Management of Chilli Fruit Rot Caused by Colletotrichum capsici

Among 65 plant extracts (10%) tested for their efficacy against the mycelium growth, spore germination of Colletotrichum capsici causing fruit rot of chilli in vitro. Rhizome extract of Acorus calamus reduced mycelial growth by 82.7% as compared to mancozeb (100%) followed by Aegle marmelos (78.9%), Allium sativum (74.7%), Abrus precatorius (67.7%), Ocimum sanctum (61.7%), Prosopis juliflora (59.8%), Coleus aromaticus (48.7%) and Cymbopogan martini (48.3%). In greenhouse condition the plant extracts sprayed with twice in susceptible plants raised in pot culture. The A. calamus (10%) and A. marmelos (10%) recorded the maximum disease reduction (58.3% and 54.5%) compatible with Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis. However, in susceptible plants treated with biological inducer like P. fluorescens (0.2%) + A. precatorius (10%) + TNAU Neem oil (3%) spray have minimum disease incidence (9.6%) on par with individual application of mancozeb (0.2%) (8.1%) and P. fluorescens (0.2%) (9.1%), followed by A. calamus 10% (12.3%) and A. precatorius 10% (13.3%) and highest yield in the crop season indicating its stable yield performance.