Root colonization by the endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica improves growth, yield and piperine content in black pepper (Piper nigurm L.)

Plant growth and yield characteristics of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) on inoculation with the root endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica are reported. Experiments were carried out using plants raised from the lateral branches of black pepper which develop into miniature plants known as “bush pepper” that bear fruits in the same year of planting. P. indica (Pi) inoculated plants put forth more number of leaves and leaf area per plant compared to the control plants throughout the period of the experiment. There was significant difference between the inoculated and uninoculated plants with respect to the chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll content of leaf tissues. Early flowering and spike setting was observed in plants inoculated with Pi. The total fresh and dry weights of berries harvested from the Pi inoculated plants were significantly higher than that from the control plants. Inoculation with the fungus also increased the total oleoresin and piperine content in the berries.