SURVEY, EVALUATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF BLACK PEPPER CULTIVARS

A survey was conducted in the traditional pepper growing tracts of Thodupuzha and Meenachil ta- luks of Kerala during 1995. Thirty holdings per each taluk were selected. The pepper cultivars grown in these selected homesteads were evaluated for yield and yield contributing characters for the two years. Results showed that in Thodupuzha taluk, Neelamundi, Kaniyakkadan and Mundi performed best. In Meenachil ta- luk, Karimunda was the best during the first year. However, during 1997, Jeerakamunda was the highest yielder. Karimunda, the most popular cultivar in these areas recorded relatively poor performance.