Effect of Weather Parameters on Disease Severity and Progression of Fusarium Wilt in Chilli (Capsicum anuum L.)

Abstract

Fusarium wilt incited by Fusarium oxysporum is an economically damaging disease of chilli (Capsicum anuum L.). Field experiments on epidemiological studies were conducted using susceptible variety (Pusa Jwala) to study the effect of weather parameters on the progression of the disease. The study revealed that transplanting chilli during the first half of July reduced the disease severity compared to earliest transplant dates. The area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) and the apparent infection rate were lowest in the crop transplanted on 15th July, 2022 while they were highest in the crop transplanted on 15th June, 2022. The correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between disease severity and bright sunshine hours, and a negative correlation with the other weather parameters. The R2 value obtained from multiple regression equations revealed that the combined effect of weather parameters could explain the prediction of a disease level of 83-86 per cent at all three transplant dates.