Impact of pink pigmented facultative methylotrophic bacteria and synthetic materials on small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton.) under drought

An experiment was conducted at the Cardamom Research Station, Kerala Agricultural University, Pampadumpara, Idukki, Kerala during 2017 summer (February-May) to evaluate the response of small cardamom crop to the foliar application of PPFM and synthetic materials under drought situation. Potassium di-hydrogen phosphate applied plants had higher chlorophyll stability index (90%) compared to others. The highest proline content was obtained with the exogenous application of naphthalene acetic acid, proline, potassium di-hydrogen phosphate and urea respectively. Ferrous sulphate, kaolin and potassium chloride enhanced the population of endophytic fungi. The results have confirmed that potassium di-hydrogen phosphate and potassium containing substances showed consistent superiority over other treatments in mitigating drought stress. The chlorophyll stability index of PPFM was significantly higher than the control and can be a good choice for the organic cardamom growers under drought situation.