Distribution and Phenology of Lampung Black Pepper as Teaching Materials for Plant Growth and Development

Abstract

Black pepper is historically and culturally important in Lampung, yet information on its introduction route, annual development, and educational use remains fragmented. This study reconstructed the historical diffusion of black pepper in Lampung, described the annual phenology of Natar 1 and Natar 2 vines in relation to climate, and identified its potential as contextual biology teaching material on plant growth and development. Historical information was collected through purposive expert interviews and literature study. Field observations were conducted from July 2011 to August 2012 at Kebun Percobaan Cahaya Negeri, North Lampung, and Kebun Percobaan Negara Ratu Natar, South Lampung. Ten plants of each cultivar were observed at each location, with ten inflorescences marked per plant and checked twice weekly. The synthesis indicates that pepper was introduced from Banten to the Belantung coastal area before spreading northward through Lampung. Productive vines completed a recurring sequence of fruit ripening and drop, leaf fall, vegetative growth, flowering, fruit formation, and berry filling. Flowering began earlier at Kebun Percobaan Cahaya Negeri than at Kebun Percobaan Negara Ratu Natar; the flower-to-fruit interval was consistently 27 days, and Natar 1 reached red-fruit maturity five days earlier than Natar 2. The monthly sequence, climate data, and cultivar comparison can be transformed into teaching material that helps students distinguish vegetative growth indicators from reproductive development and analyze environmental influences on plant phenology. The study provides an integrated historical, biological, and educational resource, although instructional validity and effectiveness require expert review and classroom testing.