Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
and Panniyur 3 showed better adaptability at higher temperature compared
to other varieties. This shows that climate change in terms of increased
temperature may affect growth and yield of black pepper and that it may
be possible to nullify it to a certain extent by growing varieties which are
least sensitive to temperature fluctuations.
11.2.5 CLIMATE CHANGE AND BLACK PEPPER DISEASES
Phytophthora foot rot is the major disease of black pepper, which affects
productivity. Nowadays, viral diseases are also becoming serious. Nema-
todes damage the root system of the plant. Phytophthora in association
with nematodes destroy the plants totally. Pollu beetle is the main insect
pest that feeds on pepper berries, thus bringing down the yield levels. A
three years study on the relationship between weather parameters and Phy-
tophthora foot rot at Horticultural Research Station, Pechiparai revealed
that foot rot was positively correlated with rainfall, number of rainy days
and relative humidity, and negatively correlated with maximum and mini-
mum temperatures (Jayasekhar and Muthusamy, 1999). In Karnataka also,
studies revealed that high RH and well-distributed rainfall supported the
disease development. Significant negative regression between disease se-
verity and rainy days, RH and significant negative correlation between
maximum temperature and disease development was recorded (Shamarao
and Siddaramaiah, 2002). Similar results were also reported by Arasum-
allaiah et al. (2008) and Ramachandran et al. (1988). A daily rainfall of
15.8-23 mm, RH of 81-99%, temperature range of 22.7 °C-29.6 °C and
sunshine hours of 2.8-3.5/day during the peak monsoon period of the year
are conducive for the maximum development of the disease (Anandaraj
and Sarma, 1994). This implies that climate change (decrease in rainfall
and increase in temperature) is likely to reduce the severity of the disease.
Climate change in cardamom hills of Kerala has resulted in increased in-
cidence of anthracnose disease of black pepper (Murugan et al., 2012).
Highest population densities of
M. incognita
on black pepper root were
observed during the first half of the dry season (Thuy et al., 2012) indicat-
ing that frequent drought may increase the population density of
M. incog-
nita
on black pepper roots. Black pepper berry damage by pollu beetle was
highest in the plains, and it was very low at higher elevations (300-900 m
a.s.l.) and absent at >900 m a.s.l. (Kumar and Nair, 1987). All these studies
indicate that climate change in terms of increase in temperature, decrease
