Abstract
Effect of temperature, relative humidity (RH) and free water period on anthracnose development by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was examined on red pepper fruits. Mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides was best at 28$^{\circ}C$, but greatly retarded at 32$^{\circ}C$. Minimum inoculum density required for lesion development varied with isolates, but was mostly above 1.0$\times$105 conidia/ml. Optimum temperature for lesion development on fruits was 31$^{\circ}C$. Percentage of lesion development was decreased as incubation temperature decreased. similar trend of temperature response was observed for acervulus formation on the developed lesions. Acervuli were not developed on the lesion as low as at 19$^{\circ}C$. Lesion development and acervuli formation tended to increase as increasing RH, but were greatly inhibited at the RH lower than 88%. More than 2 hours of free water period after inoculation were required for lesion development. Lesion development was increased as free water period increased. This study indicates that anthracnose development by C. gloeosporioides favors the conditions of high temperature above 28$^{\circ}C$, high humidity above 90% RH, and requires free water period longer than 2 hours.