In vitro evaluation of new molecules of fungicides against Colletotrichum capsici (Syd.) Butler and Bisby causing anthracnose of chilli

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is the fourth major vegetable cultivated globally. The major fungal foliar pathogen causing havoc in production, export and marketing is fruit rot or anthracnose of chilli caused by Colletotrichum capsici (Syd.) Butler and Bisby which has emerged in impairing production in both tropical and subtropical regions. In the present study, new molecules of contact, systemic and combi product fungicides were tested against Colletotrichum capsici by poison food technique at different concentrations. The contact fungicides were tested at three concentrations (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3%) where, mancozeb 75% WP recorded 100 percent mycelial inhibition at all three concentrations. Among the systemic fungicides, propiconazole 25% EC and difenoconazole 25% EC showed 100 per cent mycelial inhibition at 0.025, 0.05 and 0.10 per cent. Among the combi product fungicides evaluated, metalaxyl 8% + mancozeb 64% WP showed 100 per cent inhibition which was on par with tricyclazole 18% + mancozeb 62% (99.54 %). Whereas, lowest mycelial inhibition was in zineb 75% WP (30.14 %), hexaconazole 5% EC (66.11 %) and tebuconazole 50% + trifloxystrobin 25% (72.36 %) in contact, systemic and combi fungicides respectively. The overall results suggest that the systemic fungicides of triazole group are highly effective in inhibiting mycelial growth.