Identification of Fungal Isolates Associated with Anthracnose Disease on Chilli

• Main Author: Dereenaldo Ambun, Chubing
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English; English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, (UNIMAS) 2022
• Subjects: QH301 Biology; QK Botany; SB Plant culture
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/39481/1/Dereenaldo%20Ambun%20%2824%20pgs%29.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/39481/4/Doreal%20Dyolee%20Anak%20Dominic-%20fulltext.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/39481/

Chilli fruit is an important plant crop that can be easily infected by anthracnose disease, that caused severe yield losses at the post-harvest stage to chilli producers and farmers. Colletotrichum species infection is the most common disease concern in chilli production, leading to anthracnose disease. This study aims to identify the Colletotrichum species associated with chilli anthracnose from infected fruits collected from several markets in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak. Pathogenicity test was conducted for the fungal isolates to evaluate their pathogenic level. Based on the results that have been obtained, three fungal isolates were successfully obtained and morphologically identified as Colletotrichum sp. The three isolates were identified as Colletotrichum sp. 1, Colletotrichum sp. 2 and Colletotrichum sp. 3. Each isolate was labelled as C11R2, C12R3 and C1R1-1 respectively. From these, Colletotrichum sp. 2 had the highest level of pathogenicity among the Colletotrichum spp. with disease severity percentage of 44%. Meanwhile, the percentage of disease severity of Colletotrichum sp. 1 ranged from 22% to 29%, and the ranged of disease severity percentage for Colletotrichum sp. 3 ranged from 12% to 19%. Identification of fungal isolates and their pathogenic level from the infected chilli is essential in disease control and management, correlated to selection of suitable resistant cultivars and fungicides.