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Phytophthora blight

Black lesions climb the stem from the base, the crown rots and the whole plant wilts, and fruits rot under white mold in wet weather.

Phytophthora capsici Water mold Fact sheet
Phytophthora blight (Phytophthora capsici): pepper plants wilted and collapsed in the row
Photo: Don Ferrin, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Bugwood.or, CC BY 3.0 us, via Wikimedia Commons

Crops it strikes

Sili Chili Atsal Bell pepper Talong Eggplant Kalabasa Squash Pakwan Watermelon

What you see

Large dead patchesRottingWiltingPowdery or fuzzy growth

When to act

After heavy rain or flooding, walk the low spots daily for wilting plants with a dark, water soaked stem base and fruit with greasy grey mold. Pull sick plants at once with the soil around them, and drench the plants around them while the soil stays wet.

What to spray

Active ingredients only, never brands. The FRAC group tells how it works: switch to a different group next time, so the disease does not learn to survive it. Spray only when the damage is worth the cost, and only with products registered with the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority for your crop. Follow the label. The Shopee and Lazada links only show who sells something with that active ingredient, not a recommendation of any seller or product.

Resistance: Phytophthora capsici often resists metalaxyl (FRAC 4) in Asia and elsewhere, so do not count on it. Turn the water mold groups (28, 40, 43, 21, 49) and keep drainage the main tool.

How to prevent it

  • Plant on high, rounded beds with open drains. The mold swims in standing water.
  • Water by drip or furrow, never flood the beds, and mulch to stop soil splashing onto fruit.
  • Rotate for three years away from pepper, eggplant, tomato and cucurbits.
  • Graft pepper onto a resistant rootstock where one is sold, or plant a tolerant variety.
  • Pull sick plants with the soil around them, and never let water run from a sick field into a clean one.

Natural enemies and biological help

  • Trichoderma mixed into compost at planting helps protect the roots and stem base.

Where this comes from

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