Characterization of fungal pathogens causing anthracnose in capsicum pepper (<i>Capsicum annuum</i> L.) and their seed borne nature

• Main Authors: W. A. Welideniya, K. D. R. C. Rienzie, W. A. R. T. Wickramaarachchi, A. G. B. Aruggoda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka 2019-09-01
• Series: Ceylon Journal of Science
• Subjects: anthracnose, capsicum pepper, capsicum annuum l., colletotrichum capsici, colletotrichum gloeosporioides, seed borne pathogens
• Online Access: https://cjs.sljol.info/articles/7650
• ISSN: 2513-2814; 2513-230X

Anthracnose caused by <em>Colletotrichum</em> spp. is a troublesome disease in all <em>Capsicum</em> spp. including capsicum pepper (<em>Capsicum annuum</em> L.), causing severe losses at both the pre-harvest and post-harvest stages. It is common throughout the world. In Sri Lanka, capsicum pepper is likely to be infected by both <em>Colletotrichum capsici</em> (<em>Colletotrichum truncatum</em>) and <em>C. gloeosporioides</em>, resulting in a reduction in the quantity and quality of the harvest. A detailed investigation was carried out to identify the different species of <em>Colletotrichum</em> that infect capsicum pepper, and the nature of this infection by employing standard tests. <em>Colletotrichum capsici</em> and <em>C. gloeosporioides</em> were isolated from the capsicum pepper seed samples collected from three different agro ecological regions in Sri Lanka. When capsicum pepper seeds collected from fruits categorized according to a standard rating scale were tested for germination, a gradual decrease of germination percentages and increased seed infection percentages were observed. After culturing different components of the seeds collected from infected fruits, it was found that both <em>C. capsici</em> and <em>C. gloeosporioides</em> can survive on the seed coat, pericarp and embryo. In addition, <em>Fusarium</em> spp. and <em>Aspergillus</em> spp. were also present in cultures of seed coat but not in cultures of the pericarp and embryo. The study revealed that both <em>C. capsici</em> and <em>C. gloeosporioides</em> can invade the important parts of the seeds internally and externally, causing higher germination losses, during both the pre and post emergence stages of capsicum pepper; the <em>Aspergillus</em> spp. and <em>Fusarium</em> spp. were only seed borne externally.