MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT ROT CAUSING SEED BORNE FUNGAL PATHOGENS IN CHILLI

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.), is severely infected by fruit rot disease which reduce quality and quantity of fruits and seeds. Fruit rot causing fungal pathogens are carried along with seed to cause deterioration of seed in storage, pre and post emergence damping off in nursery. In the present study, seed borne nature of fungi was tested by standard blotter method which revealed the presence of Colletotrichum capsici, C. gloeosporioides and C. acutatum also Alternaria alternata. Fusarium sporotrichioides and F. oxysporum. The frequency of these pathogens varied from 72.85 % (C. capsici) to 3.45% (F. sporotrichioides). As a preventive measure, seed treatment with eleven chemical fungicides and four bio fungicides in different combinations tested in nursery which revealed that carboxin 37.5% + thiram 37.5% WS (Vitavax power) @ 0.2% and metalaxyl 4%+ mancozeb 64% WP (Ridomil gold) @ 0.2% showed least infection (7.25% and 10.09%) with highest seedling vigour index (932.02 and 871.70). Among four bio fungicides tested alone and in combination @ 10g/kg seed treatment, combination of Trichoderma harzianum + Pseudomonas fluorescens and P. fluorescens alone showed least seedling infection (14.89% and 14.94%) with highest vigour index (930.74 and 915.27) which remained on par with each other while, untreated control recorded (351.77).