Identification of Colletotrichum species associated with anthracnose disease of chilli in major chilli growing area of India

Abstract

Anthracnose fruit-rot samples were randomly collected from 95 chilli farms grown in different hotspot regions from following states. Survey was conducted during Kharif 2020 from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, while during Kharif 2021 from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. Samples were analyzed based on morphological characters. After morphological characterization of collected samples, it was confirmed that 80 fields were infected alone with C. capsici, 7 fields were infected alone with C. gloeosporioides while 8 fields were mixed infected with both C. capsici and C. gloeosporioides. Anthracnose infection mainly affects chilli at red fruit stage. Morphological characterization of collected samples from the surveyed region revealed that Colletotrichum capsici and C. gloeosporioides were the major species infecting chilli while Colletotrichum capsici was the predominant species. As C. capsici is predominant species causing Anthracnose, we need anthracnose resistant source at least against C. capsici. Resistant source against both C, capsici and C. gloeosporioides will be a boon for breeders to strengthen disease resistance