Abstract
Four popular cultivars of black pepper from Kerala viz. ‘Karimunda,’ ‘Kalluvally,’ ‘Arakulam munda’ and Thommankody' were analyzed for a period of three consecutive seasons for their oil composition. Fifty five compounds were identified in the oils by GC and GC/MS. The main components were α-pinene (2.4–11.4%), β-pinene(2.0–15.27%), δ-3-carene(0.1–21.0%), limonene(9.4–21.9%)and β-caryophyllene (19.8–45.3%).