Study on the Production of Some Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes by Colletotrichum capsici Causing Fruit Rot of Chillies

A Virulent Colletotrichum capsici produced more cellulolytic enzymes than avirulent ones. The activity of these enzymes increased with the increase in age of culture. These pathogens also produced some non-specific toxic metabolites in culture filterate. These metabolites reduces seed germination, shoot length, root length and vigour index of the seedlings of chilli, rice, mungbean, maize, cotton, groundnut. Okra, egg plant, cucumber and tomato respectively. These toxic metabolites reduced seed germination which caused mortality of chilli seedlings. They also produced phytotoxic symptoms in the treated ripe and green chilli fruits and leaves.