Effect of cultural practices and seed treatment against damping off (Pythium ultimum) of chilli

Damping off {Pythium ultimum (Trow)} is common problem in nursery and field of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) crop, where the organism kills newly emerged seedlings. Pythium spp. are more devastating in the root rot they cause in crops, because crop rotation alone will often not eradicate the pathogen. The germination (%) was significantly superior the treatment of Raised bed + Metalaxyl seed treatment (89.00%) compared with rest of treatment. Flat bed + sorghum flour caused significantly highest pre-emergence damping off (74.00%). The seedling mortality expressed susceptibility at all the age levels. The Age X Inoculation interaction, the seedling can be susceptible up to 8 weeks of their age after inoculation. The maximum seedling (100%) mortality was induced by 100 percent, followed by 75 and 50 percent (87.5% and 75.00%) respectively. The minimum seedling mortality was 12.5 percent at concentration of inoculums (12.5%) is essential to induce seedling mortality.