STUDIES ON SEED TRANSMISSION OF ANTHRACNOSE IN BELL PEPPER (Capsicum annuum L.)
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Date
2017-09
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Studies on seed transmission of anthracnose in bell pepper
(Capsicum annuum L.)” was carried out in the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr. Y. S Parmar
University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during 2016-17. Two laboratory experiments were
undertaken following Completely Randomized Design. The cultivar used was Solan Bharpur. Under first
experiment Anthracnose or ripe fruit rot (Colletotrichum capsici) infected fruits were harvested at the maturity.
On the basis of fruit infection level i.e. lesion size on the mature fruits seven treatment were kept viz., control
(apparently healthy fruit), 1-5 mm, 6-10 mm, 11-20 mm, 21-30 mm, 31-50 mm and >51mm). Seeds from these
fruits were extracted separately and subjected to seed quality and health testing following methods like Standard
blotter paper methods, Roll paper method, Agar plate method and Grow out test. Seed germination (%), vigour
index I & II and other seed quality parameters like seedling establishment (%), speed of germination were found
highest in control treatment (seeds taken from apparently healthy fruits). Whereas the per cent infection of seed
with Colletotrichum capsici, Alternaria sp., Fusarium sp. and Aspergillus sp. was observed highest in T7 (Fruit
lesion size of 51 mm and above). In the second experiment healthy seeds of the same cultivar were artificially
inoculated with the culture of Colletotrichum capsici grown on PDA. There were 8 treatments on the basis of
the age of the culture used for inoculation separately viz., 1-3 days, 4-7 days, 8-11 days, 12-15 days, 16-19
days, 20-23 days, 24-27 days old culture and control. The inoculated seeds were subjected to seed quality and
health testing following the same methods as under the first experiment. Seed germination (%), vigour index I
& II and other seed quality parameters like seedling establishment (%), speed of germination were highest in
control treatment. Whereas the per cent infection of seed with Colletotrichum capsici, Alternaria sp., Fusarium
sp. and Aspergillus sp. was highest in T7 (24-27 days old culture) which was at par with T6 (20-23 days old
culture). From these studies it can be concluded that the percent germination and other quality characters of the
seeds extracted from the anthracnose infected bell pepper fruits (cv. Solan Bharpur) with lesion size up to 10
mm were not affected much and were similar to the seeds extracted from the apparently healthy fruits, where as
the seeds extracted from the fruits with lesion size of more than 20 mm showed a sharp reduction in percent
germination and seed quality parameters and the effect was similar as in case of seed extracted from severely
infected fruits. The seeds extracted from anthracnose infected fruits also showed higher infection/contamination
of Colletotrichum capsici as well as other seed microflora like Fusarium sp., Alternaria sp. and Aspergillus sp.
Under artificial inoculation condition the germination and seed quality parameters were drastically reduced by
the inoculation with fungal culture which was more than 15 days old. The seed also showed infection of C.
capsici even after the surface sterilization. However, seed infection/contamination with C. capsici was reduced
upto 50 per cent upon sterilization with sodium hypochlorite (1%). It also indicated that C. capsici is both
internally as well as externally seed borne. Percent seed transmission (seed to plant) of C. capsici was recorded
more than 20 per cent in naturally infected seeds and 17 per cent in artificially inoculated seeds.
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