Estimation of yield loss due to chilli leaf curl disease in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) at different stages of the crop

Abstract

The yield loss assessment was done in chilli hybrids (Arka Meghana and Arka Khyati) against chilli leaf curl disease (ChiLCD) at Bengaluru, India. The ChiLCD infected plants were tagged at different stages of the crop from 20 to 60 days after transplanting on the onset of first appearance of the disease. The observations were recorded on different parameters such as plant height, number of branches, number of sub-branches, number of fruits per plant, number of unmarketable fruits, average ten fruit weight per plant, average ten fruit width per plant, average ten fruit length per plant, yield per plant in infected and healthy chilli plant on both the varieties. The analysis revealed that the fruit yield of chilli significantly was affected due to ChiLCD at different growth stages of the crop in both Arka Meghana and Arka Khyati. The highest (> 98%) per cent yield loss was recorded in the plants infested at 20 DAT while the lowest (< 43%) per cent yield loss was recorded in 60 DAT compared to healthy plants. The yield loss had gradually decreased when stage of infection progressed from 20 to 60 days after transplanting.