Efficiency of growth regulators and biochemical variation, survival and weather influence on Colletotrichum capsici causing fruit rot of chilli

Growth regulators viz NAA, GA3,2,4-D along with PDA supported the maximum mycelium growth among the ten isolates of Colletotrichum capsici at 3^rd, 5^th and 7^th Days of incubation (DAI).Electrophoretic banding pattern of protein and isozyme viz., polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase banding pattern reflect the variation in appearance or non appearance of bands with different Rm values. However, the correlation in virulence with existence of bands does not exists. Disease intensity influenced by weather parameters, the maximum intensity of Colletotrichum capsici at Chilli and Vegetable Research Unit field was 51.6% on 11^th met week, at Pathology field, 58.27% on 52^nd met week and at Horticulture field 58.27% on 50^th week. Initiation of disease was observed during August and September coupled with rainfall and high humidity prevailed during preceding week. Survival of the fungus in soil and infected debris serve as a reservoir for transmitting the disease at different soil depth with retention of virulence was investigated. Existence of inoculum was maximum till 4 months at all the four soil depth (5, 10, 15 and 20 cm) levels and it was drastically reduced from 5^th month onwords. Highest survivability was recorded at 5 and 20 cm soil depth.