Comparative study of different fungi associated with fruit rot of chilli and screening of chilli germplasm against Colletotrichum capsici

ABSTRACT: Eco-friendly management of fruit rot of chilli was carried out with the objectives to ascertain the causal pathogens associated with the disease and to evaluate resistant sources against the pathogens. The disease samples of chilli fruits collected from different locations revealed that three isolates of Colletotrichum capsici, one isolate each of Fusarium moniliforme. F. pallidoroseum, F. oxysporum, Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus flavus were associated with the disease. The pathogenicity of these isolates through different inoculation methods on detached chilli fruits variety Pusa Jawala revealed that C. capsici (Is2) was most virulent with an average lesion size of 10.95 mm. Evaluation of genotypes/varieties against C. capsici revealed that none was resistant, however, DC-4, Anka lohit, LCA-235, LCA-333, LCA-301 exhibited moderately resistant reaction under both field and pot culture conditions and minimum lesion size was also observed under detached method in these genotypes.