224 DISEASES OF TROPICAL PLANTS CH . 



Anthracnose. This disease is due to Gloeosporium 

 piperatum, E. & E., which causes soft, sunken cankers 

 (Fig. 77) on both ripe and green fruits. 



Another anthracnose is due to Colletotrichum nigrum, 

 E. & Hals., which makes similar spots, but can be dis- 

 tinguished by very minute dark spines in the spore 

 patches. 



Blight or Wilt. This disease causes an alternate 



FIG. 78. Peppers affected with rot, Macrosporium sp. 



wilting of the young parts of the plant during the day 

 and revival during the night, but the wilting increases 

 on each successive day. By the fourth day the plant 

 is usually beyond recovery, undergoes a change of 

 colour, drying and dropping of foliage, and finally dies. 

 In the early stages of the disease the roots are 

 apparently healthy, but there can usually be found on 

 the stem, just below the surface of the ground or on 

 one of the larger roots, a discoloured, shrunken spot. 

 With the progress of the disease this spot increases in 



