Endophytic microbes from red betel suppress Colletotrichum acutatum causing anthracnose in chili pepper

Abstract

Anthracnose is a major disease that reduces chili production by 50-100%, leading to significant economic losses. The use of synthetic fungicides remains common; however, their application is limited due to environmental concerns and residual effects on post-harvest products. Therefore, the development of environmentally friendly biological control methods is critically important. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of endophytic microbes isolated from Piper crocatum leaves as biocontrol agents against anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum acutatum in chili plants. The methodology involved isolating endophytic microbes from Piper crocatum leaves, conducting in vitro antagonism tests via volatile inhibition assays, and performing morphological and biochemical analyses to elucidate the mechanisms of antagonism. Results indicated that isolate SM2 showed the greatest potential to suppress C. acutatum growth, achieving a maximum inhibition rate of 53% in the volatile test. These findings suggest that endophytic microbes from Piper crocatum leaves have promising potential as biological control agents for managing anthracnose in chili, thereby reducing reliance on excessive chemical fungicide applications.