Phytophthora capsici is the most destructive pathogen of vegetables that represents a serious threat to chilli pepper plants. We discussed the control of P. capsici through manipulation of genetic architecture of chilli plant and endophytic microorganisms. The function of various genes encoding transcriptional regulatory and defense related putative proteins such as pathogen-related protein (PR), anti-microbial peptides (AMPs), polygalacturonaseinhibiting proteins (PGIPs), lipid transfer protein (LTP), pectin methylesterase (PME), leucine-rich repeat proteins (LRRs), osmotin-like and thaumatin-like protein, in Capsicum was also analyzed. The bio-control of P. capsici by using various strains of Bacillus, Trichoderma, Pseudomonas, Chryseobacterium and Rhizobacteria was demonstrated. We also discussed the enhanced resistance to P. capsici infection by treatment with a variety of abiotic and biotic inducers that act on defence signalling pathways involved in disease resistance. We highlighted the vulnerability of chilli crop with reference to its genetic resources against Phytophthora blight. Disease control through chemicals is becoming problematic, so we proposed other ways to control the disease severity. This review highlights the economic significance of chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) along with disease management strategies against P. capsici. This pathogen has posed a serious threat to chilli crop worldwide.

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