Pathogenicity assay: Pathogenicity test was executed
using one month old chili plants to determine the
pathogenicity of 4 strains of Fusarium oxysporum on ten
different varieties of chili plant. Infection and visible
characteristic symptoms were evident after 10 days of
inoculation (Tables 1 & 2). Symptoms of wilt disease
observed on different varieties of chili plants were found
to be varied with different strains of F. oxysporum (Fig.
1). Symptoms were started to develop from the leaf tips
and along the margins of the leaf petiole. Strain B of F.
oxysporum was proved to be the most pathogenic as it
induced symptoms within 7 days. Initially the plants
displayed yellowing on the leaves that was turned into
chlorosis and necrosis; slowly it was converted to wilting
and eventually the death of the whole plant. The severely
infected plants showed the stunted growth. Data analysis
revealed that all the strains of F. oxysporum demonstrated
maximum disease severity in sky red. On the other hand
Sitara, Anchal and Kundri exhibited less severity (30-
35%) against the same pathogen (Fig. 1). F. oxysporum
strain B induced maximum disease index of about 50% in
Sky red (Fig. 2). By the evaluation of percentage infected
area, the variety Sky red having the accession 020699 was
proved the most susceptible and Anchal was most
resistant against Fusarium oxysporum