Evaluation of bioagent seed treatments for managing seed-borne Colletotrichum spp. in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Colletotrichum capsici, the agent that causes the outbreak of chilli anthracnose, poses a serious threat to chilli production in tropical and subtropical regions. Present research was aimed at studying the efficacy of various bioagents on the germination, seedling length and seedling vigour of C. capsici infected chilli seeds. Rudra and Byadagi are the two agronomically superior varieties selected for the study. Among different seed treatments Trichoderma viride were found superior and significantly higher seed germination, seedling length, seed vigour index as compared to other treatments and control.  Among the various bioagents, In the variety Rudra the highest germination percentage of 98.87 per cent, the root length, shoot length, seedling length of about 6.52 cm, 7.24 cm,13.28 cm and seed vigour index of 1360.45 were obtained in T1 (2.5 ml of Trichoderma viride). In the variety Byadagi highest germination percentage of 98.83 per cent, the root length, shoot length, seedling length were 5.94cm, 7.45 cm, 13.57 cm, the seed vigour index of 1323.33 were obtained in T2 (5 ml of Trichoderma viride). Among the bioagents Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluroscences performs well and antagonists against the pathogen.