Survey on the incidence of Fusarium wilt of chilli in the agro-ecological condition of red and lateritic zone of West Bengal

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the important vegetable as well as spice crops belonging to the nightshade family Solanaceae, which are amply cultivated in all parts of the world’s subtropical and tropical regions. Fusarium wilt is the major limiting factor in chilli production, caused by Fusarium oxysporum has emerged as a serious problem in past decade. A survey was conducted to investigate the occurrence and distribution of Fusarium wilt in the agro-ecological condition of red and lateritic zones of West Bengal during the rabi season of 2021–22. In this investigation, fields of important chilli growing areas across Birbhum and Bankura districts were selected to conduct the survey. The percent disease incidence (PDI) was calculated through periodic observations at 35, 50, and 65 days after transplanting (DAT). The maximum percent disease incidence of 32.45% was found in Bankura district of Araldihi followed by Birbhum district of Hetampur (30.41%) and minimum incidence was observed in Birbhum district of Sian (19.48%). A mean disease incidence ranging from 32.26 to 34.51% followed by Birbhum district 26.18 to 32.11% was observed. The result of the survey revealed that wide range of infection and incidence of Fusarium wilt disease occurred in Bullet lanka-9 variety compared to all other varieties. This study emphasizes the critical role of environmental factors in disease proliferation and highlights the need for resistant varieties and improved management practices to mitigate losses. These findings provide valuable insights for designing targeted disease control strategies in chilli cultivation.