared to improved varieties such as Panniyur-1. This type needed to be characterized at morphological and molecular levels to know its parental descendence and possible involvement of gene regulation responsible for spike branching. As an initial approach, molecular analysis was done to find out the presence of tfl-1 homolog which has been reported to be involved in inflorescence branching in modal plants.