Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory Department of Plant Pathology, CSKHPKV, Palampur – 176 062
National Symposium on Strategic Issues in Plant Pathological Research held at Department of Plant Pathology, CSK HP Krishi Vishvavidayalaya, Palampur on November 24–25, 2011
Anthracnose/Fruit rot complex in capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) is an economic disease both in chili and sweet pepper across the globe and is now known to be caused by a complex of Colletotrichum speices. Two speices Colletotrichum capsici and C. gloeosporioides, are of wide prevalence and occurs in all climates ranging from tropical to temperate. In Himachal the pathogen is known to possess high degree of pathogenic variability but no valid information is available about the race specific resistance spectrum in capsicum. In the present study,195 germplasm lines of capsicum comprising of local land races, exotic accessions and commercial varieties were evaluated against different races of both the species. 32 accessions showed resistance to 19 races of C. capsici, while in case of C. gloeosporioides only 19 genotypes exhibited resistance to six races. Three exotic accessions viz., EC 631751, EC631750 and EC631749, possessed resistance to 8, 7 and 5 races of C. capsici and whereas EC631750 and EC 631751 were resistant to 5 and 4 races of C. gloeosporioides. Exotic accessions EC631750 and EC 631751(Capsicum baccatum) were resistant to both the species and can be utilized as candidate resistance donors in resistance breeding program.
