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Molecular identification and effect of non-aerated compost tea on fungal pathogen and seed
germination of chilli

1 Muhammad Amali Aizat, Nurul Faziha *
1

1 Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu,
21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.

* Corresponding author: nurulfaziha@umt.edu.my

Abstract:
Chilli (Capsicum annuum) has high demand in Malaysia, and the yield influenced by several factors
such as temperature, fertilization, and irrigation. Chilli plant is prone to fluctuated weather especially
raining season. The major problem in chilli is anthracnose disease which leads to certain losses to
farmer’s profit. Due to this disease, chemical fungicides have been used frequently to avoid and kill the
fungal pathogens. Therefore, this study has been conducted to focus on molecular identification of
fungal pathogens caused by anthracnose disease; and to evaluate the effect of non-aerated compost tea
(NCT) on fungal pathogens and seed germination of chilli. Out of 10 fungal isolates, five isolates have
been identified as Colletotrichum capsici with 100% similarity with sequences in GenBank. Another
five isolates have been identified as Colletotrichum acutatum (100% similary with GenBank). All these
isolates were pathogenic on the chilli plant. However, only one isolates of C. capsici was used for in
vitro inhibition test. The results show that different ratio of NCT and synthetic fungicide (Kenkozed
M45) can significantly inhibit the fungal pathogen. The percentage of inhibition were ranged between
73.89 to 100%. For seed germination test, parameters such as plant height, fresh weight and root fresh
weight were recorded. The chilli seeds treated with different ratio of NCT show higher fresh weight
(ranged from 2.7g to 5.46g) and root fresh weight (ranged from 0.6g to 1.36g) compared to control
(fresh weight, 2.48g and root fresh weight, 0.3g). For plant height, seeds treated with NCT showed
lower height (ranged from 11.44cm to 18.00cm) compared to control (19.00cm). Frequent application
of chemical fungicides will produce bad implication to the environment. Potential of NCT to inhibit
fungal pathogens and increased germination rate of chilli seeds shows promising alternative in
controlling anthracnose disease in chilli plant.

Keywords: Chilli, Anthracnose, Non-aerated compost tea (NCT)