Eco-friendly management of anthracnose of chilli caused by Colletotrichum capsici

Abstract

The anthracnose of chilli caused by Colletotrichum capsici is a widespread problem limiting the profitable cultivation and seed production of chilli throughout the major chilli growing regions of India. Four isolates (SCC1, SCC2, SCC3 and SCC4) of C. capsici were collected from different chilli growing areas of West Bengal. An experiment on efficacy of four botanical oils viz., Garlic (Allium sativum), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Polyalthia (Polyalthia longifolia) and Citronella(Cymbopogon nardus) at concentrations of 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2% and two isolates each of three biocontrol agents (Trichoderma harzianum, T. viride and Pseudomonas flourescens) were carried out against these isolates of C. capsici in vitro. The result revealed significant (5% level of significance) antifungal activities of these botanicals and biocontrol agents. Garlic gave cent per cent inhibition of mycelial growth of all the four isolates of C. capsici at all the concentrations tested. However, neem showed cent percent inhibition of mycelial growth of C. capsici at 0.1%. Citronella was least effective among the botanical oils. Among the biocontrol agents tested T. harzianum isolate Th-2 was found most effective giving 77.78%, 100%, 83.33 % and 88.89% inhibition on the mycelial growth of SCC1, SCC2, SCC3 and SCC4 respectively followed by T. harzianum isolate Th-1 inhibiting 74.00%, 78.9% 81.7% and 80.90% of the mycelial growth of SCC1, SCC2, SCC3 and SCC4 respectively. P. fluorescens was least effective. Thus, garlic, neem, polyalthia, T. harzianumand T. viride can be utilized for management of anthracnose of chilli.