Vol. 10, Special Issue 1, Part I (2026)

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most important spice crops in India, but its production is severely constrained by fruit rot caused by Colletotrichum spp. To assess the spatial and temporal distribution of the disease, systematic roving surveys were conducted during kharif 2023-24 and 2024-25 across five major chilli-growing districts of Telangana. A total of 20 representative villages were surveyed each year, and mean fruit rot severity was recorded using the Percent Disease Index (PDI). Results revealed that fruit rot was widespread, with severity ranging from 28.88 to 83.33% in 2023-24 and from 24.44 to 84.44% in 2024-25. Warangal and Khammam districts consistently emerged as hotspots with higher PDI values, while Peddapalli and Wanaparthy recorded comparatively lower levels of infection. Varietal response indicated that Teja (S17) was highly susceptible, whereas Super 10 showed moderate tolerance. A year-to-year comparison suggested a slight reduction in disease severity during 2024-25, which may be attributed to seasonal variation and management practices. GIS-based mapping provided clear visualization of spatial distribution and hotspot areas. The findings highlight the urgent need for integrated disease management strategies, deployment of tolerant varieties, and use of spatial epidemiology tools for targeted disease forecasting and mitigation in chilli production systems.