Cultural and physiological variability in Colletotrichum musae-Causal agent of Banana post-harvest fruit rot under hill and plain agro-ecosystems of Meghalaya

The study investigated the fungal pathogens contributing to the banana fruit rot complex, identifying Colletotrichum musae as significant causative agent. Ten C. musae isolates obtained from different market localities were subjected to cultural and physiological variability analyses. The isolates exhibited characteristics such as hyaline, aseptate, cylindrical conidia with dimensions ranging from 7.03-10.77 μm (length) and 3.02-3.77 μm (width), while acervuli sizes varied from 53.6 to 78.99 μm in diameter.Among tested media, Oat meal agar proved most suitable for C. musae growth, followed by potato dextrose agar , with Richard's agar showing sparse mycelial density. Martin's rose bengal agar demonstrated the lowest average radial growth and, thus, was deemed unsuitable. Colony colours were predominantly salmon white, greyish white, or completely white across the five media. Temperature studies revealed optimal radial growth for C. musae at temperatures between 15 and 27°C, with 27°C recording maximum growth. No growth occurred at 4 and 40°C. The pH of 6, 7, and 8 supported optimal growth, while extremes below 6 or above 8 were unfavourable. The slightly acidic pH of 6 was identified as the most suitable for C. musae growth when using PDAas a basal medium.