Prevalence and severity of fungal diseases in IPM and non-IPM chilli, Capsicum annuum L fields

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Regadaguduru village, Velugodu Mandal, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh to study the prevalence and incidence of fungal diseases by following IPM technologies available for chilli during 2013–14. During the season powdery mildew caused by Leveillula taurica (Lev) Arn appeared in the third week of November. The incidence ranged from 15.63 to 27.39 per cent in IPM as against 18.37 to 32.32 per cent in non-IPM plots. It reached peak incidence in the first week of January (30.28%). The seasonal average of powdery mildew was 22.74 per cent in IPM as compared to 26.74 per cent in non-IPM plots. Dieback and fruit rot or anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum capsici incidence started early in the season during second week of November and reached its peak in the last week of January and declined thereafter. The incidence of dieback ranged from 9.25 to 21.45 per cent in IPM as against 11.42 to 25.23 per cent in non-IPM plots. The seasonal average incidence of dieback and fruit rot or anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum capsici was 15.20 per cent in IPM as against 18.98 per cent in non-IPM plots. The incidence of wilt/root rot ranged from 3.95 to 9.38 per cent in IPM plots as against 5.62 to 15.88 per cent in non-IPM plots. The incidence of wilt started late in the season by October and reached its peak by December. The average seasonal wilt/root rot incidence was 7.20 per cent in the IPM and 10.91 in non-IPM plots. It was noticed that the disease incidence is reduced by using location specific IPM strategies in chilli.