Recipient Organization
COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA
PO BOX 1179
KOLONIA POHNPEI,FM 96941
Performing Department
COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION
Non Technical Summary
In Micronesia, non-availability of disease-free and elite seedlings, shortage of trained agricultural professionals, and limited skills of farmers for commercial production have caused serious decline in black pepper production.Therefore, this project is specifically designed to develop micropropagation and nursery management systems to produce elite seedlings in bulk quantities, and provide appropriate recommendations and adequate opportunities to educate and train participants in commercial organic black pepper production.
Animal Health Component
80%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
80%
Developmental
10%
Goals / Objectives
The project aims towardsdeveloping commercial organic black pepper production in Micronesia by providing elite and disease-free seedlings, appropriate recommendations for commercial, organic and climate resilient farming systems, and developing skills and improving knowledge of farmers.The objectives of this study are: 1) Collect black pepper germplasm and establish in vitro cultures of collected germplasm; 2) Develop efficient micropropagation protocol for multiplication of collected germplasm; 3) Develop acclimatization and nursery management systems to produce elite seedlings for commercial organic farming; 4) Design comparative study of conventional cultivation and commercial, organic and climate resilient farming systems; 5) Implement and conduct research trials at multiple sites and collect data for analysis; 6) Develop and publish commercial organic black pepper farming guide; and 7) Provide recommendations for commercial, organic and climate resilient black pepper production.
Project Methods
To accomplish the task of black pepper micropropagation for elite seedlings production, and comparison of local practices and commercial cultivation methods, successfully, entire project plan, which comprises of seven main objectives, is divided into three phases according to year wise time framing.In the first and second year of the project, first three objectives will be taken up. Out of remaining four objectives, work on fourth and fifth objectives will be carried out in the third and fourth year. And in the fifth year rest of sixth and seventh objectives will be completed. Record of all the information and research data collected will be maintained in the computer and statistical analysis of the data will be done. Photographic record of all the research activities and achievements will be maintained.Objective 1: On the basis of farm visits, observations, survey reports and recommendations of state governments and department of agriculture, superior germplasm of suitable black pepper (Piper nigrum) cultivar(s) will be collected. The procurement will be done as per the rules and regulations of the quarantine department of the Federated States of Micronesia and state government agencies.Objective 2: The germplasm collected in objective #1 will be used to establish in vitro cultures. Collected germplasm will be planted in sterile potting mix in greenhouse for getting initial explants. First prerequisite to establish aseptic cultures is disinfection of explants. Considering the very high contamination of the cultures in black pepper due to systemic presence of bacteria in the explants and high humidity and island environment conditions, which serve as highly favorable condition for fungus and other pathogenic-microorganism growth, reproduction and multiplication; establishment of a successful disinfection protocol is very critical for the success of the project. Various disinfectants such as commercial sodium hypochlorite bleach, mercuric chloride, hydrogen peroxide and ethyl alcohol, and detergents such as Tween 20 will be tested in different combinations or steps to develop an optimized disinfection protocol.Experiments for optimization of media and other culture conditions (light intensity, photoperiod, temperature, humidity, nutrients, plant growth regulators etc.) for culture establishment will be carried out using various types of explants (shoot apical meristem and nodal segments). Protocols will be developed for culture establishment and maintenance by manipulation of various plant growth regulators, media composition and culture conditions. Finally, cultures will be established for further in vitro experimentation for the objective #3.Objective 3: The established cultures in objective #2 will be used to develop the reliable micropropagation system to multiply plantlets on mass-scale. Micropropagated plantlets having well developed roots will be acclimatized. For acclimatization, the plantlets will be transferred into pots containing sterile potting mix to avoid contamination (would be treated with fungicide, if necessary) and will be kept in greenhouse for subsequent 8-10 weeks. Acclimatized plants will be transferred into polybags containing a mixture of soil, sand and potting mix. Plants in the polybags will be kept at nursery until they are ready for transfer in the field for research trials. Efficient acclimatization and nursery management system will be developed to accelerate the rate of elite and disease-free seedling production.Objective 4: A comparative study will be designed for conventional cultivation and commercial, organic and climate resilient farming systems. Various parameters to compare conventional practices and commercial organic cultivation methods of black pepper will include: types of local and commercially used standards; local planting material vs. micropropagated elite and disease-free seedlings; length of standards used locally vs. length of commercial posts; methods of fertilizer application; types of fertilizers,; drainage systems established; and preferred planting distances in conventional practices and commercial organic cultivation methods.Objective 5: Elite and disease-free seedling from objective #3 will be used, and designed study will be implemented and research trials will be conducted at multiple pilot sites using randomized complete block design with 3-5 replications at each site. Record of all the information and research data collected will be maintained in the computer and statistical analysis of the data will be done. Photographic record of all the research activities and achievements will be maintained.Objective 6: The project team will develop, publish, and distribute a commercial organic black pepper farming guide based on results from objective #1-5 and will ensure their delivery though direct distribution during training workshops, field days and demonstrations, and also through municipalities and state offices.Objective 7: This project will provide appropriate recommendations and adequate opportunities to educate and train farmers and rural communities in commercial, organic and climate resilient black pepper production through training workshops (including PowerPoint presentations and hands-on trainings), and field days (demonstration at pilot sites).