Black Pepper: Diseases and Symptoms Foot rot /quick wilt disease Pollu disease /anthracnose Slow decline /slow wilt Stunt dise...
Black Pepper: Diseases
and Symptoms
- Foot rot /quick wilt disease
- Pollu disease /anthracnose
- Slow decline /slow wilt
- Stunt disease
- Phyllody disease
- Basal wilt
- Leaf rot and blight
- IPM for Black Pepper
Foot rot /quick wilt disease
Disease symptoms
- One or more black spots appear
on the leaves which have a characteristic fine fibre like projections at
the advancing margins which rapidly enlarge and cause defoliation.
- The tender leaves and succulent
shoot tips of freshly emerging runner shoots trailing on the soil turn
black when infected. The disease spreads to the entire vine, from these
infected runner shoots and leaves, during intermittent showers due to rain
splash.
- If the main stem at the ground
level or the collar is damaged, the entire vine wilts followed by shedding
of leaves and spikes with or without black spots. The branches break up at
nodes and the entire vine collapses within a month.
- If the damage is confined to
the feeder roots, the expression of symptoms is delayed till the cessation
of rain and the vine starts showing declining symptoms such as yellowing,
wilting, defoliation and drying up of a part of the vine.
Survival and spread
- Fungus survives in disease
plant debris as well as soil. These vines may recover after the rains and survive
for more than two seasons till the root infection culminates in collar rot
and death of the vine.
Favourable conditions
- Rainy season during
October-November onwards favour the development of disease.
Pollu disease /anthracnose
Disease symptoms
- It can be distinguished from
the pollu (hollow berry) caused by the beetle by the presence of
characteristic cracks on the infected berries.
- The disease appears towards the
end of the monsoon.
- The affected berries show brown
sunken patches during early stages and their further development is
affected.
- In later stages, the
discolouration gradually increases and the berries show the characteristic
cross splitting.
- Finally, the berries turn black
and dry. The fungus also causes angular to irregular brownish lesions with
a chlorotic halo on the leaves.
Survival and spread
- The primary infection by sowing
infected seeds and secondary by wind.
Favourable conditions
- Rain and high humidity are
responsible for the development of disease.
Slow decline /slow wilt
Disease symptoms
- Foliar yellowing, defoliation
and die-back are the aerial symptoms of this disease. The affected vines
exhibit varying degrees of root degeneration due to infestation by plant
parasitic nematodes.
- The diseased vines exhibit foliar
yellowing from October onwards coinciding with depletion of soil moisture.
- With the onset of south west
monsoon during May/June, some of the affected vines recover and put forth
fresh foliage.
- The symptoms reappear in
subsequent seasons after the cessation of the monsoon and the diseased
vines gradually lose their vigour and productivity.
- The affected vines show varying
degrees of feeder root loss and the expression of symptoms on the aerial
parts occur after a considerable portion of the feeder roots are lost.
- The root system of diseased
vines show varying degrees of necrosis and presence of root galls due to
infestation by plant parasitic nematodes such as Radopholus similis and
Meloidogyne incognita leading to rotting of feeder roots. The damage to
feeder roots is caused by these nematodes and P. capsici either
independently or together in combination.
Survival and spread
- Fungus survives in disease
plant debris.
- Cysts and egg masses in
infected plant debris and soil or collateral and other hosts like
Solonaceous, Malvaceous and Leguminaceous plants act as sources of
inoculums.
- Autonomous second stage
juveniles that may also be water dispersed.
Favourable conditions
- Rainy seasons and loamy light
soils favours the development of disease.
Stunt disease
Disease symptoms
This
disease which is caused by viruses is noticed in parts of Kannur,
Kasargod, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Idukki Districts of Kerala and Kodagu,
Hassan and Uthara Kannada districts of Karnataka.- The vines exhibit shortening of
internodes to varying degrees.
- The leaves become small and
narrow with varying degrees of deformation and appear leathery, puckered
and crinkled.
- Chlorotic spots and streaks
also appear on the leaves occasionally. The yield of the affected vines
decreases gradually.
- Two viruses namely Cucumber
Mosaic Virus and a Badna virus are associated with the disease.
Transmission and favorable conditions:
- The major means of spread of
the virus is through the use of infected stem cuttings. The disease can
also be transmitted through insects like aphids and mealy bugs.
Phyllody disease
Disease symptoms
- This disease which is caused by
Phytoplasma is noticed in parts of Wayanad and Kozhikode districts of
Kerala.
- The affected vines exhibit
varying stages of malformation of spikes. Some of the floral buds are
transformed into narrow leaf like structures.
- Such malformed spikes show
leafy structures instead of floral buds, exhibiting Phyllody symptoms.
- In advanced stages, the leaves
become small and chlorotic, and the internodes are also shortened.
- The affected fruiting laterals
give a witches broom appearance. Severely affected vines become
unproductive.
- In severely affected vines the
entire spike is converted into small branches which appear chlorotic and
the vines decline rapidly.
- The infected vine becomes
unproductive within two to three years.
Transmission and favourable conditions
- The infected vines are to be
destroyed to prevent the further spread of the disease.
- Phytoplasma disease is spread
by leaf hoppers and plant hoppers besides spread by vegetative propagation
through cuttings, storage tubers, rhizomes or bulbs.
Symptoms
Grayish
lesions appear on stems and leaves.- On the leaves white mycelium
are seen at the advancing edges of the lesions.
- The mycelial threads later
girdle the stem resulting in drooping of leaves beyond the point of
infection and in advanced stages the rooted cuttings dry up.
- Small whitish to cream coloured
grain like sclerotial bodies appear on the mature lesions.
Survival and spread
- Disease is soil born and
pathogen survives in soil which is the source of primary infection.
Favourable conditions
- The disease is mainly noticed
in nurseries during June- September and is caused by Sclerotium rolfsii.
Symptoms
- Greyish sunken spots and
mycelial threads appear on the leaves and the infected leaves are attached
to one another with the mycelial threads.
- Leaf spots caused by
Colletotrichum sp. are characterized by yellow halo surrounding the
necrotic spots.
- On stems, the infection occurs
as dark brown lesions which spread both upwards and downwards. The new
flushes subtending the points of infection gradually droop and dry up.
Survival and spread
- Disease is soil born and
pathogen survives in soil which is the source of primary infection.
Favourable conditions
- The disease is caused by
Rhizoctonia solani Kühn and is often serious in nurseries during April-
May when warm humid conditions prevail. The fungus infects both leaves and
stems.
To know
the IPM practices for Black Pepper, click here.
Source: NIPHM and Directorate
of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage
115 ratings
Black Pepper Pests
Pests of Major Significance
Insect Pests
- Pollu beetle: Lanka ramakrishnae (Longitarsus nigripennis) Mots.
(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
- Top shoot borer: Cydia hemidoxa Meyr. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)
- Leaf gall thrips: Liothrips karnyi Bagnall (Thysanoptera:
Phaleothripidae)
- Mussel scale insects: Lepidosaphes piperis Gr.; Aspidiotus destructor Sign.
(Hemiptera: Diaspididae)
Diseases
- Foot rot /quick wilt
disease: Phytophthora
capsici Leonian
- Pollu disease
/Anthracnose: Colletotrichum
gloeosporioides Penz. and Sacc.
- Slow decline /slow wilt: (Phytophthora capsici-fungi; Meloidogyne incognita
& Radopholus similis - nematodes)
Weeds
Broadleaf
- Pigweed: Amaranthus viridis Hook. F. (Amaranthaceae)
- Common purselane: Portulaca oleracea L. (Portualacaceae)
- False amaranth: Digera arvensis Forssk. (Amaranthaceae)
- Carrot grass: Parthenium hysterophorusL. (Asteraceae)
- Goat weed: Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae)
- Little mallow, (cheese weed): Malva parviflora F. (Malvaceae)
Grasses
- Barnyard grass: Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv. (Poaceae)
- Bermuda grass: Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (Poaceae)
Sedges
- Purple nutsedge: Cyperus rotundus L. (Cyperaceae).
- Flat sedge: Cyperus iria L. (Cyperaceae)
Parasitic
- Dodder: Cuscuta spp. (Convolvulaceae)
Nematodes
- Root-knot nematode: Meloidogyne incognita Kofoid & White
(Tylenchida: Heteroderidae)
- Burrowing nematode: Radopholus similis Cobb (Tylenchida:
Pratylenchidae)
Insect pests
- Leaf feeding caterpillar: Synegia sp. (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)
- Mealybugs: Planococcus sp. / Pseudococcus sp. (Hemiptera:
Pseudococcidae )
- Soft scale: Marsipococcus marsupiale Gr. (Hemiptera:
Coccidae)
Diseases
- Basal wilt in nurseries: Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.
- Leaf rot and leaf blight: Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn
- Stunt disease: Cucumber Mosaic Virus and Pepper Yellow Mottle
Virus
- Phyllody disease: Phytoplasma like organism
To know
the IPM practices for Black Pepper, click here.
Source: NIPHM and Directorate
of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage
138 ratings
Black Pepper: Insect
and Nematode Pests Management
- Pollu beetle
- Top shoot borer
- Leaf gall thrips
- Scale insect
- Mealybugs
- Root-knot nematode
- Burrowing nematode
- IPM for Black Pepper
Pollu beetle
Biology
- Egg: Eggs are laid on the berries and lays 1-2 eggs in
each hole, egg period 5-8 days.
- Grub: Grub period 30-32 days.
- Pupa: Pupation occurs in soil in a depth of 5.0 - 7.5
cm. Pupal period 6-7 days. Life cycle completed in 40 - 50 days. Four
overlapping generations in a year.
- Adult: Adult is a bluish yellow shining flea beetles.
Damage symptoms
- The pollu beetle is a serious
in black pepper plantations in the plains and at lower altitudes.
- The adults feed on tender
shoots, spikes and berries.
- The infested shoots and spikes
turn black and drop.
- The grub on emergence bore into
the berries, feed on the internal contents and make them hollow.
- The infested berries turn
yellow initially and then black and crumble when pressed.
- The pest population is more
severe in shaded areas.
- During the period from January
to April the adults do not breed but remain in the field feeding on older
leaves.
Natural enemies od pollu beetle
- Predators: Spider (Araneae), Oecophylla smaragdina (weaver
ant).
Top shoot borer
Biology
Egg: Eggs
are small colourless.- Larva: Larva grayish green, 12-14 mm long, larval period 10
-15 days. Pupates inside shoots.
- Pupa: Pupal period 8 – 10 days.
- Adult: Adult moth is tiny, forewing black with distal
half red, hind wing greyish. Life cycle completed in a month.
Damage symptoms
The
adult is a fine moth with basal half of the forewing black and distal half
orange red.- The top shoot borer is found
more in younger plantations.
- The caterpillars of the moth
bore into tender shoots which turn black and dry up.
- When successive new shoots are
attacked, the growth of the vine is affected.
- The pest infestation is higher
during July-November when numerous new shoots are available on the vines
Natural enemies od top shoot borer
- Parasitoid: Apanteles cypris, Eudederus sp. (Hymenoptera),
Goniozus sp.
- Parasitic mite: Clinotrombium sp.(on larvae).
- Entomopathogenic nematode: Hexamermis sp.
Leaf gall thrips
Biology
- Egg: Eggs are laid in single within the marginal leaf
folds or on the leaf surface, egg period6-8 days.
- Nymph: Nymphs whitish and sluggish, nymphal period 9-13
days
- Pupa: Pupal period, 2 to 3 days
- Adult: Adults with heavily fringed wings. Adult
longevity is 7-9 days.
Damage symptoms
Infestation
by leaf gall thrips is more serious at higher altitudes, especially in
younger vines and also in the nurseries.- The feeding of thrips on tender
leaves causes the leaf margins to curl down and inwards resulting in the
formation of marginal leaf galls.
- The infested leaves become
thick, malformed and crinkled
- Life stages of the insect can
be seen within the gall.
- In severe cases of infestation,
the growth of young vines is affected
Natural enemies
- Parsitoids: Aphytis sp., Pseudoscymcus sp., Chilocorus
circumdatus
- Predators: Montandoniola moraguesi, Androthrips flavipes, Geogarypus
sp., Lestodiplosis sp., Rhodesiella sp, Predatory mites, Hoverflies,
Thrips, Mirids.
Scale insect
Biology
- Scales have unusual life
cycles.
- The eggs are laid underneath
the waxy covering and hatch over a period of one to three weeks.
- The newly hatched scales
(called crawlers) move about over the plant until they locate succulent
new growth.
- They insert their
piercing-sucking mouthparts into the plant and begin feeding. Female
scales lose their legs and antennae during the first molt.
- They moult a second time before
reaching maturity and do not pupate.
- The cast skins (exuviae) are
incorporated in the scale cover.
- Male scales go through two
additional molts and pupate underneath the wax. Adult males are tiny
two-winged, gnat-like insects without mouthparts.
- Pepper mussel scale:
Lepidosaphes piperis : Scale is small, dark, boat shaped.
- Coconut scale: Aspidiotus
destructor : Circular (about 1 mm in diameter) and yellowish brown.
Damage symptoms
- Scale insects appear as
encrustations on stems, leaves and berries
- They feed on plant sap
resulting in yellowing and drying of infested portions of the vines.
Natural enemies of Scale insects
- Parasitoids: Encarsia lounsburyi, Aphytis sp. etc.
- Predators: Mite: Bdella sp., Thrips: Karnyothrips melaleucus,
Aleurodothrips fasciatus, Beetle: Ladybird beetle, Chilocorus circumdatus,
C.nigrita, Lacewings, Pseudoscymnus dwikalpa, Pharoscymna shorni,
Sticholotisex anguis, Cybocephalus sp. etc.
Mealybugs
Biology
Egg: These
eggs are yellowish to orange in colour- Nymph: The first instar nymphs are also called as
crawlers, which are mobile. The total nymphal period is 19 days for male
and 21 days for female. The male nymph forms a cottony cocoon in which the
pupal stage is found mainly in the winter season
- Adult: The adult female mealybugs are pinkish white and
sparsely covered with white wax. The male and female mealybugs are similar
in early stages.
- The female passes through three
nymphal instars while male passes through four nymphal instars.
- The adult male has a pair of
wings and a pair of halters. Males are very rare and female mealybugs are
commonly found causing the damage in the field.
- Mealybug completes the life
cycle in about 30 days. Without mating, they are known to reproduce
partheno-genetically throughout the year.
Damage symptoms
- Large number of mealy bugs
colonise the roots of the vine (Plate 59)
- As a result of sap sucking, the
plant turns yellow, leaves and branches dry and drop
- Many of the vines infested by
root mealy bugs are also likely to be infected with Phytophthora and
nematodes
Natural enemies of mealy bugs
- Parasitoid: Parasitic wasps,
- Predators: Hover flies, coccinellid (Cryptolaemus
montrouzieri), praying mantis.
Root-knot nematode
Biology
Most
species of plant parasitic nematodes have a relatively simple life cycle
consisting of the egg, four larval stages and the adult male and female.- Development of the first stage
larvae occurs within the egg where the first molt occurs. Second stage
larvae hatch from eggs to find and infect plant roots or in some cases
foliar tissues.
- Under suitable environmental
conditions, the eggs hatch and new larvae emerge to complete the life
cycle within 4 to 8 weeks depending on temperature.
- Nematode development is
generally most rapid within an optimal soil temperature range of 70 to
80°F.
Damage symptoms
- Infected plants in patches in
the field
- Formation of galls on host root
system is the primary symptom
- Roots branch profusely starting
from the gall tissue causing a ‘beard root’ symptom
- Infected roots become knobby
and knotty
- In severely infected plants the
root system is reduced and the rootlets are almost completely absent. The
roots are seriously hampered in their function of uptake and transport of
water and nutrients
- Plants wilt during the hot part
of day, especially under dry conditions and are often stunted
- Nematode infection predisposes
plants to fungal and bacterial root pathogens
Survival and spread
- Primary: Egg masses in infected
plant debris and soil or collateral and other hosts like Solonaceous,
Malvaceous and Leguminaceous plants act as sources of inoculums.
- Secondary: Autonomous second
stage juveniles that may also be water dispersed.
Favourable conditions
- Loamy light soils.
Burrowing nematode
Biology
Burrowing
nematode is an endoparasitic migratory nematode, meaning it completes its
life cycle within root tissue.- Adults and juveniles are
vermiform in shape. Adults are sexually dimorphic. The male has a poorly
developed stylet, a knob-like head, and a sharp, curved spicule enclosed
in a sac.
- The male is 500 to 600 μm in
length, while the female is about 550 to 880 μm long. The female has a
well-developed stylet. Both male and female have long, tapered tails with
rounded or indented ends.
- The nematode completes its life
cycle in about 21 days at 25°C.
- Females and juveniles feed
inside roots, especially near the tips. Males with their weak stylets do
not feed. Females lay two to six eggs per day.
- The nematode causes a disease
condition called toppling or blackhead disease in plants
IPM for Black Pepper
To know
the IPM practices for Black Pepper, click here.
Source: NIPHM and Directorate
of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage
2 ratings
Error! Filename not specified.
Black Pepper: Crop
Stage-wise IPM
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Management |
Activity |
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Pre-sowing*
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Common cultural practices: |
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Nutrients |
•Prepare pits of the size 50 x 50 x 50 cm before
the onset of the monsoon at a spacing of 2 to 3 m in either direction. Slopes
facing West and South should be avoided. |
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Weeds |
•Destroy all the weeds from planting area by
ploughing during summer. |
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Soil and seed borne pathogens, Pests and nematodes |
Cultural control: |
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Sowing/planting*
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Nutrients |
•In addition, organic manure application before
planting, apply 50 g Azospirillum + 50 g PSB + 200 g VAM per plant at the
time of planting. |
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Weeds |
•Hand weeding around the plants is to be done
according to necessity |
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Nematodes/Borers |
Cultural control: |
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Vegetative
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Common cultural practices: |
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Nutrients |
•Fertilizers should be applied on the basis of soil test
report and recommendation for the particular area. In general, fertilizers
may be applies as mentioned in Table 1.
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Weeds |
•Pull out weeds before flowering by 2-3 rounds of
hand weeding. |
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Phytophthora foot rot (quick wilt), basal wilt |
Cultural control: |
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Slow wilt |
Cultural control: |
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Pollu beetle, Top shoot borer, Leaf gall thrips |
Cultural control: |
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Mealybugs |
Cultural control: |
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Scale insects, Minor pests |
Cultural control: |
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Spike formation/flowering stage
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Nutrients |
•Apply deficient micronutrient if any. |
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Weeds |
•Keep the orchard weed free. |
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Pollu disease /Anthracnose, leaf rot |
Cultural control: |
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Spike shedding, Stunt disease, Phyllody disease |
Cultural control: |
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Pollu beetle |
•Same as vegetative stage. |
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Mealy bug |
•Same as vegetative stage. |
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Berry formation stage |
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Pollu disease, Spike shedding, Stunt disease,
Phyllody disease, Foot rot (quick wilt) |
•Same as vegetative and flowering stage |
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Pollu beetle, Top shoot borer, Leaf gall, thrips
Scale insects, Minor pests |
•Same as vegetative and flowering stage |
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* Apply Trichoderma viride/harzianum and
Pseudomonas fluorescens as soil application (If Commercial products are used,
check for label claim. However, biopesticides produced by farmers for own
consumption in their fields, registration is not required). |
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Source: NIPHM and Directorate
of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage
123 ratings
Nutritional
Deficiencies/Disorders of Black Pepper
Potassium
Reduced
growth. Leaves develop characteristic bronzing followed by necrotic lesions
along the veins and leaf fall.
Correction
measure: Foliar spray of K2SO4 @1%
at weekly intervals.
Magnesium
Interveinal chlorosis of immature
and recently matured leaves. Necrotic lesions develop within the chlorotic
areas.
Correction
measure: Foliar spray of MgSO4 @
1% at fortnightly intervals.
Boron
Young leaves become small and
malformed.
Correction
measure: Foliar application of borax@0.2%.
Iron
Inter-veinal chlorosis of young
leaves veins remain green and leaf size reduced. In severe cases, whole leaf
become chlorotic and yellow and fall.
Correction
measure: Foliar spray of FeSO4 @1.0%
at fortnightly intervals.
Manganese
Yellowing of young leaves; veins
remain green.
Correction
Measure: Foliar application of MnSO4 @
0.5% solution in water
IPM for Black Pepper
To know
the IPM practices for Black Pepper, click here.
Source: NIPHM and Directorate
of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage
103 ratings
Chilli Diseases
- Damping off
- Die-back and Anthracnose (fruit rot)
- Choeanephora blight/ wet rot
- Mosaic complex
- Powdery mildew
- Cercospora leaf spot
- Bacterial leaf spot
- Alternaria leaf spot
- Fusarium wilt
- IPM for Chilli
Damping off
Causal
organism : Pythium aphanidermatum (Edson) Fitzp
Damage
symptoms:
- Disease of nursery beds and
young seedlings resulting in reduced seed germination and poor stand of
seedlings. Very high seedling mortality 25-75%
- Pre-emergence damping off: Seedlings disintegrate before they come out of soil
surface leading to poor seed germination
- Post-emergence damping off is characterised by development of
disease after seedlings have emerged out of soil but before the stems are
lignified
- Water soaked lesion formation at collar region
- Infected areas turn brown and rot
- Plants shrivel and collapse as a
result of softening of tissues
- In Rhizoctonia solani attack
infected stems become hard, thin (wire
stem symptoms) and infected seedlings topple Disease
appear in patches both in nursery and field beds.
Survival
and spread:
- Primary: Oospores in soil in case of Pythium Sclerotia in soil
in case of Rhizoctonia
- Secondary: Zoospores through irrigation water in case of
Pythium. Mycelial growth in soil and sclerotia through irrigation water in
case of Rhizoctonia.
Favourable
conditions:
- Heavy rainfall, excessive and
frequent irrigation, poorly drained soil and close spacing, high soil
moisture with temp around 25-30 °C
- For Rhizoctonia: High soil
moisture with temp around 30 – 35 °C.
Die-back and Anthracnose (fruit rot)
Causal
organism : Colletotrichum spp
Damage
symptoms:
Dieback
Symptoms:
- Disease is more in December -
October in transplanted crop
- Small, circular to irregular,
brownish black scattered spots appear on leaves
- Severely infected leaves
defoliate
- Infection of growing tips leads
to necrosis of branches from tip backwards
- Necrotic tissues appear grayish
white with black dot like acervuli in the center
- Shedding of flowers due to the
infection at pedicel and tips of branches
- Fruit symptoms
- Ripe fruits are more vulnerable
to attack than green ones
- Small, circular, yellowish to
pinkish sunken spots appear on fruits
- Spots increase along fruit
length attaining elliptical shape
- Severe infection result in the
shrivelling and drying of fruits.
- Tissues around lesions will be
bleached and turn white or greyish in colour and lose their pungency
- On the surface of the lesions
minute black dot like fruiting bodies called ‘acervuli’ develop in
concentric rings and fruits appear straw coloured
- The affected fruits may fall
off subsequently. The seeds produced in severely infected fruits are
discoloured and covered with mycelial mat.
Survival
and spread:
- Primary: Mycelium and conidia in acervuli in infected seeds
and diseased crop debris
- Secondary: Conidia dispersed by rain splash and wind.
Favourable
conditions:
Temp, 28
°C with RH more than 97%, humid weather with rainfall at frequent intervals,
intercropping with turmeric which is another host of the fungus.
Choeanephora blight/ wet rot
Causal organism
: Coeanephora cucurbitarum (Berk. & Ravenel)
Thaxt
Damage
symptoms:
- Plants from seedling to early
flowering stage are susceptible
- Being a weak parasite the
fungus colonises dead or dying tissues before it actively
- invades living tissues
- Fruit infection is observed
predominantly around calyx
- The pathogen attacks flowers
through the senescing petals and overgrows on flowers resulting in brown
or black mass of rotten tissue
- Flower stalks, buds and leaves
will be attacked subsequently
- On infected tissues stiff
silvery mass of whisker-like or hairy strands of the fungal growth
develops on which black mass of spores is produced which is the chief
diagnostic feature
- Infected young fruits may abort
- Individual branches of plants
may be attacked which show dieback
- Stems of infected plants appear
wet and green and the bark peels of in to shreds
Survival
and spread:
- Primary: Zygospores on seeds and diseased crop debris in soil.
- Secondary: Conidia (sporangiospores) dispersed by rain splash
and wind.
Favourable
conditions:
- Warm, Rainy and wet weather
Temp, 28°C with RH more than 97%
- Extended periods of high
rainfall followed by warm weather.
Mosaic complex
Damage
symptoms:
- Symptoms vary with the virus
TMV
- Raised blisters and mottled
areas of light and dark green areas on the foliage
- Leaves point towards ground
- Necrotic spots on stem
- Fruit ripens unevenly and is
reduced in size CMV
- Reduction in leaf size and
narrowing of lamina Chlorosis leading to mosaic symptoms
- Downward curling along with
midrib
- Fruit may be small and
distorted, on volunteer Chilli plants and on infected plant debris.
Survival
and spread:
TMV:
- Primary: Externally seed borne virus particles
- Secondary: Mechanically transmitted virus particles.
CMV:
- Primary: Externally seed borne virus particles to some extent
and vector transmitted from other and collateral hosts
- Secondary: Virus particles transmitted by aphid vectors, Myzus
persicae, Aphis gossypii, A. craccivora
Favourable
conditions:
- Moist weather and splattering
rains
- High humidity or persistent dew
Powdery mildew
Causal
organism : Leveillula taurica (Lév.) G.
Arnaud
Damage
symptoms:
- White powdery coating appears
mostly on the lower surface and occasionally on upper surface
- Correspondingly on the upper
surface yellow patches are seen
- Severe infection results in the
drying and shedding of affected leaves
- Powdery growth can also be seen
on branches and young fruits
- Diseased fruits do not grow
further and may drop down prematurely
Survival
and spread:
- Primary: Dormant mycelium in the infected crop debris
- Secondary: Wind dispersed conidia
Favourable
conditions
- Cool dry weather favours
conidial germination
- High RH favours disease
development
Cercospora leaf spot
Causal
organism : Cercospora capsici Heald & F.A. Wolf
Damage
symptoms:
- Circular spots with brown
margins and grey centre appear on leaves
- The spots enlarge and coalesce
with others
- The central portion of the spot
becomes white and the leaves turn yellow and defoliate
- Sometimes central portion of
spot drops off
- Spots also appear on stems and
twigs as dark brown, irregular lesions with whitish centers
- In severe cases die-back of
twigs occur
Survival
and spread:
- Primary: Dormant mycelium in the infected crop debris, seeds
and volunteer plants
- Secondary: Wind dispersed conidia
Bacterial leaf spot
Causal
organism : Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Pammel)
Dowson
Damage
symptoms:
- Leaves, fruits and stems are
affected
- Lesions on leaf begin as
circular, water soaked spots
- Spots become necrotic with
brown center with chlorotic borders
- Enlarged spots may develop
straw coloured centres
- Lesions are slightly raised on
lower leaf surface
- Severely spotted leaves turn
yellow and drop
- Raised brown lesions appear on
fruits
- Narrow elongated lesions or
streaks may develop on stems
Survival
and spread:
- Primary: Seed borne bacterial cells
- Secondary: Bacterial cells spread by rain splash
Favourable
conditions:
- Moderate temperature
- High relative humidity
- Intermittent rains
Alternaria leaf spot
Causal
organism : Alternaria solani Ell. Mart
Damage
symptoms:
- This is a common disease of
chilli occurring on the foliage at any stage of the growth.
- The fungus attacks the foliage
causing characteristic leaf spots and blight. Early blight is first
observed on the plants as small, black lesions mostly on the older
foliage.
- Spots enlarge, and by the time
they are one-fourth inch in diameter or larger, concentric rings in a
bull's eye pattern can be seen in the center of the diseased area.
- Tissue surrounding the spots
may turn yellow. If high temperature and humidity occur at this time, much
of the foliage is killed.
- Lesions on the stems are
similar to those on leaves, sometimes girdling the plant if they occur
near the soil line.
- Transplants showing infection
by the late blight fungus often die when set in the field. The fungus also
infects the fruit, generally through the calyx or stem attachment.
- Lesions attain considerable
size, usually involving nearly the entire fruit; concentric rings are also
present on the fruit.
Survival
and spread:
- Primary : The fungus spends the winter in infected plant
debris in or on the soil where it can survive at least one and perhaps
several years. It can also be seed borne.
- Secondary: The spores are transported by water, wind, insects,
other animals including man, and machinery. Once the initial infections
have occurred, they become the most important source of new spore
production and are responsible for rapid disease spread.
Favourable
conditions:
- Warm, rainy and wet weather
Fusarium wilt
Causal
organism : Fusarium solani (Mart.)
Sacc
Damage
symptoms:
- The first symptom of the
disease is clearing of the veinlets and chlorosis of the leaves.
- The younger leaves may die in
succession and the entire may wilt and die in a course of few days. Soon
the petiole and the leaves droop and wilt.
- In young plants, symptom
consists of clearing of veinlet and dropping of petioles. In field,
yellowing of the lower leaves first and affected leaflets wilt and die.
- The symptoms continue in
subsequent leaves. At later stage, browning of vascular system occurs.
Plants become stunted and die.
Survival
and spread:
- Soil and implements
Favourable
conditions:
- Relatively high soil moisture
and soil temperature
IPM for Chilli
To know
the IPM practices for Chilli, click here.
Source: NIPHM and Directorate
of Plant
Protection, Quarantine & Storage
Chilli insect pests
- Gram pod borer
- Tobacco caterpillar
- Spider mites
- Root-knot nematodes
- Thrips
- Spider mites/Yellow mites
- Aphids
- IPM for Chilli
Gram pod borer
It is a
polyphagous, infesting gram, lablab, safflower, chillies, groundnut, tobacco,
cotton etc.
Biology:
- Egg: The spherical, yellowish eggs are laid singly on
tender parts and buds of plants. The egg period lasts for 2-4 days.
- Larva: Caterpillars vary in colour, initially brown and
later turn greenish with darker broken lines along the side of the body.
The larval period lasts for 18-25 days. Body covered with radiating hairs.
When full grown, they measure 3.7 to 5 cm in length. The full grown
caterpillar pupates in the soil in an earthen cell and emerges in 16-21
days.
- Pupa: Pupation takes place inside the soil. Pupal stage
lasts 7-15 days.
- Adult: Moth is stout, medium sized with brownish/greyish
forewings with a dark cross band near outer margin and dark spots near
costal margins, with a wing expanse of 3.7cm.
Life
cycle:
Damage
symptoms:
- Young larva feeds on the leaves
for some time and then attacks fruits. Internal tissues are eaten severely
and completely hollowed out. While feeding the caterpillar thrust its head
inside leaving the rest of the body outside.
- Bored fruits with round holes.
- Fed leaves, shoots and buds.
- The activity of Helicoverpa
starts on greengram, summer vegetables and maize and continues their
generation by Aug-Sept months synchronizing with main crop.
Tobacco caterpillar
It is
found throughout the tropical and sub tropical parts of the world, wide spread
in India. Besides tobacco, it feeds on cotton, castor, groundnut, Chilli,
cabbage and various other cruciferous crops.
Biology:
- Eggs: Female lays about 300 eggs in clusters. The eggs are
covered over by brown hairs and they hatch in about 3-5 days.
- Larva: Caterpillar measures 35-40 mm in length, when full
grown. It is velvety, black with yellowish – green dorsal stripes and
lateral white bands with incomplete ring – like dark band on anterior and
posterior end of the body. It passes through 6 instars. Larval stage lasts
15-30 days.
- Pupa: Pupation takes place inside the soil. Pupal stage
lasts 7-15 days.
- Adult: Moth is medium sized and stout bodied with forewings
pale grey to dark brown in colour having wavy white crisscross markings.
Hind wings are whitish with brown patches along the margin of wing.
Life
cycle:
Damage
symptoms:
- Pest breeds throughout the
year.
- Moths are active at night.
- Adults live for 7-10 days.
Total life cycle takes 32-60 days.
- There are eight generations in
a year.
Spider mites
Life
cycle (Tetranychus spp.)
Damage
symptoms:
- The infested leaves develop
crinkles and curl downwards
- Elongated petiole
- Buds become brittle and drop
down.
- Early stage, infestation leads
to stunted growth and flower production, fruit set are arrested
Root-knot nematodes
Biology:
- Most species of plant parasitic
nematodes have a relatively simple life cycle consisting of the egg, four
larval stages and the adult male and female. They are microscopic in size.
- Development of the first stage
larvae occurs within the egg where the first moult occurs. Second stage
larvae hatch from eggs to find and infect plant roots or in some cases
foliar tissues.
- Under suitable environmental
conditions, the eggs hatch and new larvae emerge to complete the life
cycle within 4 to 8 weeks depending on temperature.
- Nematode development is
generally most rapid within an optimal soil temperature range of 70 to
80°F.
Life
cycle:
Life
stages are microscopic in size
Damage
symptoms:
- Infected plants in patches in
the field
- Formation of galls on host root
system is the primary symptom
- Roots branch profusely starting
from the gall tissue causing a ‘beard root’ symptom
- Infected roots become knobby
and knotty
- In severely infected plants the
root system is reduced and the rootlets are almost completely absent. The
roots are seriously hampered in their function of uptake and transport of
water and nutrients
- Plants wilt during the hot part
of day, especially under dry conditions and are often stunted
- Seedlings infected in nursery
do not normally survive transplanting and those surviving have reduced
flowering and fruit production
- Nematode infection predisposes
plants to fungal and bacterial root pathogens
Survival
and spread:
- Primary: Cysts and egg masses in infected plant debris and
soil or collateral and other hosts like Solonaceous, Malvaceous and
Leguminaceous plants act as sources of inoculum
- Secondary: Autonomous second stage juveniles that may also
be water dispersed
Favourable
conditions: Loamy light soils
Thrips
Biology:
- Egg: Hyaline, globular laid in mass.
- Nymphs: Nymphs tiny, slender, fragile and straw yellow in
colour.
- Adult: Adults with heavily fringed wings
Life
cycle:
1. Eggs
are microscopic
Damage
symptoms:
- The infested leaves curl
upward, crumble and shed
- Infested buds become brittle
and drop down.
- Affected fruits show light
brown scars
- Early stage, infestation leads
to stunted growth and flower production, fruit set are arrested
Host-range
and favourable conditions:
- S. dorsalis is found in almost all chilly growing areas. It
is a polyphagus pest. Besides chilli, it also infests brinjal, cotton,
groundnut, castor, bottlegourd, guava, tea and grapevine. It is more
common on un-irrigated chilli crop than irrigated one.
Spider mites/Yellow mites
Biology
- Egg: Eggs are oval shaped eggs and white in colour. Eggs
are glued firmly on the leaf surface.
- Nymph: Nymphs white in colour.
- Adult: Adults large, oval and broad and yellowish in colour.
Life
cycle (Polyphagotarsonemus latus):
Damage
symptoms:
- Both nymphs and adults suck sap
and devitalize the plant causing ‘Murda’ disease of chillies.
- Infestation results in downward
curling of leaves,
- The affected leaves becoming
inverted boat shaped,
- The leaves rolling down along
the margin with elongation of petioles.
- Affected leaves turning dark
green in certain cases.
- Younger leaves at the tip of
branch clustering.
Aphids
Biology:
- Eggs are very tiny, shiny-black, and are found in the
crevices of bud, stems, and barks of the plant. Aphids usually do not lay
eggs in warm parts of the world.
- Nymphs (immature stages) are young aphids, they look
like the wingless adults but are smaller. They become adults within 7 to
10 days.
- Adults are small, 1 to 4 mm long, soft-bodied insects
with two long antennae that resemble horns. Most aphids have two short
cornicles (horns) towards the rear of the body
Life
cycle:
Damage
symptoms:
- Appear on the tender shoots,
leaves and on the lower surface of the leaves.
- The honeydew is very sweet
which attracts sooty mould growth, making the leaves turn black.
- Suck the sap and reduce the
vigour of the plant.
- Secrete sweet substances which
attracts ants and develops sooty mould.
- The pods that develop black
colour due to sooty mould lose quality and fetch low price.
- The yields are also reduced by
aphids directly and more through the spread of virus diseases acting as
vectors indirectly
IPM for Chilli
To know
the IPM practices for Chilli, click here.
Source: NIPHM and Directorate
of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage
38 ratings
Chilli Pests
Pests of National Significance
Insect
and mite pests
- Gram pod borer: Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)
(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) (Karnataka)
- Tobacco caterpillar: Spodoptera litura Fabricius (Lepidoptera:
Noctuidae) (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh)
- Thrips: Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera:
Thripidae) (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur)
Aphids:
- Aphis gossypii (Glover) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) (Bihar)
- Myzus persicae (Sulzar) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) (Andhra pradesh,
Tamil Nadu)
- Spider mites: Tetranhychus spp.
- Yellow mites: Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks (Andhra
Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka)
Diseases
- Damping off: Pythium aphanidermatum (Edson) Fitzp (Andhra
Pradesh)
- Die back and fruit rot: Colletotrichum capsici (Syd.)
(Himachal pradesh)
- Coeanephora blight: Coeanephora cucurbitarum (Berk.
& Ravenel) Thaxt
- Mosaic complex: (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, UP, Maharashtra)
- Powdery mildew: Leveillula taurica (Lév.) G. Arnaud (Tamil
Nadu)
- Cercospora leaf rot: Cercospora capsici Heald & F.A. Wolf
- Bacterial leaf spot: Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Pammel) Dowson
- Fusarium wilt: Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc.
(Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh)
- Alternaria leaf spot: Alternaria solani Ell. Mart.
- Leaf curl virus: (Himachal Pradesh)
Nematodes
- Root-knot nematode: Meloidogyne spp. (Kerala, Karnataka,
Bihar)
- Lesion nematode: Pratylenchus spp.
Weeds
Major Kharif weeds
Broadleaf
weeds
- Pigweed: Amaranthus viridis Hook. F.
- Swine cress: Coronopus didymus (L.) Sm.
- Black nightshade: Solanum nigrum L.
- Common purselane: Portulaca oleracea L.
- False amaranth: Digera arvensis Forssk.
Grassy
weeds
- Rabbit/Crow foot grass: Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Beauv.
- Crabgrass: Digiteria sanguinalis (L.) Willd.
- Barnyard grass: Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Scop. Sedges
- Purple nutsedge: Cyperus rotundus L.
- Flat sedge: Cyperus iria L.
Major
Rabi weeds
Broadleaf
weeds
- Lamb’s quarter: Chenopodium album L.
- Scarlet Pimpernel: Anagallis arvensis L.
- Sweet clover: Melilotus indica (L.) All.
- Fine leaf fumitory: Fumaria parviflora Lam.
- Corn spurry: Spergula arvensis L.
Grassy
weeds
- Blue grass: Poa annua L.
- Canary grass: Phalaris minor Retz.
Pests of Regional Significance
Insect
pests
Whitefly: Bemisia
tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)
IPM for Chilli
To know
the IPM practices for Chilli, click here.
Source: NIPHM and Directorate
of Plant
Protection, Quarantine & Storage
23 ratings
Chill Crop stage wise IPM
|
Management |
Activity |
|
Nutrients |
|
|
Weeds |
|
|
Soil borne fungus, nematodes, and resting stages of insects |
Cultural control:
Biological control:
Chemical control:
|
|
Damping off |
Cultural control:
Chemical control:
|
Seed Sowing/ Transplanting stage
|
|
|
Nutrients |
|
|
Weeds |
|
Vegetative stage
|
|
|
Nutrients |
|
|
Weeds |
|
|
Thrips |
Cultural control:
Biological control:
Chemical control:
|
|
Aphids |
Biological control:
Chemical control:
|
|
Yellow mite/other mites |
Cultural control: Chilli crop bordered by two rows of maize at every 0.5 acre
area (31.2 x 60 sqm). Biological control:
Chemical control:
|
|
Tobacco caterpillar |
Cultural control:
Biological control:
Chemical control
|
|
Gram pod borer |
Cultural control:
Biological control:
Chemical control:
|
|
Choeanephora blight |
Cultural control:
Chemical control:
|
|
Die back and fruit ro |
Cultural control:
Chemical control:
|
|
Mosaic |
Cultural control:
Chemical control:
|
|
Powdery mildew |
Chemical control:
|
|
Cercospora leaf spot |
Chemical control:
|
|
Bacterial leaf spot |
Cultural control:
Chemical control:
|
Reproductive stage
|
|
|
Nutrients |
|
|
Weeds |
|
|
Gram pod borer and Tobacco caterpillar |
|
|
Thrips |
|
|
Mites |
|
|
Die back & fruit rot |
|
|
Choeanephora blight |
|
|
Bacterial blight |
|
Source: NIPHM and Directorate
of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage
COMMENTS