Abstract

                                Fruit rot of chillies is a disease of economic importance prevalent in many parts of the world. The causal organism differs in different places and more than one fungus has been found to be responsible for this diseaso. Glomerelia cingulata (Stonem.) Spauld. & v. Schrank (Colletotrichum piperatum Ell. & Ev.) has been recorded from India (Dastur 1920), America (Halsted 1890) and elsewhore causing anthracnose (fruit rot) of Capsicum. Colletotrichum capsici Syd., was first observed in South India, infecting fruits and young twigs of chillies (Me Rae 1914). Dastur (1921) has described this disense in detail from North India. More than one specios of Alternaria have been reported to be responsible for the fruit rot of chillies. A. solani (Ell. & Mort.) Jones & Grout has been recorded from Georgia by Higgins (1925). Wallace (1929) reported a fruit rot of chillies caused by A. tenuis Noes., in Tanganiyka. In Spain, Unamuno (1934) found A. tenuis. f. genuina Una., to be associated with the rotting of chilli fruits. Bremer (1945( from Turkey stated that A. longipes (Ell. & Evo.) Tisd, & Wadk. was the causal agent for the rotting of chilli fruits in that country. A. capsici-annui Savul. and Sandu has been known to be responsible for this diseoso in Rumania (Savulescu & Kulen 1918). Dutt (1938) reported a fruit rot of chillios from Delhi, caused by Alternaria but the species was not determined. In recent years, specimens of chilli fruits affected by Alternaria have been collected from Mathurai and Guntur districts. This disease occurred along with the fruit rot caused by Colletotrichum capsici Syd., and often passed off for infection by the latter fungus. The present paper is concerned with the isolation of the fungus and study of its pathogenicity, cultural characters and host range.

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