Annual Research & Review in Biology

Chilli anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum capsici is a major constraint to chilli production in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. A roving field survey was conducted during the Kharif seasons of 2023–24 and 2024–25 to assess disease severity across six districts: Jaunpur, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Azamgarh and Sonbhadra. Two blocks were selected in each district, two villages were surveyed in each block and three plots were assessed in each village. Disease severity was recorded at fruit maturity using a 0–5 numerical scale and expressed as the per cent disease index. Anthracnose was observed in all surveyed districts during both seasons. Jaunpur recorded the highest pooled district mean disease severity (46.94% PDI), followed by Azamgarh (46.72%), Mirzapur (44.95%), Sonbhadra (41.10%), Bhadohi (39.11%) and Varanasi (38.70%). At the village level, the highest pooled severity was recorded at Lohgajar in Jalalpur block, Jaunpur (52.11%), whereas the lowest was recorded at Khajuri in Cholapur block, Varanasi (35.46%). District-level severity was generally higher in 2024–25, although seasonal values varied among locations. The observed spatial variation indicates heterogeneous disease pressure across the surveyed area. The findings identify Jaunpur and Azamgarh as comparatively high-risk districts and provide a field-based basis for prioritising location-specific surveillance and integrated disease-management measures.