CURRENT STATUS OF ANTHRACNOSE (FRUIT-ROT AND DIE-BACK) DISEASE IN FIVE BLOCKS OF CHILLI GROWING AREAS OF GHAZIABAD DISTRICT (U.P.) INDIA

Abstract

Fruit rot caused by Colletotrichum capsici (Syd.) Butler and Bisby, is responsible forconsiderably yield loss (10-60%) in Chillies. Ripe fruit rot is very conspicuous andcauses severe damage in the field as well as in storage and transport. The pathogen isprevalent in most Chilli growing areas of India. Two years survey (2016-2017) in fiveblocks of Ghaziabad district (U.P.) showed that the disease appeared during July andby November the whole crop is damaged. Symptoms appear mostly on ripened fruitis characterized by circular and sunken spots with black margins. Disease incidencevaried from 3.6 to 23% when plants are counted. Disease incidence 4.5 to 26% andseverity varied from 1 to 4.7 (grade 0=no infection, 1=1-10%, 2=11-25%, 3=26-50%,4=51-70% and 5=71-100% area of fruit infections). “Power model” was able toexplain the relationship between incidence and severity on fruits which is given bydisease severity = 0.2174X (Disease incidence) 2.1152