Relationship between damages of stem, branch and roots, and the pepper vine decline syndrome in Johore

A. Mohd. Anuar and C. F. Loh

Abstract

In a survey carried out in MARDI Research Station, Kluang, pepper yield from Iess-vigorous vines were found to decrease. Damage to the nodes of climbing stems by the pepper weevil, Lophobaris piperis, as well as damages to the roots and underground stems were shown to be closely associated with the occurence of leaf loss and vine decline. The number of lateral branches and fruit spikes were also significantly but negatively correlated with the amount of weevil's damage to the climbing stems. Similarly, root and underground stem damage also affected vine conditions and yield significantly. Fusarium sp. and Pythium sp. were two fungi pathogens corsistently found on all the pepper vines sampled, regardless of their slate of vigour and condition. However, the role of these fungi in the decline syndrome was probably secondary.

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