Morphological and Pathological Studies of Colletotrichum Capsici and C. Indicum

ABSTRACT

Four isolates of Colletotrichum capsici from pepper and cotton from Louisiana, and four isolates of C. indicum from cotton from El Salvador, Thailand and India were studied for pathogenicity on unwounded cotton bolls and for morphological characters on the host and in culture which might serve to separate the two species. All isolates, regardless of host or geographic origin, were pathogenic on unwounded cotton bolls. Relative amount and location of fungal stromatic tissue development within boll tissues varied similarly for both species. Conidial dimensions were nearly identical for C. capsici and C. indicum. Colletotrichum indicum should be considered a synonym of C. capsici based on similar pathogenic and morphological characters.

Key Words:

• boll rot
• Capsicum
• Gossypium