Anthracnose (ripe rot) of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), caused by Colletotrichum capsici (Syd.) E. J. Butler & Bisby, was observed in seven home gardens in Copiah, DeSoto, and Oktibbeha counties in Mississippi in 1994. Falcate conidia measuring 20.5 × 4.0 μm were produced on lesions of fruits in moist chambers. Conidial size and other distinguishing features agreed with the description of C. capsici (1). Pure cultures of the pathogen were obtained by aseptic transfer of conidia to agar. Occurrence of symptomatic fruits in gardens ranged from 15% in Starkville to 3% near Crystal Springs, MS, but nine of the gardens inspected had no fruit rot. The most severe disease occurred on ripening fruits. Lesions similar to those observed were produced by inoculating sterilized toothpick tips infested with C. capsici into fruits, followed by incubation in a moist chamber. Koch's postulates were completed by reisolation of the fungus from inoculated fruits.
Reference: (1) J. E. M. Mordue. 1971. No. 317 in: Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria. Commonw. Mycol. Inst., Kew, England.
