Diseases management of Capsicum
Introduction:
Capsicum, known for its vibrant colors and versatile culinary uses, is a beloved vegetable in gardens and kitchens worldwide. However, ensuring robust growth and protecting these plants from diseases are crucial challenges for growers. Effective disease management not only safeguards the health of capsicum plants but also ensures a bountiful harvest of flavorful peppers. In this blog, we delve into essential strategies and tips for disease management of capsicum, empowering growers with the knowledge to nurture healthy plants and maximize yields.
Damping off: Pythium aphanidermatum
The populations in nursery seedlings die due to this diseases
Mycelia are hyaline and Aseptate and it has width size 5 micron
Irregular mycelial fibres grown and thus produce irregular shape spores
Symptoms:
Seedlings killed before emergence
Water soaking and shrivelling of stem
Factors favouring infection: Moist soils poor drainage 90-100% R.H soil temperature 20°C
Impact of disease symptoms shown at after sowing of seeds in seed beds
It will reduce the seed germination percentage it affects the young seedlings and their stems
lodging of seedlings due to weaken stems
disease affected seedling are seen light brownish colour
diseases spread through seeds and soil.
Management:
Treat the seeds with Trichoderma asperellum @ 4 g / kg or Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g /kg of seeds 24 hours before sowing
Apply P. fluorescens to soil @ 2.5 kg/ha with 50 kg of FYM
Avoid stagnation of water
Drench with copper oxychloride at 2.5 g/l @ 4 l/sq.
Soil drenching with copper oxychloride 0.25%
avoid shade places for nursery establishment
use recommended seed rate
avoid flooding type of irrigation and maintain optimum moisture level in nursery
use Thiram or Capton @ 4g/ kg of seeds for seed rate
Bacterial leaf spot: Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria
Symptoms:
The leaves exhibit small circular or irregular, dark brown or black greasy spots. As the spots enlarge in size, the centre becomes lighter Surrounded by a dark band of tissue.
The spot coalesces to form irregular lesions. Severely affected leaves become chlorotic and fall off.
Petioles and stems are also affected. Stem infection leads to formation of cankerous growth and wilting of branches.
On the fruits round, raised water-soaked spots with a pale-yellow border and produced.
The spots turn brown developing a depression in the centre wherein shining droplets of Bacterial cozen may be observed.
Management:
Spray mancozeb @ 2 g/l or copper oxychloride @ 2.5 g/l.
Seed treatment with 0.1% mercuric chloride solution for 2 to 5 minutes is effective.
Seedlings may be sprayed with Bordeaux mixture 1. Per cent or copper oxychloride 0.25%.
Spraying with streptomycin should not be done after fruits begin to form.
Field sanitation is important. Also seeds must be obtained from disease free plants.
Summary
Capsicum growers beware! Damping-off fungus attacks seedlings in nurseries. Treat seeds with beneficial microbes and avoid overwatering. Bacterial leaf spot causes ugly marks on leaves and fruits. Use copper sprays and disease-free seeds for a healthy harvest.