Survey and Virulence of Postharvest Pathogen Colletotrichum lindemuthianum Causing Common Bean Anthracnose Disease

Investigation on the disease incidence of common bean anthracnose disease was carried out in order to assess the post harvest losses caused by the pathogen Colletotrichum lindemuthianum. Survey was conducted in the farmers markets of six districtviz., Coimbatore, Salem, Nilgiris, Erode, Theni and Palani during August and September 2012. Maximum mean per cent disease index (PDI) of C. lindemuthinum was 20.04 and 21.52 respectively was recorded in the survey. Collection and isolation of pathogen was carried out in order to characterize the pathogen, wide variation in the colony characters viz., colour, topography, pigmentation, zonation, sporulation and mycelial growth of different isolates even in the same media. CL 06 isolate showed maximum lesion diameter of 15.66 mm and found to be highly virulent isolate.