Report on Choanephora cucurbitarum inciting twig blight of chilli under Coastal Odisha condition in India

Chilli (Capsicum annum L.) is a common spice crop grown in India. During 2018, twig blight symptoms were first observed in experimental plots of chilli in ICAR-IIHR-Central Horticultural Experimental Station, Odisha, India. High incidence of twig blight to the tune of 23% was documented during 2018  Kharif crop of chilli. There was no occurrence of twig blight in rabi and summer crops. This study reported the detailed cultural and micro-morphological characteristics of Choanephora cucurbitarum infecting chilli and pathogen identity was confirmed by molecular phylogenetic analyses. Pathogenicity tests were repeated twice with same results. To best of our knowledge, C. cucurbitarum infecting chilli is the first report in the state of Odisha, India.