Pollination in black pepper

SCIENTIFIC STUDIES conducted at the Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut have helped to elucidate the pollination mechanism in black pepper.

The role of rain water in pollen disposal, the role of insects as pollinating agents and the ability of self pollination in black pepper were investigated using bush pepper of three black pepper varieties viz., Karimunda, Panniyur - 1 and Aimpirian.

In all the 3 varieties the result was alike. About 86-95 per cent selfing (self pollination) was observed in the varieties when the spikes of the varieties were protected from water or insects by enclosing them in polyethelene bags.

Research studies conducted at Kerala Agriculture University, Trissur also support this finding.

The pollengrains from the anther lobes of the top most flowers in a spike fall downwards, once dehiscence takes place.

The pendant nature of the spike and the chronological order of maturity of the flowers in the spike is very handy for the downward movement of the pollengrains and fertilization. The receptive stigma in the lower part of the spike will be waiting for the pollengrains.

(The male part in the flower is represented by two white anther sacs on either side of the female part, the stigma, in pepper flower. There will be many such flowers in a single spike).

Once pollengrain falls on the stigma, fertilization takes place. Pollengrain can remain viable even upto 5 days after the opening of the flowers.

B. Sasikumar Indian Institute of Spices Research Calicut, Kerala 673 012

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