Influence of growth hormones and plant growth promoting rhizo microorganisms on root and shoot growth of plageotropic cuttings of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)

Abstract

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is the major spice crop of India finds wide application in traditional medicine and modern pharmaceutical industry. The fruits are reported to have stimulant, expectorant, carminative, anthelmintic and other properties. Pepper is highly exacting in its soil and climatic requirements, which limits its cultivation in nontraditional areas. Cultivation of pepper in pots as bush pepper can overcome the above limitation. Plageotropic cuttings are difficult to root than runners. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different growth hormones and plant growth promoting rhizo-microorganisms on root and shoot growth of cuttings. Out of nineteen treatments tried, treatment T8 (IBA 1000 ppm) proved to be the best by recording highest primary (8.83), secondary (71.17) roots and maximum root length (18.88 cm) followed by T5. Maximum shoot length (5.99 cm) and number of leaves per shoot (2.33) were recorded in treatment T5 (Azospirillum lipoferum 10ml/cutting).