Phyllosphere fungi of chilli and antagonism against Colletotrichum Capsici.

Chilli variety Jayanti and Jwala is used to study on ecological significance of phyllosphcre fungi and their antagonistic activity against anthracnose causing organism Colletotrichum capsici.Seven fungal species of five different genera were isolated in three different stages from the phyllosphere of chilli.

Most of the isolated fungi were belongs to fungi imperfecti.The population of isolated phyllosphere fungi were minimum at young stage on top leaves and maximum at developed crop growth stage on middle leaves of the plant. Antagonistic activities of the phyllosphere fungi against Colletotrichum capsici, showed inhibiting ability. Aspergillus fumigatus was more effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth (61.03%) followed by Paecilomyles variotii (38.96%).