Detection and biological control measures of anthracnose causing fungus isolated from Citrus limon (L.)

Anthracnose is one of the most devastating fungi causing twig dieback and postharvest fruit decay. Present study was aimed to identification of anthracnose fungus. Infected leaves of Citrus limon were collected and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) media for pathogenic fungus isolation. The isolated fungal pure culture was characterized by physiological and morphological characterization methods. Biological control measures of the fungus were evaluated by disc diffusion methods. The highest growth and development of isolated fungus was detected in PDA media at pH 7 in fructose as the best carbon source and 0.05gm NaCl concentrations at 37°C. Pathogenicity potency of isolate was performed on lemon, orange and malta, and showed typical anthracnose symptoms after incubation at 25°C for 5 days. For antifungal activity, 200µgm/disc methanolic extract of Psidium guajava showed 14.33±0.66 mm inhibition zone against the isolated fungus. From the present investigations, identified anthracnose causing fungus and it's controlling techniques may help for further research for the isolation of drugs related compound for controlling this disease.