Occurrence And Impact of Major Fungal Diseases on Chilli Crop During Different Growth Phases in Parbhani District

The prevalence of the main fungal infections that harm chillies (Capsicum annuum L.) at the sapling, vegetative, and reproductive stages of crop growth is assessed in this study. Thirteen different fungus species with unique stage-specific occurrence patterns were identified. Fusarium oxysporum and Sclerotium rolfsii were the next most common soil- and seed-borne diseases that damaged the sapling stage, after Phytophthora capsici and Rhizoctonia solani, both of which had severe incidences. Cercospora capsici, Colletotrichum capsici, and Leveillula taurica recorded the highest prevalence during the vegetative stage, which demonstrated a high susceptibility to foliar diseases. Fruit-infecting fungus such Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum capsici, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides predominated during the reproductive stage, suggesting elevated disease pressure during yield-forming stages. Certain infections, such as Fusarium solani, did not appear at any stage of growth.