Studies on occurrence epidemiology and management of major diseases of Capsicum Capsicum annuum L var grossum Sendt under naturally ventilated polyhouse

Abstract

Capsicum (Capsicum annuum var. grossum Sendt.) is a member of newlinesolanaceous family and is mainly grown as a vegetable throughout the world, newlineincluding India. The present investigation was carried out on various aspects to newlinegenerate scientific information on these important pathological problems and to newlinedevelop sustainable management strategies to prevent the crop losses. newline Studies on occurrence, epidemiology and management of major diseases newlineof capsicum (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum Sendt) under naturally ventilated newlinepolyhouse indicated that early transplanting of capsicum in the month of newlineDecember ameliorates the disease incidence and severity in the susceptible variety newlineArka Mohini. The crop transplanted in December was found to suffer more from newlinethe diseases than the crop transplanted in January. The least intensity was observed newlinein the crop transplanted in February with better growth and yield attributes. Among newlinethe varieties, Arka Atulya was found to suffer least from the diseases with better newlinefruit yield. newline The symptoms of diseases like Anthracnose, Cercospora leaf spot, newlineFusarium wilt, Collar rot, Capsicum chlorosis virus and Leaf curl were recorded newlinefrom open field and polyhouse. The fungal pathogens were successfully isolated, newlinepurified, identified and confirmed as Colletotrichum truncatum, Cercopsora newlinecapsici, Fusarium oxysporum and Sclerotium rolfsii and they proved their newlinepathogenecity on susceptible capsicum cultivar Arka Mohini. The DNA was newlineisolated, sequenced and constructed the phylogenetic tree. newline Among weather variables, Tmin, relative humidity in the evening and newlinemorning were positively correlated with enhancing disease severity of cercopsora newlineleaf spot, while Tmax, was negatively correlated. In case of anthracnose, there was newlinea significant negative correlation between disease severity and minimum newlinetemperature and morning relative humidity. In case of fusarium wilt and collar rot, newlinethere was a significant positive correlation between disease incidence and newlinemaximum and minimum soil and air