SOME ASPECTS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY OF FOOT ROT OF BLACK PEPPER

Abstract

Foot rot caused by Phytophthora palmivora is the most important disease of black pepper, Piper nigrum, and causes severe losses to the crop in many countries were pepper is grown. Studies on the disease incidence showed that the disease spread in a centrifugal fashion. The incidence was more in years of heavy rainfall during South west monsoon period. During July the temperature especially soil temperature used to be around 20-24°C for a few days when R. H. also used to be above 90%. The fungus was isolated in greater frequency during July-August mainly from stem, root and soil. The fungus could not be isolated in summer when the soil moisture was less and soil temperature high. The fungus was present at higher intensity at the basal soil and increased with increasing soil moisture. On the vines the fungus could be isolated in higher frequency from soil particles adhering to vines at 25-50 cm height than at higher points.