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Pepper plants are a staple in most vegetable gardens. They’re easy to grow and add great flavor to countless dishes. Mild varieties like bell peppers are essential in many kinds of salads and for healthy snacking. Hot varieties can add a little or a lot of spiciness to your dishes. All kinds add a exciting burst of color to recipes.
This warm season crop that is relatively easy to grow, save for a few pepper diseases and pests. Whether youre growing sweet or hot peppers, learn the signs of disease and pest damage for optimum plant health and yields.
Peppers need temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees F ( 21-30 C) to flower and flourish. Night temperatures should not drop below 60 F ( 16 C). Most peppers require a long growing period and should be started indoors in cooler climes. These transplants are hardened off and set into the ground after all danger of frost has passed.
Peppers are in the nightshade family which includes such plants as tomatoes and eggplants. It is best to avoid planting them where other nightshades were grown the previous year. This practice will help avoid soil-borne nightshade diseases from affecting the plants.
Banana peppers are a popular pepper variety grown by home gardeners for their mild flavor and versatile uses. However like all plants, they can fall victim to diseases that stunt growth and reduce yields. As a gardener being able to identify and treat banana pepper diseases is crucial for a healthy, productive crop. This article will examine some of the most common banana pepper diseases, their causes, symptoms, and organic treatment methods.
The Most Common Banana Pepper Diseases
Some of the most widespread diseases affecting banana pepper plants include:
- Bacterial Spot
- Anthracnose
- Blossom End Rot
- Powdery Mildew
- Phytophthora Blight
- Verticillium Wilt
- Viruses
While environmental factors like weather, soil conditions, and cultural practices play a role, diseases in banana peppers are most often caused by fungal, bacterial, or viral pathogens Let’s take a closer look at each disease
Bacterial Spot
Bacterial spot is one of the most destructive diseases for peppers. It is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria and spreads rapidly under warm humid conditions through wind-driven rain overhead irrigation, and infected seeds and transplants.
Symptoms
- Small (1/8 inch) brown spots with yellow halos on leaves
- Raised brown spots on fruit
- Fruit spots become scabby and grow larger
- Severe defoliation
- Stunted growth
Treatment
- Purchase certified disease-free transplants and seeds
- Avoid overhead watering
- Apply copper-based fungicide sprays as a preventive
- Remove and destroy infected plant material
Prevention
- Rotate crops
- Use drip irrigation
- Space plants properly for good airflow
- Sanitize tools and equipment
Anthracnose
Anthracnose is caused by the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum truncatum. It thrives in warm, wet weather and can quickly defoliate plants.
Symptoms
- Small, sunken, water-soaked lesions on ripe fruit
- Lesions enlarge and fruit rots
- Circular spots on leaves with yellow margins
- Defoliation
- Stems cankers near soil line
Treatment
- Improve airflow and reduce leaf wetness
- Remove weeds and infected plant debris
- Apply fungicides containing chlorothalonil, mancozeb, or copper
Prevention
- Use disease-free transplants
- Follow at least a 3-year crop rotation
- Avoid overhead irrigation and frequent leaf wetness
- Stake plants to improve airflow
Blossom End Rot
Blossom end rot is caused by calcium deficiencies in the plant, often induced by uneven soil moisture levels. It is most common in tomatoes and peppers.
Symptoms
- Water-soaked spot at blossom end of fruit
- Spot becomes sunken, dark brown or black
- Affects tip of banana pepper fruit
Treatment
- Maintain even soil moisture through drip irrigation
- Use calcium supplements like bone meal
- Remove affected fruit to prevent secondary fungi and decay
Prevention
- Amend soil with compost before planting
- Use mulch to conserve soil moisture
- Follow recommended calcium fertilization
- Test soil pH and keep between 6-7
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease favored by crowded plants, shade, poor air circulation, and high humidity.
Symptoms
- White powdery growth on leaves, stems, and fruit
- Leaves distorted, yellowed, and dropped
- Stunted growth
Treatment
- Improve air circulation between plants
- Remove and destroy infected leaves and fruit
- Apply neem oil, potassium bicarbonate spray
Prevention
- Allow proper spacing between plants
- Avoid excess shade and nitrogen fertilization
- Rotate crops in garden
- Resistant varieties like ‘King Arthur’ and ‘Bell Boy’
Phytophthora Blight
Phytophthora blight is a soil-borne fungal disease that causes stem, leaf, and fruit rot. It thrives in consistently wet conditions.
Symptoms
- Stem lesions at soil line
- Wilting foliage with brown edges
- White mold on leaves and stems
- Fruit rotting
Treatment
- Improve drainage and avoid excess moisture
- Remove and destroy infected plants
- Apply fungicides like mefenoxam pre-planting
Prevention
- Plant in well-draining soil or use raised beds
- Follow crop rotation of 3-4 years
- Allow soil to dry between irrigations
- Use disease-free transplants
Verticillium Wilt
Verticillium wilt is a soil-borne fungal disease that invades plants through the roots. Once inside, it spreads to leaves, causing wilt and dieback.
Symptoms
- Leaves wilt starting on one side of plant
- V-shaped lesions on stems near soil
- Discoloration of stem vascular tissue
- Sudden drying and death
Treatment
- Remove and destroy infected plants immediately
- Solarize soil using clear plastic to kill fungi
- Apply fungicides like fluazinam as a drench
Prevention
- Practice crop rotation of 5+ years
- Plant resistant pepper varieties
- Avoid introducing contaminated soil or tools
- Control weed species like nightshades
Viruses
Viruses like cucumber mosaic virus, tobacco mosaic virus, potato virus Y, and others cause stunted growth, mottling, and poor fruit set in peppers. They are transmitted by insects, human contact, or infected seeds and plants.
Symptoms
- Leaves with light and dark green mottling
- Twisted, distorted leaves and fruits
- Stunted plants
Treatment
- Remove and destroy infected plants immediately
- Control insect vectors like aphids and cucumber beetles
- Disinfect tools and gloves between plants
Prevention
- Purchase certified virus-free transplants and seeds
- Use insect barrier fabric row covers
- Control weeds that can harbor viruses
- Wash hands before handling plants
Organic and Natural Treatments
When dealing with banana pepper diseases, integrating organic and natural treatments whenever possible is ideal to keep your garden and produce chemical-free. Some effective options include:
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Biological fungicides – Contain beneficial bacteria or fungi that outcompete and control plant pathogens. Examples are Actinovate and Double Nickel.
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Bacillus subtilis – A beneficial bacterium that triggers the plant’s natural defenses against fungal diseases. Serenade is a commercially available product.
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Compost tea – Boosts beneficial microbes when sprayed onto soil and foliage. Can help fight fungal diseases.
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Neem oil – Derived from the neem tree, it disrupts the life cycle of fungi and deter insect pests when sprayed on plants.
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Potassium bicarbonate – Controls powdery mildew when sprayed on plants as a fungicide.
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Copper fungicides – Available as dusts, sprenches, and sprays. Copper ions inhibit fungal spore production and germination.
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Sulfur – Applied as a dust or spray to leaves, sulfur has anti-fungal properties that prevent disease establishment.
Paying close attention to your banana pepper crop and identifying issues early is key to effective disease management. When spotted, prompt removal of infected plants and fruit is crucial to limit spread. Focus on prevention by promoting plant health through proper spacing, irrigation, nutrition, and sanitation practices. Integrating organic sprays and soil amendments when needed can help minimize reliance on synthetic fungicides. With quick identification and integrated treatment, your banana peppers can thrive!
Common Fungal Pepper Diseases
The most common problem with pepper plants stems from fungal disease which shows up as affected leaves. Destructive strains of fungus can flourish in an environment where there’s too much water.
Peppers require soil that is loose, well-draining, nutrient rich, and has not had other nightshades previously planted in the site. But even if all those needs are met, there is still the possibility of disease in pepper plants.
- Anthracnose affects many crops and ornamental plants. It is a fungus harbored in soil that splashes up onto leaves, developing round, orange, tan, or black lesions.
- Cercospora affects all parts of the plant and fruit and results in oval spots with tan centers bordered by red. Wet rot is a fungus that develops into fuzzy white to gray mold on plant parts.
- Phytophthora blight causes lemon shaped lesions and affects all parts of the plant. Southern blight or white mold causes severe wilting in plants. Most fungal diseases favor warm temperatures and excessive moisture. Avoid overhead watering and use fungicides as necessary.
Common Pepper Plant Bugs
There are several insects and creatures that enjoy feeding on pepper plants. Most of them can be easily removed by hand or with a spray of soapy water. You’ll need to check your plants frequently for bugs and worms to make sure they don’t proliferate. Keeping the garden area around your pepper plants clean and free of dead leaves and debris is important – insects love to hide and breed in dead or decaying plant material.
Bacterial Disease on Peppers
FAQ
How to treat fungus on pepper plants?
How do you identify a bacterial pepper disease?
What are the signs of disease in pepper plants?
What are the signs of blight on pepper plants?