Standardization of nursery media for propagation of orthotropic shoots of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) in pro-trays

An experiment was conducted to assess the influence of nursery media on sprouting and rooting of the orthotropes of black pepper using protrays. The orthotropic shoot cuttings planted in the media consists of cocopeat + vermicompost + Pseudomonas fluroscense (T₆) recorded least number of days to first sprouting (9.00) and complete sprouting (19.87). This treatment also shows significance for sprouting parameters, i.e., highest sprouting (87.48%), sprout length (14.50 cm) and leaf parameters, i.e., number of leaves (5.00), total leaf area (449.59 cm²), leaf area index (7.99). Treatment T also recorded highest fresh (8.71 g) and dry (3.03 g) weight of shoot, survival (81.83%). Root parameters i.e., rooting (80.65%), number of primary (8.67) and secondary (58.89) roots, root volume (6.84 cc) and thickness (4.26 mm), fresh (4.75 g) and dry (0.68 g) of root and total dry matter (3.71 g) were also shows significance difference in the treatment T₆.