Evaluation of chilli genotypes against Anthracnose disease (Colletotrichumcapsici) under field condition by artificial inoculation in Gwalior district of M.P.

Abstract

Chilli(Capsicum annuum) is an important spice as well as vegetable crop that are grown throughout the world especially in tropical and subtropical regions. It is valued for its diverse commercial uses. India is a major producer, exporter and consumer of chilli. Chilli is grown in almost all states. Anthracnose of Chilli caused by Colletotrichumcapsici(Sydow) Butler and Bisby,is an economically important disease which affects chilli production. Anthracnose disease can occur on leaves, stems, and both pre- and post-harvest fruits. On the leaves, small, circular spots appear. Severely infected leaves fall off leading to defoliation and on fruits displays small, circular brown spot with concentric rings of acervuli. It is one of the major and devastating diseases of chilli causes severe losses (10-60%) both in yield and quality of the chillidepending upon the varieties. For successful cultivation of chilli, it is important to identify resistant varieties against anthracnose diseases. Therefore, an experiment was conducted in the KrishiVigyan Kendra Research farm, RVSKVV Gwalior (M.P.) during 2015-16 for Screening of 25 varieties and genotypes of chilli received from ICAR/National institutes were evaluated against anthracnose (Colletotricumcapsici) under field condition. Semi-ripe chillifruits (25 days old) were chosen for field experiment. A purified and pathogenic local isolate was used for spray inoculation. Spray inoculation was done by spraying suspension of conidia (5 x 105 conidia ml-1 water) separately in respective plots using hand sprayer. Un-inoculated plots served as control. The canopy of all plants was watered from next day morning up to 1 week period by spraying water, two timesperday to stimulate conidial germination. The disease reaction was recorded by rating scale 0-5 on leaves. The PDI was calculated. Data was analyzed by ANOVA through randomized blocked design. The mean observations recorded after first spray and second spray of conidial suspension. Out of twenty five, none of genotype showed immune reaction. The three genotypes(ArkaHarita, Classica-152 and Madhurima-148) showed resistant reaction while six cultivars (EC-341075, PusaJwala, Pant C-1, LAC-434, ArkaMeghna, DivyaJyoti) exhibitedmoderatelyresistant reaction.Whereas 4 cultivars (EC-566320, ArkaKhyati, ArkaLohit, DivyaJyoti)showed susceptible reaction and twelve cultivars have been found to show highly susceptible reaction (KashiAnmol, KashiGaurav, Punjab Lal, PusaSadabahar, AKC 89-38, Jayanti, P-1649, LAC-422, PhuleJyoti, Jawahar Mirch-218, Jawahar Mirch-283 and Natasha -727).