Anthracnose/ Dieback/ Fruit rot of chilli

Symptom

This disease is caused by a fungal infection. Chili flowers begin to wilt, droop, and gradually dry up before falling off. The chili stems start to dry from the tip downward, progressing toward the nodes and branches. On the fruit, water-soaked lesions initially appear, which gradually enlarge into dark reddish-brown patches. These lesions often exhibit concentric rings with small black fungal fruiting bodies at the center. The affected fruits become shriveled and deformed. During humid seasons, the lesions may be covered with pinkish fungal spores. In severe cases, the entire plant may dry up, resulting in significant yield loss and deterioration in fruit quality.