Chilli anthracnose: A review of causal organism and their managements

Abstract

Indian cuisine is renowned and celebrated throughout the world for its spicy treat to the tongue. The flavor and aroma of the food due to the use of spices creates an indelible experience. Among the commonly utilized spices to stimulate the taste buds in Indian food, chilli constitutes an inevitable position. Chilli is the major spice crop, accounting for about 30 per cent of total spice production in the country. Besides being a vital ingredient of of Indian food, chilli contributes major share in Indian economy. Chilli also has uncountable benefits to human health. Fresh green chilli fruits contain more Vitamin C, while red chilli fruits have more Vitamin A content. India has been one of the major producers and exporters of chilli. The decline in chilli production has been attributed to the diseases associated with chilli crop. Anthracnose disease is one of the major economic constraints to chilli production regions and it is gaining much attention towards causes of damage. The disease causes damage to both mature fruits in the field as well as during their storage under favorable conditions. This review gives an account of the identification of Colletotrichum capsici. Also, the review highlights the various management strategies for the causal agent of the disease, associated with the chilli anthracnose.