Integrated Management Strategies for Viral Disease Complex in King Chilli

Abstract

King Chilli is one of the important traditional spice crops with high export value, grown in North Eastern region of India. Studies revealed that viral diseases in this crop are widespread, with prevalence of viral infections as complex viral symptoms. The study on different biotic and synthetic agents for the management of viral complex in open cultivated King Chilli was carried out in experimental farm, Department of Horticulture, AAU. The treatment combinations were Package of practice (POP) + Biopesticide (Biogreen) @ 50g/L + Biofertilizer (Azotobacter) @ 80g/L, POP + Jivamrit @ 5%, POP + Salicylic acid @ 0.5mM, POP + Vitex negundo (Posotiya plant) @ 5%, POP + King chilli fruit extract 1ppm, POP and untreated control. Treatments were applied following proper application methods and viral disease incidence was recorded at 0th, 15th, 30th, 45th, 60th, 75th, 90th, 105th and 120th days after transplanting in the main field based on symptomatology. The mean value of disease percentage indicated that, expression of symptoms was heavier at 120th days after transplanting in all the treatments. Although none of the treatments were completely effective in management of mixed virus infection, but all the treatments were effective in comparison to un-treated control. Among the treatment combinations, T3 [Package of practice + Salicylic acid @ 0.5mM at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120 DAT] was the most effective in reduction of disease incidence and vector population count with maximum plant height of 94.08 cm and yield 64.5 q/ha.