- Worldwide distribution. Two species: Colletotrichum capsici from Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa. Solomon Islands, Tonga; Colletotrichum gloeosporioides most Pacific island countries. Cause fruit rots, leaf and flower spots and blights. Major problem on eggplant, chili and capsicum.
- Damage: multiple light-brown spots merging to form large, raised, warty, brown patches with concentric rings, especially at base of fruit, becoming sunken and developing masses of black fruiting bodies.
- Spread: spread in wind-driven rain, possibly by insects and tools. Long distance spread in or on seed and weeds.
- Cultural control: in nursery - disease-free seed (if unsure, treat 50°C for 30 mins); check each seedling; in field - 3-year rotation; weed; avoid overhead irrigation; collect crop debris and burn at harvest.
- Chemical control: use (i) protectants, e.g., mancozeb, copper products or chlorothalonil, or (ii) systemics, e.g., triazoles or strobilurins.
