Diseases in chilli (Capsicum spp.): A comprehensive overview with integrated management strategies

Chilli (Capsicum spp.) is one of the world's most important spice and vegetable crops. It is widely grown for its economic and nutritional value. The production of chilli is adversely affected by the widespread distribution of diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes. Such diseases incur heavy losses of yield and quality and most of them require intensive management practices. This review covers the complete pathogenesis of the various common diseases affecting the cultivation of chilli, including damping-off, anthracnose, leaf spot, powdery mildew, wilt, mosaic, leaf curl and root-knot nematode infestations. Each disease is discussed in terms of fungi species, symptoms, disease cycle, favourable climatic conditions and integrated disease management strategies including cultural, biological, chemical and host resistance strategies. Integration of integrated disease management (IDM) was found to promote sustainable fruit production not only but also minimize environmental impact and eliminate chemical residues in the produce. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive reference work for farmers, extension workers, researchers and students on the development of effective disease control strategies for cultivating chilli.