Susceptibility of in vitro black pepper plant to the filtrate from a Fusarium solani f. sp piperis culture

This study assesses the alterations in morphology and in vitro growth, of Bragantina cultivar and the interspecific hybrid (Apra x Guajarina) of black pepper plants (Piper nigrum) cultured in vitro with addition of filtrate from a Fusarium solani f. sp. Piperis culture. Cuttings from rooted plants were transferred onto MS medium with 0, 20, 30, 40 and 50 % (v/v) fungal filtrate. After 45 days, morphology changes and growth reduction of genotypes in both root and aerial portions of plants were observed. The average stem and internode length were larger for Bragantina, but the hybrid performed best in terms of number and length of roots, average number of buds and leaves, total leaf area, total chlorophyll content although the number of senescent leaves were greater for the hybrid plants. The average accumulation of fresh and dry mass was also greater for the hybrids. The summation of results in terms of morphology and growth alterations of Bragantina and the hybrid plants indicates that the filtrate can serve as an in vitro alternative to quantify the susceptibility of black-pepper genotypes to toxins produced by the pathogen.