Effect of Chemicals Inducing Systemic Resistance and Efficacy of Bioagents and Botanicals against Pomegranate (punica Granatum l.) Anthracnose (colletotrichum Gloeosporioides (penz.) Penz. and Sacc.)

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a commercially an important fruit of both tropical and subtropical countries and belongs to the family Punicaceae. The fruits are susceptible to various biotic stress caused by fungi, bacteria and physiological disorders. Among the various fungal diseases, anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. and Sacc.) is one of the most serious diseases of pomegranate worldwide. Like many of pathogenic fungi it also remains latent during maturity of the fruit and expresses symptoms during storage. Further, conidia of the C. gloeosporioides which are abundant in the atmosphere of tropical plantation may lodge on the surface of the fruits as the fruits approaching maturity. Propagules of the pathogen cause lesions and decay of the fruit. Among the chemicals inducing systemic resistance viz., salicylic acid and benzoic acid were found more effective in reducing the per cent disease index with high total soluble solid, low total titrable acidity and less physiological loss in weight after eight days of storage.