Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), known as the “king of spices,” is one of the world’s oldest and economically important spices. Native to the Malabar Coast of India, it is now cultivated in several tropical countries. However, its production and productivity are severely constrained by several diseases, which represent one of the major challenges to sustainable cultivation. Among these, Foot rot, caused by Phytophthora capsici and slow decline disease, associated with soil-borne pathogens such as Fusarium spp. and Meloidogyne spp., are major constraints. These diseases cause root damage, stunted growth, wilting and eventual plant death. Although chemical pesticides are commonly used for disease management, excessive use poses environmental and health risks. Beneficial endophytic and rhizosphere bacteria hold considerable potential as plant growth promoters, enhancing growth through nutrient solubilization, nitrogen fixation, phytohormone and siderophore production, while suppressing phytopathogens through antimicrobial activity and induction of plant defense responses.
Abhija, S.P., Sebastian, A., Dinesh, A., et al., 2026. Plant growth promotion and biocontrol potential of endophytic and rhizosphere bacteria associated with black pepper (Piper nigrum L.). Biotica Research Today 8(9), 161-164.
Biocontrol, Black pepper, Endophytic bacteria, Rhizosphere bacteria
Kollakkodan, N., Anith, K.N., Nysanth, N.S., 2021. Endophytic bacteria from Piper colubrinum suppress Phytophthora capsici infection in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) and improve plant growth in the nursery. Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection 54(1-2), 86-108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03235408.2020.1818493
Lau, E.T., Tani, A., Khew, C.Y., Chua, Y.Q., Hwang, S.S., 2020. Plant growth-promoting bacteria as potential bio-inoculants and biocontrol agents to promote black pepper plant cultivation. Microbioligical Research 240, 126549. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micres.2020.126549
Ngo, V.A., Wang, S.L., Nguyen, V.B., Doan, C.T., Tran, T.N., Tran, D.M., Tran, T.D., Nguyen, A.D., 2020. Phytophthora antagonism of endophytic bacteria isolated from roots of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.). Agronomy 10(2), 286. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10020286
Nysanth, N.S., Divya, S., Nair, C.B., Anju, A.B., Praveena, R., Anith, K.N., 2022. Biological control of foot rot (Phytophthora capsici Leonian) disease in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) with rhizospheric microorganisms. Rhizosphere 23, 100578. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rhisph.2022.100578
