Vol. 11, Special Issue 7 (2022)

Author(s):
Sanika Joshi, Borkar PG, Barde PS and Salvi PP

Abstract:
The anthracnose of bottle gourd incited by Colletotrichum lagenarium (Syn. C. orbiculare Berk. & Mont.) Arx is emerging as a major disease of bottle gourd in Konkan region. The genus Colletotrichum has a mainly tropical and sub-tropical distribution, although there are high profile species affecting temperate crops also. As a plant pathogen, the members of the genus Colletotrichum causes anthracnose of many fruit and vegetable crops. C. lagenarium the anthracnose fungus can survive on seed, wild cucurbitaceous hosts and plant remains which serve as sources of primary inoculum. Spores are dispersed from diseased leaves by splashing rains and overhead irrigation. Spore production, germination and infection are favoured by high relative humidity and water film on leaf surfaces. The pathogen is seed borne in nature but its spread largely depends upon the environmental factors. The disease appeared in the form minute, irregular yellow spots on leaves. These spots enlarged into brown necrotic lesions surrounded by yellow halo. A roving survey was conducted to record the severity of anthracnose of bottle gourd in both Kharif and Rabi season in four districts of Konkan. Amongst all the four districts, the highest mean disease intensity (55.56%) was observed in Dapoli followed by Mandangad (40.59%) from Ratnagiri district.