Bacterial leaf spot is a common disease seen in many pepper growing areas. The disease starts as water soaked lesions on the leaves and leaf margins. The lesions enlarge, turn dark brown and causes defoliation. Wet humid condition, especially during rainy season, favors the spread of the disease. Management of the disease is very much dependent on the level of severity.

• Manifests as water soaked lesions on the leaves and leaf margins

• Lesions enlarge, turn dark brown and appear angular to irregular with a chlorotic halo

• Infection spreads rapidly resulting in defoliation in moderate to severe form

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

The disease is caused by a bacteria called Xanthomonas campestris pv. betlicola.

Wet humid condition, especially during rainy season, favors the spread of the disease.

The infection on leaves causes reduction in photosynthetic area.

• Berries harbouring the midge larvae appear larger in size in the beginning but remain stunted later

• Galls are noted on tender stalks and shoots also

• Full grown maggot falls to the ground and pupates in the soil

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

The damage is caused by berry gall midge scientifically called Cecidomyia malabarensis .

Nematode is one of the major limiting factors to pepper production. Attack of nematode results in necrotic lesions on feeder roots. The affected roots rot and are lost. Leaves turn yellow and fall off. And ultimately the pepper vines exhibit slow decline.  Therefore, management of the nematode in pepper is very much important.

• Necrotic lesions develop on white feeder roots

• Feeder roots rot and are lost

• Leaves turn yellow and fall off

• Vines wilt during summer season

• Pepper vines exhibit slow decline

• Its population is very high during September/October.

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

Burrowing nematode scientifically called Radopholus similis causes the damage.

The nematode also infect banana, arecanut and coconut

Attack of nematode results in necrotic lesions on feeder roots. The affected roots rot and are lost. Leaves turn yellow and fall off. And pepper vines wilt during summer season and exhibit slow decline.

Calcium is an element needed for maintenance of cell wall constituents. It neutralizes the soil from the ill effects of acidity and creates an atmosphere conducive for plant growth. Soils with good organic matter contents rarely exhibits calcium deficiency.  However, in modern cultivation calcium deficiency is common. Therefore, proper management methods need to be adopted based on soil test reports.

• Symptoms first appear on immature leaves followed by mature ones

• Initial symptom appears as tiny brown necrotic pinhead spots over chlorotic area near the leaf margins

• Necrotic spots enlarge and are surrounded by yellow halo

• The chlorotic area spreads towards the distal end of the leaves

• The affected leaves develop inter-veinal chlorosis and dieback of vine tips occur under severe conditions.

• Black necrotic areas develop near the leaf margins

• The proximal portion of the lamina remains pale green in colour with occasionally scattered brown necrotic spots

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

The symptoms can be confused with N deficiency.

Water stress results out of severe shortage of water. This happens when there is no rainfall and also no irrigation to supplement the water need of the plant.

The lack of water in the soil reduces the ability of the plant to extract essential nutrients from the soil. The lack of water in the plant reduces cell expansion.

Erythrina gall wasp is an pest that is becoming serious now a days. The pest is basically an introduced one. The wasp causes galled leaves and drying of tender branches. Mature plants become severely stunted, malformed and have a lean appearance. Management of the wasp mainly depend on the level of infection.

• Infested leaves fail to attain normal size and shrivel with thick galls on them

• Galled leaves and tender branches finally dry up

• Young plants die and dry up after some time.

• Mature plants become severely stunted, malformed and present a lean appearance

• Apodous creamy white larvae develop individually in chambers of tissues.

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

Erythrina gall wasp, scientifically called Quadrastichus erythrinae causes the damage.

Female wasp thrusts eggs into tender tissues of shoots using ovipositor. Apodous creamy white larvae develop individually in chambers of tissues. Proliferation of tissues in the attacked region results in gall formation

Anthracnose or fungal pollu is an important disease of pepper. The disease affects leaves, spikes and berries. In severely infected plantations, defoliation, spike shedding and berry loss are common. The disease is seen mainly after monsoon season. And control of the disease is very much important to save the crop.

• On leaves, the disease is characterized by grey white to dark brown spots of varying size with several dark dots on it representing the fruiting bodies of the fungus

• The lesion or spot has a prominent yellow halo around it

• These lesions may coalesce resulting in leaf blight and subsequent defoliation

• On spikes, black discoloration appears on the attached portion of the stem, later leading to spike shedding which results in 100% yield loss

• On the berries, sunken areas or lesions develop, the infected berries get mummified, later become hollow (Pollu) and shed in large numbers

• On developed berries, cracks develop on the pericarp or berries and radially split leading to dry weight loss

• In severely infected plantations, defoliation, spike shedding and berry shedding are common

• Foliar infection of Phytophthora capsici together with fungal pollu results in severe spike and leaf shedding, leading to heavy crop loss

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

The disease is caused by a fungus called Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Colletotrichum. necator. The fungus is air borne.

The fungus on infection causes distraction to the plant tissue. This in turn causes considerable reduction in the photosynthetic area and yield.

Leaf gall thrips is a minor pest of pepper. The infection is more serious at higher altitude.  Thrips attack pepper and causes galls on the leaf. The infested leaves become thick, malformed and crinkled  Normally, the infection is seen more on tender plant parts. Since, the damage is not that much serious, control need to be adopted judiciously.

• 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

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

Lichens are small bluish green fungal growth seen on pepper leaves and twigs. The affected leaf turns dirty green and dark. The growth of lichens screens out light and reduces the plant’s photosynthetic ability. This result in reduced vigor and yield. However, the intensity of the disease normally will be very less. Therefore, no management strategy is generally recommended against the disease.

• Bluish green lichen grows on the surface of leaves and twigs

• The affected leaf turns dirty green and dark.

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

The growth of lichen causes the damage.

Lichens screens out light and reduces the plant’s photosynthetic ability. This result in reduced vigor and yield.

Magnesium is an element closely associated with photosynthesis and protein synthesis. If sufficient quantity of organic manure and mineral nutrients are not added, deficiency of magnesium will be noticed. The first deficiency symptom is the inter-veinal chlorosis of older leaves. Therefore testing of magnesium content in the soil and adoption of appropriate management strategy is very much important.

• Pale yellow discolouration of the leaf margins and tips appear initially on the older leaves

• Oval shaped interveinal chlorotic areas develop from the leaf tip

• The oval chlorotic area expands towards the leaf margins

• Bands of green tissue occur along the major veins

• Major veins remain green whereas the laterals turn yellow

• Small interveinal necrotic spots appear on the lamina

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

Nitrogen is an essential constituent of amino acids, nucleic acids, nucleotides, and chlorophyll. The photosynthetic rate and biomass production have a direct correlation with nitrogen uptake. And when the plant does not get the required nitrogen from the soil, deficiency symptoms of nitrogen results. Initial symptom is the appearance of pale green colour of the entire lamina of older leaves which later becomes uniformly yellow. Hence, application of nitrogen in right amount and time is very much important in pepper cultivation.

• Symptoms appear on the older leaves and spreads to younger leaves only when deficiency becomes severe

• Initial symptom is the appearance of pale green colouration of the entire lamina of older leaves which later becomes uniformly yellow.

• The yellowing gradually spreads over to the younger leaves

• Petiole of leaves turn deep yellow or orange yellow

• Growth and leaf size is reduced

• Leaf tips and margins at the lower end become necrotic

• If nitrogen stress persists, foliage and shoot growth decreases

The visual symptoms of N deficiency can be confused with those of S deficiency, but S deficiency is less common and tends to first affect younger leaves or all leaves on the plant. Mild N deficiency can be confused with Fe deficiency, but the latter affects the emerging leaf first. Similarly, Nitrogen deficiency will result in yellowing of the leaves. Similar symptoms are also produced in cases of severe weed competition, drought, water logging etc.

Nitrogen deficiency can be resulted due to many factors. As a first case there is no nitrogen addition and the field is under cultivation for a longer time. A second case is low nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency. This happen when loss of nitrogen happens through volatilization, de-nitrification, incorrect timing and placement. Loss in the form of leaching and seepage can happen when there is heavy rainfall. Another case is low soil microbial activity and poor biological nitrogen fixation.

N is an essential constituent of amino acids, nucleic acids, nucleotides, and chlorophyll. The photosynthetic rate and biomass production have a direct correlation with nitrogen uptake. Further, it also affects most of the yield parameters. So the deficiency of nitrogen affects the normal growth and development of the plant. As a consequent the biomass production and total yield of the plant will be affected.

Pesticides are chemicals used in the field to control weeds, insects and diseases. But, in some situations the use of pesticides moves over and above the recommended dosage. And a number of plant level symptoms results. Therefore, special care should be taken not to confuse pesticide toxicity with normal problems.

• Excess fertilizer application will result in marginal chlorosis of lower leaves followed by necrosis.

• A whitish discolouation or brown band appears, similar to sun burn appears

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

The problems typically happen if products are not used according to their recommendations - e.g., at the wrong rate, the wrong stage of crop growth, or sometimes if the product is carried into contact with the emerging seed (e.g., water infiltration moves the product into the soil). Plants vary in their susceptibility both in terms of variety and growth stage.

The effect varies, but damage may occur due to contact or due to translocation within the plant. Damage occurs at the time of or shortly after product application.

Phosphorous play the critical role in root development, vine growth, early flowering, and ripening. Its major functions are in energy storage and transfer and membrane integrity. It is particularly important in early growth stages. The addition of mineral phosphorous fertilizer is required when the plant’s root system is not yet fully developed and the native soil phosphorous supply is small.

• Initially bright green to bluish green colour appears on the older leaves

• Older leaves turn bronze green

• Growth of vine is stunted

• Leaf tips and margins develop necrosis, which spreads to the inner lamina.

• In older leaves, the necrotic areas exhibit a burnt appearance

• The root growth is also restricted

P deficiency will produce dark green leaves that may be confused with excessive N application. P deficiency is often associated with other nutrient disorders such as Fe toxicity at low pH, Zn deficiency, Fe deficiency, and salinity in alkaline soils

The common causes of phosphorous deficiency are as follows:

• Low indigenous soil P-supplying power.

• Insufficient application of mineral P fertilizer.

• Low efficiency of applied P fertilizer use due to high P-fixation capacity or erosion losses

• P immobilization in Ca phosphates due to excessive liming.

• Excessive use of N fertilizer with insufficient P application.

Phosphorus is an essential constituent of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), nucleotides, nucleic acids, and phospholipids. Its major functions are in energy storage and transfer and membrane integrity. It is mobile within the plant and promotes root development, early flowering, and ripening (especially where the temperature is low). It is particularly important in early growth stages. P is remobilized within the plant during later growth stages if sufficient P has been absorbed during early growth.

Phyllody or little leaf is an important disease of pepper. The disease is caused by mycoplasma. The affected vines show general foliar yellowing, stunted and twisted leaves with shortened internodes. The flower buds also developed into small vegetative branches, resembling the fruiting laterals, with nodes/internodes and narrow leaf like structures.

• The affected vines show general foliar yellowing, stunted and twisted leaves with shortened internodes

• The characteristic symptom is noticed on flowers and spikes where it show varying degrees of malformations like elongated spike stalk, aborted and transformed flower buds into narrow leaf like structures etc

• The flower buds also developed into small vegetative branches, resembling the fruiting laterals, with nodes/internodes and narrow leaf like structures

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

Pollu beetle is an important pest of pepper in kerala. The pest feed on tender shoots, spikes and berries. The infested berries turn yellow initially and then black and crumble when pressed. As a result of infection heavy loss of the crop happens. Hence, management of pollu beetle is very much importnat.

• The adults beetle 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 higher in the field during September-October and is more severe in shaded areas

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

During the period from January to April the adults do not breed but remain in the field feeding on older leaves

The adults beetle 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

Potassium provides strength to plant cell walls and increases leaf area and leaf chlorophyll content. It improves the plant’s tolerance of adverse climatic conditions, insect pests, and diseases. K increases the number of berries per spike. Often, yield response to K fertilizer is only observed when the supply of other nutrients, especially N and P, is sufficient.

• Necrosis of older leaf tips

• Necrotic area appears black in colour during initial stages

• The necrotic spots at the tip of lamina gradually progress towards proximal end

• In severe conditions, marginal necrosis develops inward to the centre of lamina

• In severe deficiency, the border demarcating the healthy and necrotic areas turns charcoal black in colour, which fades to ash coloured necrotic areas

Leaf symptoms of K deficiency, particularly the yellowish brown leaf margins, are similar to those of virus diseases.

Deficiency of potassium at all stages of growth causes the problem. Potassium deficiency results out of:

• Low soil K-supplying capacity.

• Insufficient application of mineral K fertilizer.

• Small inputs of K by irrigation (irrigation water low in K).

• Low recovery efficiency of applied K fertilizer because of high K-fixation capacity or leaching losses.

• Presence of excessive amounts of reduced substances in poorly drained soils (e.g., H2S, organic acids, Fe2+), resulting in retarded root growth and reduced K uptake.

Potassium has essential functions in osmoregulation, enzyme activation; regulation of cellular pH, the cation-anion balance, regulation of transpiration by stomata, and the transport of assimilates (the products of photosynthesis). K provides strength to plant cell walls and is involved in the lignification of sclerenchyma—tissues with thickened cell walls. On the whole-plant level, K increases leaf area and leaf chlorophyll content, delays leaf senescence, and therefore contributes to greater canopy photosynthesis and crop growth.

K deficiency results in an accumulation of labile low-molecular-weight sugars, amino acids, and amines that are suitable food sources for leaf disease pathogens. Deficiency symptoms tend to occur in older leaves first, because K is very mobile within the plant and is re-translocated to young leaves from old senescing leaves. Often, yield response to K fertilizer is only observed when the supply of other nutrients, especially N and P, is sufficient.

Quick wilt is one of the most destructive diseases of pepper prevalent in Kerala. The disease causes sudden wilting, drying and death of black pepper vines. The infection initiates with the onset of south-west monsoon. And affects all cultivable varieties and vines of all age group. Therefore, adopting a careful management strategy is very much important in controlling the disease.

• Infection starts as the formation of water soaked lesions, changing to wet slimy dark patches on the collar region and rotting as the disease progresses

• Foot rot, the fatal symptom, is seen at the collar region resulting in quick wilt

• Vines with infected collar shows foliar yellowing, drooping and flaccidity of leaves, defoliation, breaking of stem at the nodal regions, withering and shriveling of berries and heavy spike shedding without any discoloration

• The collar infection spread upwards resulting into the rotting of stem and downwards resulting into the rotting of the primary, secondary and tertiary roots ultimately leading to death of vines

• Root infection also initiates as water soaked dark patches on feeder, tertiary, secondary and primary roots resulting in root decaying and shredding of roots

• The foliar infection is noticed on leaves as water soaked lesions and rapidly expands into large dark brown spots with fimbriate margin

• The leaf infection is uniformly dark on young leaves or shows concentric zonation with grayish centre on mature leaves

• Foliar infection leads to varying degrees of defoliation depending on the severity of the disease

• The infected branches turn dark brown due to rotting

• The infection on any part of the spike results in their shedding

• The infection on runner shoots and cuttings cause rotting of sprouts resulting in shoot rot

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

The disease is caused by a fungus called Phytophthora capsici. Heavy rainfall, more number of rainy days, high relative humidity of more than 90%, low temperature of 22-25 ºC and less sunshine hours are the favorable climatic conditions for the disease. The secondary inoculum, zoospores are responsible for the sudden outbreak of the disease.
The disease spread is through soil, water, root contacts, movement of people, slugs, snails, use of contaminated implements etc. in a plantation. Intercultural operations especially soil digging around the vine, nematode infestation, root mealy bug attack etc. predispose the infection. The disease spreads in centrifugal form from the source of infection. All varieties and vines of all age groups are susceptible to this disease

The oospores and chlamydospores surviving in soil germinate with the receipt of monsoon showers and initiate infection in roots and at collar region. The collar and root infections are soil borne, lethal, results in heavy crop loss and completely destroys the vines whereas the foliar infection results in heavy spike shedding and defoliation.

Red rust is a minor disease of pepper. The disease causes several reddish brown cushiony spots on leaves and stem. These spots cause reduction in photosynthetic area. However, the intensity of the disease normally will be very less. Therefore, no management strategy is generally recommended against the disease.

• Several reddish brown cushiony spots appear on leaves and stem

• The spots are noticed mainly on older leaves

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

The disease is caused by a fungus called Cephaleuros mycoidea and Cephaleuros. Virescens.

The disease causes several reddish brown cushiony spots on leaves and stem. These spots cause reduction in photosynthetic area.

Nematode is one of the major limiting factors to pepper production. As a result of attack typical galls develop on secondary and fibrous roots. The affected roots rot and are lost. Leaves turn yellow and fall off. And ultimately the pepper vines exhibit slow decline. Therefore, management of the nematode in pepper is very much important.

• Typical galls develop on secondary and fibrous roots

• Root system shows extensive necrosis and rotting

• Leave become yellow and are defoliated

• Vine declines gradually

• Maximum infestations occur during December/January

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

Meloidogyne spp.

Attack of nematode results in necrotic lesions on feeder roots. The affected roots rot and are lost. Leaves turn yellow and fall off. And pepper vines wilt during summer season and exhibit slow decline.

Mealy bugs are occasional pest of pepper attacking during summer months. They colonize on root of the pepper. Their presence is indicated by waxy powdery coatings. As a result of the attack, the plant turns yellow. In severe cases drying of the branches is also noticed. Normally, the damage is very low. Therefore, management strategy needs to be adopted only if the infection is severe.

• Large number of mealy bugs colonise the roots of the vine

• 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

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

Scale insect is an occasional pest of pepper. The attack is mainly seen in summer months. They feed on plant sap from tender parts.. The infected leaves show chlorotic symptom and eventually dry up. Depending on the level of severity proper control measures need to be adopted.

• 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

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

Lepidosaphes piperis and Aspidiotus destructor Mussel scale (Lepidosaphes piperis) is dark brown and mussel shaped and coconut scale (Aspidiotus de structor) is yellowish brown and circular

The disease causes encrustation on the entire lower lamina causing severe yellowing and drying.

Slow decline is an important disease of pepper. The disease is caused by both fungus and nematode. The diseases are characterized by foliar yellowing and die back. Foliar yellowing starts after the north-east monsoon and reaches it’s maximum during April-May. The affected vine dies after a period of 2-5 years. Therefore, managing the disease at the right time is very much important.

• The disease is characterized by foliar yellowing, die back of aerial stems, occasional tip burn symptoms, inter-veinal chlorosis and flaccidity of leaves.

• Foliar yellowing starts after the north-east monsoon from October-November and reaches its maximum during April-May coinciding with the summer

• The root system of the affected vines show the presence of root knots and root necrosis leading to varying degrees of root degeneration

• The infection leads to gradual loss of vigor and productivity of vine

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

Plant parasitic nematodes like Radopholus similis and Meloidogyne incognita and fungi like Rhizoctonia bataticola, Fusarium sp. and Pythium sp. act as nematode-fungal complex and results in the disease.

The disease is characterized by foliar yellowing, die back of aerial stems, occasional tip burn symptoms, inter-veinal chlorosis and flaccidity of leaves. The root system of the affected vines show the presence of root knots and root necrosis leading to varying degrees of root degeneration. Finally, the infection leads to gradual loss of vigor and productivity of vine.

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

Sooty mould causes charcoal black, grey-black, velvety, crust-like fungal coatings on leaves. This coat of mould screens out light and reduces the plant’s photosynthetic ability. Severely affected plant may be predisposed to further injury by other insects, diseases or environmental stresses. However, the intensity of the disease normally will be very less. Therefore, no management strategy is generally recommended for the disease. 

• Charcoal black, grey-black, velvety, crust-like fungal coating on the surface of leaves, twigs and spikes

• On leaves, this coat of mould screens out light and reduces the plant’s photosynthetic ability

• Coated leaves may fall prematurely

• This fungus is not pathogenic to plants but obtains its nourishment from honeydews secreted by insect pests like aphids, soft scales, mealy bugs etc.

• Severely affected plant may be predisposed to further injury by other insects, diseases or environmental stresses

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

The disease is caused by the fungus Capnodium spp. The infestation is severe during summer months.

The fungus causes charcoal black, grey-black, velvety, crust-like fungal coating on the surface of leaves, twigs and spikes. On leaves this coat of mould screens out light and reduces the plant’s photosynthetic ability. Ultimately, the coated leaves may fall prematurely.

Stunted disease is one of the most destructive diseases of black pepper. The disease is also called Little leaf/Mosaic/Wrinkled-leaf/Sickle-leaf disease in different regions. The disease causes mosaic pattern with light and dark green areas, mainly on the younger leaves. Subsequently produced leaves are small, crinkled, brittle, and leathery with chlorotic patches/streaks. The affected vines will become unproductive. 

• Symptoms are mainly seen on leaves, especially on younger leaves as mosaic pattern with light and dark green areas or green and yellow areas, which can easily be distinguished when it is held against the sunlight.

• Subsequently produced leaves are small, crinkled, brittle, and leathery with chlorotic patches/streaks.

• In severe cases, the young and mature leaves show extensive chlorosis, narrowing, distortion and size reduction which give a sickle shaped or wrinkled appearance

• Intense inter-venial chlorosis or yellow flecking of leaves, dark-green vein banding, poor spike and berry formation etc. are also noticed

• Internodes of vines (runners, laterals and orthotropic branches) become abnormally short leading to typical stunting of plants

• Because of bunching of leaves and branches, the affected branches exhibit a typical witches broom appearance in advanced stages

• In many cases, the vine sheds leaves and berries, leaving a leafless vine

• Fully and partially disease affected vines are noticed in the same garden. In case of partially affected vines, both healthy shoots free from any disease symptoms and branches with little leaf symptoms are observed

• The disease spreads slowly and death of the affected vines is rare. They continue to decline and remain unproductive

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

Piper nigrum strain of Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV-Pn) causes the disease. It is transmitted through sap, cuttings, grafting, cutting knives and implements; and also through insect vectors like aphids (Aphis gossypii) in a non-persistent manner. The virus can also survive in cucumber, chillies, tobacco, cowpea, green gram, black gram etc.

The infection on leaves causes reduction in photosynthetic area.

Tea mosquito bug is very much common in cashew during summer. At times they also attack pepper. As a result of infection the affected tender parts of the plant will show die back symptoms. And management strategy need to be adopted only when the infection is serios.

• The bug causes elongated nectrotic lesions on the tender shoots and irregular necrotic spots on tender leaves

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

Helopeltis antonii

The bug causes damage to the conducting tissues. This ultimately result in drying of the plant.

Thread blight is a minor fungal disease of sporadic nature. The disease produces whitish fungal threads traverse along the stem and spreads to petioles. Infected leaves and stems get dried up. Dried up leaves hang in the infected bush and gives a blighted appearance. Management of the disease is very much dependent on the level of severity.

• Whitish fungal threads traverse along the stem and spreads to petioles, leaves and spikes

• Infected leaves and stems dry up

• Dried up leaves hang in the infected bush and gives a blighted appearance

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

Corticium solani and Marasmiellus scandens are the causal organisms of the disease.

The infection results in death of leaf tissues. This in turn leads to drying up of the leaves and stem. As a consequence the photosynthetic area get reduced and ultimately death of plant results.

• 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

• The adult is a fine moth with basal half of the forewing black and distal half orange red

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

Yellow mottle disease is an important viral disease of pepper. The disease causes inter-venial chlorosis and characteristic curling, twisting and deformation of leaves. The infected vines have reduced vigor and yield. They continue to decline and remain unproductive for a long period without dying. Therefore, management of the disease is very much important in pepper cultivation. 

• The disease is characterized by vein clearing, scattered chlorotic flecks, followed by chlorotic mottling along veins leading to inter-venial chlorosis and characteristic curling, twisting and deformation of leaves

• In a few cultivars, vein banding, vein thickening and green island-like symptoms are also seen

• Subsequently produced leaves are small, curled, twisted and brittle with bright inter-venial chlorotic patches

• Intense inter-venial chlorosis or yellow flecking of leaves results in poor spike and berry formation

• Internodes of vines become abnormally short leading to stunting of plants

• The infected vines have reduced vigor and yield

• They continue to decline and remain unproductive for a long period without dying.

The symptoms are very much characteristic of the problem and can be easily distinguished from other problems.

The disease is caused by the virus called Piper Yellow Mottle Virus (PYMV). It is transmitted through sap, cuttings, grafting, cutting knives and implements; and also through insect vectors like mealy bugs in a non-persistent manner. Various species of mealy bugs associated are Planococcus citri (citrus mealy bug), Psedococcus elisae and Ferrisia virgata (Foliar mealy bug). The virus is also transmitted by Diconocoris distanti (black pepper lace bug)

The infection on leaves causes reduction in photosynthetic area.