Phytophthora Blight of Pepper
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Phytophthora blight (Phytophthora capsici) leaf infections result in water-soaked, pale green to yellow lesions. Infected fruit develop water-soaked lesions and a thin layer of white fungal growth may be visible on infected tissues when humidity is high. More advanced symptoms are commonly present and include rotting or necrosis of roots and crowns and darkened cankers on stems; plants eventually die. Phytophthora blight is an aggressive, fastmoving disease under ideal conditions (warm, wet weather) and can cause extensive losses.
Phytophthora blight.
(Photo: John Hartman, University of Kentucky)
Phytophthora rot on detached fruit.
(Photo: John Hartman, University of Kentucky)
Management:
- Select resistant cultivars
- Promptly remove and destroy diseased plants
- Eliminate standing water
- Avoid overhead irrigation
- Apply fungicides
- Rotate with nonhost crops
- Promptly destroy crop residues after harvest
