EFFICACY OF DIFFERENT FUNGICIDES ON FRUIT ROTS OF CHILLI (ALTERNARIA ALTERNATA.

) IN VITRO AND VIVO CONDITION

SUPERVISOR: Mr. AKHTAR GUL CO-SUPERVISOR MR. FAISAL ADNAN MEMBER MR. AHMED KHAN

STUDENT: HASEENULLAH

DEPARTMENT OF PLANT PATHOLOGY BALOCHISTAN AGRICULTURE COLLEGE, QUETTA

RATIONALE/PROBLEM STATEMENT
Chilli is grown in four agro-ecological zones of Balochistan

and farmers get high income from chilli growing. However,

Chilli is susceptible to several diseases particularly fruit rot of chilli is of great importance in terms of yield and quality losses. The chemical control of this disease is the easiest option in farmers perspective. So, this study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of different fungicides against the fruit rot of Chilli caused by Alternaria alternate.

OBJECTIVES
To isolate, purify and identify the causal organism of

chilli fruit rot (Aternaria alternata) and prepare its

culture in the laboratory. To find out the most effective fungicide against chilli fruit rot caused by Aternaria alternata under in vitro

and vivo condition.

INTRODUCTION
Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is considered an important tropical and subtropical crop on the basis of its high consumption, nutritional and cash value to farmers and consumers both in developed and developing countries. In Pakistan chilli (Capsicum annum L.) is an important vegetable crop planted over an estimated area of 47.3 thousand

hectares with an annual production of 69.5 thousand tones, with

an average yield of 1902 kg/ha.

 Chilli fruit rotting occur when pest injure fruits and left larval frass/excreta inside which attracts Aspergillus flavus (Link.), Aternaria spp. and other pathogens. Therefore, fungicides are

sprayed to inhibit development of fungal hyphae.

The disease starts from lower leaves and slowly progresses

towards the upper shoots, leaves, petioles, pods/fruits and heads.

One of the most effective and old method for disease control is

the use of fungicides. There are several fungicides which are

being commercially available while several others are being evaluated in different laboratories.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Four fungicides i.e. Diathene M45, Topsin, Allete, and Revus will be evaluated against Chilli fruit rot caused by Alternaria alternata in vitro and vivo condition that will be replicated three times. In vitro study will be conducted in Plant Pathology

Laboratory Balochistan Agriculture College Quetta using CRD

and in vivo study will be carried out at the experimental field using RCBD at Directorate of Agriculture Research Plant

Protection, Agriculture Research Institute Sariab Quetta during

2013.

IN VITRO STUDY
Alteranaria alternata culture will be prepared from infected chilli fruit that will be used for the assessment of fungicides efficacy.

Different concentrations of the tested fungicides with specific volumes will be added to the proper amounts of PDA medium before solidification and then poured into sterilized Petri-dishes (9cm diam.).
All dishes will be inoculated in the centre from the Alteranaria alternata cultures.

All dishes will be incubated at 301C for 7 days then the number of colonies of fungus will be counted and the average will be calculated.

IN VIVO STUDY
Treatment = 5 (4 fungicides and one control)
R1

LAY OUT
R2
T3

R3
T4

T1 = No fungicide spray (control) T2 = Diathene M45 spray T3 = Topsin spray T4 = Allete spray T5 = Revus spray

T1

T2

T5

T2

T3

T1

T3

Replication = 3
6m

T4

T2

T5

Plot size = 6x7 m = 42 m2 Statistical design = RCBD

Randomized complete block design

T5

T4

T1

7m

Water Channel

OBSERVATIONS
In vitro study
Number of colonies counted per treatment

In vivo study
Disease severity assessed one week after each spray and the average will be calculated The number of infected fruits/plot Fruit weight (kg/plot)

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The collected data will be subjected to statistical analysis

using computer software STATISTIX 8.1 (Russel and

Eisensmith, 1983). Treatment averages will be compared at

0.05 level of probability using L.S.D. procedure (Fisher,

1948).

IN VITRO RESEARCH WORK IS BEING CONDUCTED IN THE LABORATORY OF PALNT PATHOLOGY BALOCHISTAN AGRICULTURE COLLEGE QUETTA