Eco-friendly management of anthracnose [Colletotrichum capsici (Syd.) Butler and Bisby] of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/jefa.2026.21.2.21Keywords:
Bioagents, Colletotrichum capsici, disease intensity, eco-friendly management, mycelial growth, Trichoderma harzianumAbstract
ABSTRACT
Anthracnose disease of chilli caused by Colletotrichum capsici (Syd.) Butler and Bisby is a serious problem of chilli. It poses a serious threat to the successful cultivation of chilli in India. The effect of plant extracts (viz, neem leaf extract, polyalthia, tulsi, lantana) and neem oil were tested against C. capsici. In field experiment during Kharif season 2024, seed treatment with Trichoderma harzianum 10g/kg and foliar spray of neem oil (10%) was most effective and recorded lowest disease intensity (15.80%) of anthracnose of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.), maximum production (1.59 t/ha) and significant plant growth followed by T1 [T. harzianum (10g/kg) seed treatment + Neem leaf extract (10%) foliar spray], T3 [T. harzianum (10g/kg) seed treatment + Polyalthia longifolia (10%) foliar spray], T2 [T. harzianum (10g/kg) seed treatment + tulsi leaf extract (10%) foliar spray], T5 [T. harzianum (10g/kg) seed treatment + Lantana leaf extract (10%) foliar spray], and T6 [T. harzianum (10g/kg) ]seed treatment and the control (T0). The findings of this study offer a significant contribution to sustainable agriculture, presenting a viable and eco-friendly strategy for managing diseases in chilli crops.
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