Morphological, pathological and molecular variability of Colletotrichum capsici causing anthracnose of Chilli

The isolates were evaluated for their morphological and cultural characteristics, pathogenic variability on chilli fruits and genetic characterization using random amplified polymorphic DNA. Among 20 isolates, the Isolate Cc₁ was significantly the most virulent one, which recorded the highest fruit rot intensity (69.9), leaves infection (63.2) and followed by Cc₂, Cc₄ while Cc₁₂ and Cc₁₅ were the least virulent one. Mycelial growth and colony character of all the 20 isolates were tested on PDA medium. The highest colony diameter was recorded in isolate Cc₁(9.0 cm) followed by isolates Cc₂(8.80). The isolates Cc₁, Cc₂, Cc₉ and Cc₁₁ showed profuse sporulation on PDA medium. The isolates of C. capsici exhibited variation in respect of colony colour and growth pattern on PDA medium. The isolates Cc₁, Cc₂, Cc₃ and Cc₁₁ which produced acervuli in a scattered medium, had fluffy and raised colonies. Molecular polymorphism generated by RAPD confirmed the variation of the different isolates and were grouped into three clusters. However, morphological, pathological and RAPD grouping of isolates suggested no correlation among the test isolates.