Chilli Wilt: A Complex Disease with Multitude of Pathogens

A roving was undertaken in major chilli growing states of south India such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra to identify the endemic areas or the hot spots of chilli wilt complex disease. The results revealed that the disease is a major problem causing huge losses both in terms of yield, quality and monitory returns. The disease was surveyed for two years i.e. 2012–13 and 2013–14. It was varied from 5.0 to 49.93 percent in different chilli growing areas. The maximum disease was noticed in Raichur (22.38%), Bellary (29.48%), Haveri (18.60%) and Koppal (23.69%) districts of Karnataka and Kurnool (34.90%) district of Andhra Pradesh which can be considered as hot spots for the disease. The major Pathogens identified which were associated with the wilt complex disease are Fusarium spp., Sclerotium rolfsii, Rhizoctonia solani, plant parasitic nematode Meloidogyne spp. and Baterial pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum. Among all these pathogens the Fusarium spp. was notices in all the surveyed areas which is predominant pathogen causing the wilt disease followed by Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotium rolfsii.