Growth Study of Cercospora capsici Causing Leaf Spot Disease of Chilli on Different Media, pH and Temperature

Chilli (Capsicum annum L. ) is a universal spice of India. It affects mainly with fungal diseases like Cercospora leaf spot which plays a vital role for the qualitative loss mainly affects on leaf. It has become a serious problem in some of the major growing states of India particularly in the early stage of crop. An investigation was carried out to study growth of Cercospora capsici on different media, pH and temperature at Department of Plant Patholgy, College of Horticulture, VCSG UUHF, Bharsar, Pauri Garhwal. Under this experiment different media including both synthetic and non-synthetic were tested for the growth of the pathogen. Among five media evaluated, maximum mycelial growth was observed on Potato dextrose agar (75.08mm) and minimum growth was observed on Corn meal agar (51.03mm) at 30th day of incubation. Hence, non-synthetic media than synthetic media favours the maximum mycelial growth of the pathogen. Different pH values and temperature levels were also tested for the pathogen. The studies revealed that the fungus grew maximum mycelial growth at pH 6.0 (48.22mm) followed by pH 7 (45.85 mm) and least growth observed at pH 9.0 (24.55mm). And at 25°C temperature (46.43 mm) showed the maximum mycelial growth of the fungus while minimum mycelial growth was observed at 35℃ temperature (16.24 mm).