Fungal Foes in Chilli Quiz Quiz

Explore the key fungal diseases affecting chilli plants and discover effective management practices vital for healthy horticultural production. This quiz is tailored for growers and enthusiasts seeking to improve crop resilience and yield.

1. Identifying Anthracnose in Chilli

   A farmer notices dark, sunken lesions with concentric rings on harvested chilli fruits during storage. Which fungal disease is most likely responsible?

   1. Anthracnose
   2. Powdery Mildew
   3. Bacterial Wilt
   4. Leaf Curl Virus

   Explanation: Anthracnose causes dark, sunken lesions typically with concentric rings, mainly post-harvest. Powdery Mildew affects leaves with powdery growth, not fruits. Bacterial Wilt leads to wilting and is not a fungal disease. Leaf Curl Virus is viral, not fungal, and mainly distorts leaves.

2. Fungal Disease Favoring High Humidity

   During a humid rainy season, chilli plants develop white, cottony fungal growth and fruit rot near the ground. Which fungus is most likely involved?

   1. Verticillium dahliae
   2. Alternaria solani
   3. Puccinia graminis
   4. Phytophthora capsici

   Explanation: Phytophthora capsici causes fruit rot and white, cottony growth at the stem base, especially in moist conditions. Verticillium dahliae primarily causes wilting, not visible rot. Alternaria solani affects leaves with target spots, while Puccinia graminis is a cereal rust fungus, not affecting chillies.

3. Management Practice for Powdery Mildew

   If powdery mildew is spreading on chilli leaves as white powdery patches, which management strategy is most suitable?

   1. Use antibiotics
   2. Apply sulfur-based fungicide
   3. Increase overhead irrigation
   4. Add more nitrogen fertilizer

   Explanation: Sulfur-based fungicides effectively control powdery mildew. Increasing overhead irrigation can worsen the problem by increasing leaf wetness. Antibiotics are ineffective against fungal diseases. Excess nitrogen can make plants more susceptible, not less.

4. Seed Treatment for Damping-Off Prevention

   A nursery experiences poor chilli seedling emergence with stems collapsing at the soil line. Which management approach is recommended to prevent fungal damping-off?

   1. Prune seedling tops frequently
   2. Increase shade for seedlings
   3. Treat seeds with fungicides before sowing
   4. Apply insecticides to soil

   Explanation: Seed treatment with fungicides helps prevent damping-off caused by soilborne fungi. Insecticides target pests, not fungi. Increasing shade does not address fungal issues and can worsen humidity. Pruning seedlings is irrelevant for preventing stem rot.

5. Resistant Varieties in Disease Management

   When aiming to minimize fungal disease losses in a chilli field with a history of disease, which proactive step is most effective?

   1. Reduce field sanitation efforts
   2. Delay planting until late season
   3. Increase use of chemical ripeners
   4. Plant disease-resistant chilli varieties

   Explanation: Growing resistant varieties is a key method to manage fungal diseases long-term. Delaying planting may increase exposure to other stresses. Reducing sanitation promotes disease spread, and chemical ripeners do not affect fungal infection.