Fungal Endophytes from Chilli and their Antagonism against Colletotrichum capsici

AbstractThe Colletotrichum capsici incited anthracnose/fruit rot posing a serious threat to commercial chilli production in India. In the present study, the fungal endophytes from chilli were explored in effort to combat the pathogen. 19 endophytic fungal isolates isolated from leaf, stem and root of healthy chilli plant exhibited antagonistic activity against C. capsici in dual culture assay under in vitro. Among them endophyte, UHSFS5 demonstrated the highest pathogen mycelial inhibition (74.68 %). Based on the cultural and morphological characteristics UHSFS5 was identified to be belonged to Aspergillus genus. Upon its accurate molecular identification, pathogenicity and enumerating its efficacy in pot and field and accurate molecular identification it may be employed to combat the chilli anthracnose disease.