Vol. 11, Issue 6 (2022)

Author(s):
Vandana, RK Mesta, MD Jameel Jhalegar, Kiran Kumar KC and Siddanna Thoke

Abstract:
Coletotrichum gloeosporioides causing anthracnose is one of the major fungal pathogens that infect during pre and post harvest stages of several host plants. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an arid fruit crop having economical importance with higher export potential. Among all the pathogens of fruit rots, anthracnose caused by C. gloeosporioides is becoming major problem in pomegranate. C. gloeosporioides was characterized based on its mycelial growth, colony appearance, shape and margins of the colony and sporulation on different solid and liquid media. Among nine different solid media tested, oat meal agar was found to be the best culture media for the growth and development of C. gloeosporioides followed by malt extract agar and among different liquid media PDB was found to be best for the growth of pathogens. Highest sporulation was recorded in Richard’s agar and Malt extract agar. The effect of temperature and hydrogen ion concentration on growth of pathogen were also studied in which temperature of 30 ⁰C and pH 6 followed by 7 pH recorded the highest mycelia weight.