First Report of Phytophthora Capsici Causing Phytophthora Blight on Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) from Haryana, India

Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, is a devastating disease threatening the bell pepper industry. This pathogen affects all parts of plants including causing rot, blight, significant harm and losses the Capsicum species. In the present study, symptoms of blight and damping off were noted during two years of field surveys, February–November 2021–2022. Seventy-two isolates were obtained from rhizosphere soil samples of the infected bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants. Phytophthora capsici Leonian was identified on the basis of morphological and cultural characteristics and culture being deposited in the Indian Type Culture Collection (ITCC) in New Delhi. The 18S rRNA ITS region was undertaken to confirm species identity. A phylogenetic tree confirmed that the obtained ITS region sequences were identical to Phytophthora capsici isolates. This is the first report of Phytophthora blight on bell peppers from the Haryana region of India.