ABSTRACT
This chapter provides information about diseases which are affecting chili produce and discusses possible effective remedies for those diseases as well. Anthracnose disease is one of the major economic constraints to chili production worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Anthracnose causes extensive pre- and post-harvest damage to chili fruits through anthracnose lesions. Even small anthracnose lesions on chili fruits reduce their marketable value. Different species cause diseases of different organs of the chili plant; for example, Colletotrichum acutatum and Colletotrichum gloeosporioidesinfect chili fruits at all developmental stages, but usually not the leaves or stems, which are mostly damaged by Colletotrichum coccodes and Colletotrichum dematium. Bacterial Leaf Spot of Chili is the most common, and one of the two most destructive diseases of peppers in the eastern United States. Diseases can be managed using the following strategies: chemical control, biological control, cultural control, and integrated pest management.
