Diseases of pepper seedlings: causes and methods of struggle

Growing bell pepper is not an easy process. But our gardeners are not afraid of anything. The culture is thermophilic, rather capricious, requires compliance with agricultural technology. But, having spent a lot of effort, you will get a wonderful vegetable, in which there are a lot of vitamins and useful microelements. Eating only 50 g of fruits, provide a daily intake of vitamin C.

In most regions of Our Country, pepper cultivation begins with seedlings. And here, at the initial stage, various dangers lie in wait for gardeners. Pepper seedlings are very fond of various pests, they are attracted by fresh young foliage. Even young peppers are threatened by various diseases. But, if pests can and should be fought, then diseases are not always treatable. Therefore, it is best to prevent the disease of pepper seedlings, this requires compliance with agricultural technology and preventive measures. Or recognize the threat in time and take measures to treat or remove infected plants.

Fungal diseases

Fungal diseases of plants are rightly considered the most widespread, their share among all diseases is 80%. Fungal spores are carried by wind, raindrops, insects. Well preserved in the soil, plant residues.

Blackleg

Blackleg threatens pepper seedlings from emergence to 2-3 true leaves. The main symptom: the root neck of the plant darkens, and a characteristic black constriction appears from the bottom of the stem. If pepper seedlings are surrounded by an environment with high humidity, then soon the stem at the constriction site will soften and break. The plants will die.

Black leg mushrooms live in the upper layers of the soil, but when in contact with the roots of pepper seedlings, they pass to plants under conditions of high humidity.

Violation of seedling growth conditions, such as thickening of crops, frequent and abundant watering, lack of ventilation, sudden changes or temperature fluctuations, as well as too high temperature conditions, all this leads to the appearance of a black leg. How to deal with the black leg, look at the video:

Start fighting the black leg before you sow the seeds.

• It will help to purchase high-quality seeds that are resistant to the disease;
• The soil for future seedlings of pepper is recommended to be calcined in the oven, steamed or frozen at the beginning of winter;

  

• Before planting seeds for seedlings, water the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Or drugs such as “Baikal”, “Shine”, “Renaissance”;
• Soak the seeds themselves also in a solution of potassium permanganate, then rinse and plant;
• Seeds can be treated with drugs that increase the immunity of future plants: “Epin – Extra”, “Immunocytofit”, “Agat-25K”;
• Treat the seeds with a solution of any fungicide: Maxim, Vitaros, Fitosporin-M. Place the seeds in a linen bag and soak in the solution as directed;

  

• A good result in protecting future pepper seedlings is the introduction of a biological preparation into the soil – Trichodermin. In addition to preventing the development of the black leg, the drug suppresses another 60 potential pathogens that cause root rot;
• Do not tighten with a pick, thickening of the landings leads to the appearance of a black leg;

  

• Ventilate the room where you grow pepper seedlings, but do not tear off the windows immediately after watering;
• It is better to water often, little by little, and not once a week, for example, but plentifully, that is, everything is good in moderation;
• After sowing the seeds or after picking, sprinkle the surface of the soil with river sand, which was previously calcined. It can be replaced with crushed activated carbon or ash;
• When the very first signs of the disease appear, remove the affected plants without regret, they can no longer be saved. Plant healthy plants, water with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or Bordeaux liquid. For subsequent watering, use a fungicide solution.

Gray mold

If weeping brown spots appeared on the stem in its lower part, which is in contact with the soil, which then became covered with a grayish coating, then gray rot attacked your pepper seedlings. Spores can persist for a considerable time in various plant debris, they are carried by insects, wind and water. In conditions of high humidity and high air temperature, spores germinate and infect plants.

The following control methods are used for gray rot:

• Preventive measures: dive seedlings of pepper in time, do not thicken plantings, ventilate the room;
• Remove diseased plants, transplant healthy ones into other containers;
• At an early stage of the disease, treat pepper seedlings with crushed activated charcoal tablets or chalk;
• Garlic tincture helps well: add 30 g of grated garlic to about 5 liters of water, then insist for two days, spray the plants;
• Treat pepper seedlings with Bordeaux liquid, copper sulfate or Kuproksat or potassium permanganate solution;

  

• Preparations that have not only protective, but also healing and anti-spore-forming properties work well: Previkur, Ordan, Skor, Fundazol, Acrobat.

Fitoftoroz

The initial stage of the disease is similar to the symptoms of the black leg. A constriction appears in the root zone of the stem, then a white silky coating appears on the affected tissue, and spores ripen.

• Choose varieties of peppers that are resistant to late blight disease;
• Carry out pre-sowing treatment of seeds by soaking them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
• Observe the conditions when growing seedlings of pepper, do not allow high humidity;
• At the first signs of infection, spray the plants with a solution of iodine (about 5 ml per 1 liter of water);
• Use the preparations “Barrier” and “Barrier”, spray them with seedlings of pepper alternately;
• Feed pepper seedlings with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers, which dramatically increases plant resistance to common late blight;
• Preventive control measures include spraying pepper seedlings with whey, diluted by half with water, infusion of garlic: 50 g of garlic per bucket (that is, 10 l) of water, insist for a day. Spraying every 10 days gives good results;
• If preventive measures did not help, go to serious drugs: Champion, Tattu, Quadris, Ridomil Gold. Follow the instructions.

Fusarium wilt and sclerotinia

A common name for diseases is wilting, when pepper seedlings first shed their leaves for no apparent reason, and only then wither. If you make a transverse section of the basal neck of the affected plant, you can see the affected brown vessels. The disease causes blockage of blood vessels.

The disease begins with the appearance of root rot. Spores germinate and penetrate first into small roots, then, as the mycelium grows and grows, into much larger ones. Thus, the death of pepper seedlings occurs due to a violation of important life processes of the plant, which are the result of the ongoing blockage of blood vessels, the mycelium of the fungus that has entered them, as well as the subsequent release of extremely harmful and toxic substances.

The rapid spread of a dangerous disease is facilitated by changes in humidity, its high level, as well as temperature jumps from low to high, or, conversely, lack of nutrition in pepper seedlings, the presence of weakened plants, and insect damage. At the initial stage, it is difficult to determine the disease. If the plant is affected, then it has no chance of salvation. The task of gardeners is to save healthy plants.

• Remove diseased plants;
• Treat the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate or Planriz;
• For prevention and treatment, use the same drugs as for late blight;
• Choose seeds from pepper varieties that are resistant to the disease. Before planting, treat the seeds with Fundazol;

  

• When preparing the soil for planting pepper seedlings, apply the Trichodermin preparation.

The main source of spores is rotting plant debris. Keep your yard clean.

Bacterial diseases

The causative agents of bacterial diseases are bacteria. These diseases do not have clear symptoms and can be mixed with the symptoms of other diseases, making it extremely difficult to make a correct diagnosis.

Bacterial infections cause great harm to garden plants, their lesions can be both ubiquitous, leading to the death of the plant, and local. For example, root rot, vascular lesions, the appearance of tumors or necrosis, which appear as spots or burns.

Infection of plants with bacteria usually occurs through various openings in the vegetation cover, which may be of natural origin or be the result of mechanical damage. Bacteria are carried by animals and insects. Under favorable conditions and the presence of food in the form of decaying plant residues, bacteria can persist in the soil for a long time.

Black bacterial spotting

Pepper seedlings can be affected by bacterial black spot from the time they emerge. Small dark spots appear on the stem and leaves, which grow. Along the border, the spots have a yellow border. The plant dies.

• Buy seeds of pepper varieties and hybrids that are immune to the bacterium;
• Be sure to carry out pre-plant seed treatment. Soak in a solution of potassium permanganate for about 10 minutes, then rinse the seeds and immediately proceed to planting. You can treat the seeds with the drug “Fitolavin – 300”;
• Destroy the affected pepper seedlings;
• Disinfect the soil before planting (calcining, steaming, freezing);
• Treat pepper seedlings as a preventive measure with Bordeaux liquid.

Lightning bacterial wilt

Bacteria enter the plant and develop in its vascular system. They block the access of nutrients to all parts of the plant, in addition, bacteria secrete toxic products of their vital activity. If you cut the stem, a white liquid will flow out.

• Remove all infected plants;
• Dress the seeds before planting. To do this, you can use the folk method: Crush 2 cloves of garlic, add a little water, immerse the pepper seeds in the solution for 30-40 minutes. After that, wash the seeds, dry and sow;
• In greenhouses and greenhouses, observe crop rotation. Do not plant pepper seedlings after nightshades and after peppers;
• If it is not possible to observe crop rotation, then make an annual replacement of the soil or its disinfection;
• Observe the required temperature and humidity regime;
• Plant pepper seedlings according to the recommended scheme;
• For preventive purposes, spray seedlings with copper-containing preparations;
• Feed your seedlings regularly to keep them healthy and strong and able to resist viral diseases. Most often, diseases attack weakened plants.

Soft bacterial rot

The disease affects the plant almost completely. In this case, bacteria enter the vascular system and disrupt its normal operation. Parts of the plant are deprived of nutrition. They begin to die off, the plant may die completely.

It manifests itself in the form of a change in the color of the stem, and it becomes hollow. Leaves become discolored and die. Humid warm climate contributes to the activation of the disease.

• Pickle seeds;
• Disinfect the soil;
• Ventilate the room, water the pepper seedlings in the required amount, do not allow water to stagnate in the pans;
• Remove all plant debris, as they are the breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria.

Bacterial canker of pepper

The development of the disease is facilitated by high levels of air humidity, as well as high positive temperatures (+ 25 + 30 degrees) and unthinned planting of seedlings. Insects – pests, as well as people with garden tools can bring the bacterium.

Any part of pepper seedlings can be affected by bacterial canker. The disease manifests itself in the form of characteristic dark brown spots, in the center the color is lighter. Further, the spots are combined into one common, it is covered with a crust.

• First of all, all diseased plants should be sprayed with a preparation containing copper (this can be copper oxychloride or copper sulphate);
• Then all affected plants should be removed;
• Greenhouses and greenhouses where there were plants infected with bacterial cancer, treat with methyl bromide in spring and autumn. You can also completely change the entire soil.

Viral diseases

Viruses are carried by insects: aphids, thrips and nematodes. Viruses are so small that they can be seen with a fairly powerful electron microscope. Viral diseases are less common, but they are much more dangerous than bacterial plant infections.

The peculiarity of viruses is that they cannot exist without a host cell. Only when it enters the cell, the virus begins to develop, which causes pathological changes in the plant. The plant slows down in growth, it has a deformation of the stem and leaves.

Viruses overwinter in dead parts of plants, in organisms of vectors, in seed and planting material. Pepper seedlings are most susceptible to viral diseases.

Tobacco mosaic

Tobacco mosaic virus enters cells and destroys chlorophyll. The leaves take on a marbled pattern with beige and emerald patches. Such a pattern is called a mosaic. Cells begin to die.

• Treat seeds before planting;
• Carefully pinch seedlings of pepper, through damage, viruses penetrate into the cells of the plant;
• Destroy insect pests that carry tobacco mosaic virus;
• Carefully process greenhouses, if possible, replace the soil;
• Spray pepper seedlings a week before planting with a solution of boric acid, and then repeat the procedure a week after planting, which will significantly increase the resistance of seedlings to tobacco mosaic virus;
• In the greenhouse and in the greenhouse, never leave plant residues.

Stolbur

The disease begins at the top of the pepper seedlings. Manifested in dwarfism, the plant stops growing. The leaves turn yellow at the edges and curl. Carriers of the disease are thrips, aphids, spider mites. Among the varieties of pepper and hybrids, there are no resistant to stolbur.

• Remove diseased plants and burn;
• Disinfect seeds and soil;
• When growing pepper seedlings in a greenhouse, observe crop rotation;
• Change the soil in the greenhouse.

Conclusion

Pepper seedlings are threatened by a great variety of different diseases. But don’t let this fact scare you. After all, most diseases occur as a result of non-compliance with the conditions for the growth of pepper seedlings. Be attentive to your pets. And they will delight you with a rich harvest.