Physiological characterization of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causing anthracnose of pomegranate

Pomegranate is an ancient table fruit of tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. It is an important high value commercial and export quality fruit. The productivity of pomegranate is affected by different fungal and bacterial diseases, among them anthracnose is one of the important fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Therefore, in present investigation, physiological studies of C. gloeosporioides fungus, were carried out to know the nutritional requirements as well as physiological conditions of the fungus. In physiological studies, among the different temperature ranges tested for optimum growth of the fungus, 30 ^°C temperature was found to be best (412.33 mg). Similarly, among different pH ranges, pH 6 was found to be best (451.33 mg) and 12 h alternate light and dark periods were the best for optimum growth (85.67 mm) of the fungus. Among different carbon and nitrogen sources tested for optimum growth of fungus, starch as carbon source and calcium nitrate as nitrogen source, were the best for mycelial growth with 80 and 86.6 mm diameter, respectively.