Abstract
In Pakistan, the production of chilli (Capsicum annum L.) crop usually grows under stressed conditions due to a number of pathogens and mostly fruit and foliar fungal diseases are regarded as responsible for reduced production. For this purpose, eight different localities of lower Sindh including Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Kunri, Samaro, Kot Ghulam Muhammad and Digri areas were selected for survey of fungal infection as they are the major chilli producing areas of Pakistan. One hundred sixty samples of infected fruits and foliar parts with fruit as well as without fruit were collected. The stored fruits were also collected from the markets and godowns of the major storing units of chilli fruit. Eleven fungi including Alternaria alternata, A. solani, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Botrytis cinerea, Cercospora capsici, Colletotirchum capsici, Leveillula taurica and Verticillium spp. were isolated and identified from the fruits and foliar parts of chilli. The diversity of the fungal assemblages was estimated using diversity indices.
