R. Karthikeyan and C. Kannan
Abstract
Chilli, (Capsicum annum L.) is considered as an important vegetable and spice crop which is cultivated throughout the world. The pungency present in the chilli is mainly due to the presence of alkaloid knows as capsaicin. The cultivation of chilli is affected by various biotic and abiotic stresses, majorly due to fungal diseases causing significant loss in the production and productivity of chilli crop. The fruit rot of chilli caused by Colletotrichum truncatum (syn. C. capsici) tends to cause heavy yield loss in almost all chilli growing areas. A roving survey was conducted in the major chilli growing areas of Tamil Nadu to assess the disease incidence of fruit rot of chilli. The disease severity ranges from 9.04% to 39.56%. The highest disease intensity was recorded in the Kovilpatti of Thoothukudi district whereas the lowest disease intensity is recorded in Kolathur of Salem district. Twenty-five isolates were collected from different geographical locations and the variations among them are observed based on the mycelial characters and conidial production. The isolate named C10 showed the maximum mycelial growth and showed maximum disease incidence and proved to be virulent among the different isolates record.