CIARI Registers Germplasm of Woody Pepper at NBPGR, New Delhi: an Effort to Conserve and Utilize Island’s Native Diversity

Sri Vijaya Puram, May 16: Andaman and Nicobar Islands are known to be the home to rich diversity of unique flora, most of which are yet to be fully explored. ICAR-CIARI has been working on systematic evaluation and bio-prospection of these native species to identify their potential for food, medicine as well as a source of livelihood to the local farmers. One such unique species- woody pepper is locally known as choi jhaal in our Islands. This wild relative of black pepper has been present in these islands; however, only a few people were aware about the edible property of it. Systematic studies on this species at CIARI suggested that the stem pieces of this species are a source of important bioactive molecules including – piperine (a known bioavailability enhancer of herbal origin) and antioxidants. Considering the local popularity of this species and its potential as a source of livelihood to the island farmers, it was identified as a novel crop for the islands. The crop was christened by the researchers at CIARI as woody pepper to give it an international identity.
The botanical identity of the species; however, remained unclear and hence, researchers at CIARI adopted the modern technique of DNA barcoding and established the identity of the species as Piper pendulispicum- a species of Vietnam and Thailand, which was so far not reported from any part of India. In simpler words, woody pepper was identified as a species which is new for the country, thereby opening avenues for its promotion in the islands as a novel crop. To promote its cultivation in the islands, serpentine layering of multiplication, protected cultivation were standardized, and postharvest products were developed at CIARI to improve its shelf life. A large number of farmers have started its cultivation, which is a positive sign for its conservation and sustainable utilization. In order to register this unique genetic resource at national level, Dr. Ajit Arun Waman and Dr. Pooja Bohra, Senior Scientists, ICAR-CIARI made consolidated efforts under the guidance of the Director- Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, and a collection of it was registered as a novel germplasm (INGR 25029) at ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi.
This step would help in conserving this unique germplasm of our islands apart from promoting its cultivation for the benefit of the island farmers. Interested farmers can procure the quality planting material of woody pepper from Horticultural Plants Propagation Unit of ICAR-CIARI, Bathu Basti. Further, farmers from North and Middle Andaman could also get planting material from a progressive farmer- Mr. Laxman Das, Kalipur, Diglipur, who has adopted the technology of serpentine layering developed at CIARI for mass multiplication of the crop.