Diseases of Black Pepper and Cardamom

Among the spice crops cultivated in India, black pepper (Piper nigrum) and cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) can be considered as important ones. Though black pepper and cardamom cultivating regions of India are endowed with weather factors conducive to large-scale cultivation, certain biotic factors pose a persistent threat that adversely affects the production and productivity of these crops. The major production constraints include diseases incited by viruses, oomycetes, and fungi. Though the secondary spread of these pathogens is mediated through the soil, water, wind, and agricultural implements, primary dispersal and dissemination occurs through planting materials. Comprehensive knowledge on the different groups of pathogens associated with these crops, their biology, ecology, and management measures is indispensable to formulate and implement disease management strategies to minimize the damage to these crops. The information available on different groups of pathogens and diseases they incite in black pepper and cardamom, their symptomatology, epidemiology, and management measures are discussed in this chapter.