Induction of rooting and root growth in black pepper cuttings (Piper nigrum L.) with the inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizae

An investigation was carried out to study the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) on induction of rooting and other root characteristics of pepper cultivar Panniyur-1. Among three AM fungi tried tested, the maximum percentage rooting was observed in cuttings inoculated with Acaulospora laevis (69.96%). Orthotropic cuttings showed a higher rooting percentage on inoculation with AM. Mycorrhizal inoculation also improved other root characteristics. Among the different AM fungi tried, Gigaspora margarita was efficient in producing the maximum number of primary roots and dry weight of roots, whereas the longest primary root was observed with the inoculation of Glomus fasciculatum. The plant P content was found to be higher in the inoculated plants. It was significantly higher in cuttings inoculated with G. fasciculatum (0.202%). The percentage root colonization and spore count were found to be higher in cuttings inoculated with A. laevis. The present investigation clearly showed the beneficial effects of inoculation with AM fungi which resulted in enhanced rooting and root growth in black pepper cuttings. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.