CAPSICUM FARMING GUIDE

A HANDBOOK FOR KENYAN FARMERS

AUTHOR MOSES O. OCHIENG’

A Practical Guidebook on Capsicum Farming Table of Contents GROWING CAPSICUM............................................ 1 Soil & Climate........................................................ 1 Raising Seedbed.................................................... 1 Field Preparation................................................... 2 Nutrient Management............................................ 3 Transplanting......................................................... 3 Training And Pruning............................................. 5 Weed Control........................................................ 6 Irrigation................................................................ 6 Maturity/Harvesting............................................... 6 Yield...................................................................... 6 PESTS ....................................................................... 7 Thrips (thrips palmi)....................................... 8

Green Peach Aphids..................................... 10

Mites (red spider and Broad mites)................ 11

Whiteflies..................................................... 13

Pepper Maggot............................................. 14

Cutworm...................................................... 15

Leaf Miner.................................................... 16

Fruit borer..................................................... 17

Pest summary table................................................. 18 BACTERIAL DISEASES............................................. 19

Bacteria soft rot............................................. 19

Bacterial spot................................................ 19

Bacteria wilt................................................. 21

FUNGAL & RELATED DISEASES............................. 22

Damping off................................................. 22

Powdery mildew.......................................... 23

Phytophthora blight...................................... 24

Anthrocnose................................................. 25

Gray leaf spot............................................... 26

Gray mold (Botrytis)...................................... 27

Cercospora leaf spot..................................... 28

Verticilium wilt............................................. 29

White Mold/ Sclerotinia Stem Rot................. 30

NEMETODE DISEASE.............................................. 31

Root Knot Nematode.................................... 31

VIRAL DISEASES..................................................... 32

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)..................... 32

Pepper Veinal Mottle Virus (PVMV).............. 33

Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV)....................... 33

PHYSIOLOGICAL/ABIOTIC DISORDERS:.............. 34

Blossom end rot............................................ 34

Sun scald/sun burn....................................... 35

Diseases and abiotic disorders summary table......... 36 Nutrient deficiency chart........................................ 37 Gross Margin Analysis Per Acre.............................. 38 Capsicum plan sheet template example.................. 39 References.............................................................. 40

GROWING CAPSICUM SOIL & CLIMATE • Can be grown in almost all types of soils, but Well drained loam sandy soil is preferred.

• Optimum temperature: Day temperature of 21-25oC and night temperature of 18-20oC • Temperature above 35oC and below 12oC affects fruit setting.

• Soil PH 6-6.8 SEEDS • Plant population 16,000- 20,000 plants / acre • Seed rate: 160-200g/acre • 1gram =100-120seeds RAISING SEEDBED • Make sunken or raised seedbeds 1m or 1.2m width and 10-15cm high and 7m or convenient length or you can also use trays with treated pit moss.

• Prepare about 3-5 beds measuring1-1.2m width by 10-15cm high by 7m length.

• Between the beds leave walking path of 45cm apart • Well decomposed preferably cow or goat manure of about 2-3 kg/m2: 6-9 kg manure of FYM per bed • Half kilogram of DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) per bed is incorporated in the soil at least 2days before sowing • Sow seeds in lines of 10cm apart and 0.5cm deep. Cover the seeds with a light soil.

• Cover the beds with a thin layer of dry grass • Provide shades if necessary • Light watering is required daily in the evening and morning hours • Spray fungicides with Mancozeb + metalaxy (active ingredients) every 10-14days if necessary to reduce pre and post-emergence damping off and seeds rot in the soil.

• Remove dry grasses after emergence of seedlings usually between10-21days Page 1 | Capsicum Guide Book

• Drench seedlings with Imidacloprid @ 0.2ml/l and chlorothalonil @1gm/l or copper oxychloride 3g/l (e.g. Confidor and cuprocaffaro a day prior to transplanting of seedlings to prevent any sucking pest infestations and boast defense against fungi diseases • Hardening off one week to transplanting reducing frequency of watering • Duration: 6-8weeks to transplanting.

Capsicum Seedling in the seedbed.

FIELD PREPARATION • Plough the land to fine tilth and incorporate well decayed FYM about 6-10tonnes. Alternatively put handful of FYM in the prepared planting holes.

• Make beds with 1-1.2m width and 15-20cm high. Leaving 4050cm space between the beds • Dig holes with spacing of row to row 45cm or 60cm; and 30cm plant to plant.

• In case of furrow farming method: make furrows with width 3045cm and ridges 60cm. Drill holes at spacing of 30cm along the sides of the furrows; close to the base of the furrows.

• Optional: Spray herbicides with oxyfluorfen; 5-7days before transplanting the seedlings.

• Do not disturb the soil after spraying herbicide.

• Put organic fertilizer, 10-12 g per hole and incorporate thoroughly with the soil.

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NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT • 6-10t /acre of FYM is applied in the soil at the first time of ploughing • Apply NPK 20: 25: 20kg/acre as basal and 20kgN/acre each on 30, 60 days of transplanting as top dressing.

• Basal application: 80kg of CAN, 125kg of super phosphate, and 40kg of Sulphate of potash/MOP mixed together prior to application. (Incase soil test indicate average NPK) • In a situation of low or high NPK, you will adjust fertilizer application accordingly.

• Note: mixed fertilizer should not be stored.

Don’t mix urea with any fertilizer in case you would prefer to use urea with combination of other fertilizer.

• Capsicum is moderately sensitive to salts. Avoid using a lot of Muriate of Potash (MOP) because it contains a lot of chlorine.

• Put 1spoonful per hole/drill or at least 10-12g per hole; 5cm deep. Top dressing with 80kg of CAN at 30days and 60days after transplanting, 2g of CAN per plant; 40kg at each top dressing • Alternative of fertilizing capsicum: use Yara winner fertilizer NPK 15:9:20, as basal application. Need 3-4 bags of 50kg of Yara winner for an acre. Top dressing with CAN at 30th, 60th day after transplanting. Later top dressing will be needed.

• Fertigate the plants with1.5kg potassium nitrate and 1.5kg calcium nitrate at 75th day and 95th day, 25ml per plant; dissolving each fertilizer 3g in a 1litre of water.

• Fertilizer tank with 500litres of waters: prepare the stock solution; add 15-20litres of water in 20litre container, add 1.5kg of potassium nitrate and 1.5kg of calcium nitrate. Shake thoroughly, put the stock solution in 500l fertilizer tank and stir to dissolve in water.

• Apply 25-30ml per plant.

• TRANSPLANTING • On the day of transplanting, wet the seedbed to allow easy uprooting of seedlings Page 3 | Capsicum Guide Book

• Transplant treated healthy seedlings of 6-8 weeks old.

• Spacing: row to row by plant to plant 45cm x 30cm, or 60cm x 30cm respectively.

• Transplant when it is cool e.g. morning hours or preferably evening hours • Press the seedling with your index finger deep enough; about one inch deep.

• In case of furrow planting: plant the seedlings on both sides of the furrows.

• Planted seedlings should be close to the base of the furrow for maximum water uptake.

• After transplanting, drench the plants with copper oxychloride 25-30ml/plant; mixing copper oxychloride (cupracaffaro 3g in 1litre of water).

• Gap filling to be done on 5-7th day after transplanting • A few days after transplanting, 2-3 initial bottom leaves will become brown and then drop off; will lose 2-3 leaves. This is normal and should not worry you.

Capsicum Crop in the field

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TRAINING AND PRUNING • The pruning is done after 30th day of transplanting then at an interval of 8-10days, which encourage bigger fruit sets.

• Pruned to retain at least 3-4 stems per plant.

• Fruit thinning is recommended to maintain healthy and bigger fruits Below is an illustration of pruning

Prunning capsicum crop

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WEED CONTROL • Practice regular weeding to obtain healthy capsicum crops.

Weeding at 30th day and 60th day after transplanting, weeding and earthing has to be done. Subsequent weeding will be necessary.

• Optional: pre-emergence herbicides like pendamethalin at 0.35kg/ha or Fluchloralin 1.25kg/ha or oxyfluorfen 7days before transplanting or 3days after transplanting. Accompanied with one hand weeding at 30th day.

IRRIGATION • Drip irrigation: 0.5-2 litres/sq. metre of water per day/ irrigate 4-5 times per week; this will largely depends on weather conditions.

• Furrow irrigation: irrigate 2-3 times per week • Avoid watering under windy conditions to reduce evaporation rates • Capsicum is sensitive to chlorine. When irrigating with poor quality water; saline water, mix water with quantity of gypsum to reduce its severity to plants.

• Is recommended to use drip irrigation when using saline water for irrigation.

MATURITY/HARVESTING • Capsicum is ready for harvesting after 80days. Harvesting will continue for the next 6-8 months.(ie hybrid like Goliath F1) • Harvesting is best early in the morning • Harvesting done after every 7-14 days.

• Harvested fruits are kept in cool places • Coloured capsicums are harvested when they have attained 5080% colour development.

YIELD • 20-30t/acre • Harvesting period between 6-8 months under good management Page 6 | Capsicum Guide Book

PESTS AND DISEASES MANAGEMENT

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PESTS AND DISEASES MANAGEMENT Major pests: Thrips, Aphids, spider mites.

1.Thrips (thrips palmi) It is a tiny insect that is often located at the base of the leaves.

Adult thrips are pale yellow to light brown in colour, which are weak fliers. Immature stages are lighter in colour and wingless.

Thrip

Symptoms and Damage • Symptoms begin at the margin of the fields.

• Thrips suck the sap contents, thereof, reducing plant growth.

• Deformation of flowers, leaves and fruits.

• Thrips cause upward curling of leaves.

• Causes white to silvery patches on the upperside of the leaf blades • Increased infestation leads to blackening and drying of leaves and irregular fruits.

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Thrips Damage on Fruit

Thrips damage on leaves

Management • Avoid planting peppers close to onions, garlic and cereal fields (they act as hub for thrips) • Install yellow stickers to monitor the movement of adult thrips • Make the beds/field clean by weeding out weeds like sow thistle, little mallow and prickly lettuce.

• Avoid excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer.

• Treat the transplants with imidacloprid before planting in the main field.

• Avoid spray of organophosphate insecticide class (e.g. malathion, acephate), carbamate e.g. methomyl, and pyrethroid insecticide class (bifenthrin, permethrin and cyfluthrin).

Because they are not effective against most thrips and can cause outbreak of predator mites.

• Use non-ionic surfactants/spreader/sticker to increase insecticide penetration. E.g. Integra.

• Alternatively introducing natural occurring enemies like flower bugs, lacewings and predator mites to feed on thrips.

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2.Green Peach Aphids (aphis gossypii, myzus persicae) These are green-yellow little insects which live together and suck sap under the leaves, on stems and young buds.

Aphids on the pepper leaf

Symptoms and Damage • Suck sap from leaf veins resulting in reduced growth.

• Aphids’ infestation is most prominent on newer, younger leaves in the center of the plant.

• Black wax on the attacked organs.

• Heavy infestation causes yellowing of the plants and downward curling of leaves • spread pepper viral diseases: cucumber mosaic virus, pepper veinal mottle virus

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Use of yellow cards

Management • Install yellow sticky traps before planting to monitor the movement of adult aphids • Use reflective mulches to repel aphids • Make the field weed free.

• Spray insecticides with thiamethoxam, acetamiprid.

Rotate classes of insecticides to minimize resistance of aphids to insecticides.

3. Broad mites ( Polyphagotarsonemus latus ) Mites are invisible with naked eye. Mites suck the sap by biting the underside of the leaves. First symptoms appear on young leaves and on terminal buds.

Broad Mites

White to yellow speckles on upper leaf surface

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Symptoms and Damage • Young and adult mites feed undersides of the leaves, bud and fruit. Suck sap from plant parts causing downward cupping of leaves, which are narrower than normal leaves. They appear crablike and are yellow or white.

• Formation of white to yellow speckles on the upper surface of the leaves due mites feeding.

• Young leaves turn narrow, twisted, fail to elongate and finally wilt and dry • Attacked fruits become deformed and fail to develop.

• Infestation increased with increased temperature coupled with high humidity.

Damage on Fruit

Damage on flowers

Management • Favour sprinkling irrigation on leaves • Install wind breaks around the field • Remove the pest damaged plant parts • Apply specific and preventive miticides/pesticides containing abamectin.

• Apply wetable sulphur (don’t apply sulphur during period of warm weather or don’t follow application of sulphur within 2weeks of an oil spray, and should not be applied to crops at flowering and harvesting stage).

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4.Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci, biotype B) Adult whiteflies are tiny, yellow insect with white wings. Whiteflies are mostly found underside of the leaves, and fly when the plants are disturbed.

Whiteflies on pepper leaf

Symptoms and damage • Sticky honeydew; black sooty molds grow over infested leaves.

• Attacked leaves dry out.

• Plants growth blockage and leaves roll up.

• Presence of black wax on the attacked parts.

Management • Install yellow stickers to control the population of adult whiteflies.

• Avoid application of broad spectrum pesticides at early stages of plant growth.

• Consider treating transplants with imidacloprid at seedling stage.

• Spray with oil based pesticides. Add stickers to increase penetration.

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5.Pepper Maggot Whitish yellow, pointed at the head and about 0.5 inches when fully grown. Pepper maggot fly (zonosemata electa) resembles housefly, but have black markings on the wings.

Maggot inside pepper fruit

Adult fly

Symptoms and Damage • The maggots feed on the core inside the pepper fruit, which causes the peppers to turn red prematurely and rot from the inside out.

Management • Install yellow stickers to control adult flies • Collect and remove attacked fruits • Spray indoxcarb, chlorantraniliprole

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6.Cutworm (Agrotis spp., spodoptera spp.)

Are mostly black caterpillars, which usually remain in the soil and feeds on the stems of the young seedlings. Cutworms come out at night to feed.

Cut Worm on the soil

Management • Plough and harrow the field to expose cutworms to predators and desiccation • Dig around the base of the damaged seedlings and destroy cutworms • Natural control: introduce parasitic wasps and ants • Spray with pesticides with indoxacarb, lambda cyhalothrin

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7. Leaf Miner (Liriomyza spp.)

Leaf mining insect are mostly moths, sawflies and flies, which feeds on the foliage of the plant through making numerous, small, whitish punctures

Wandering tracks of leafminer

Symptoms and damage • Maggots, which are the most destructive stage, feed on the foliage of the leaves leaving wandering tracks.

• Reduce development of the flowers and fruits • Leaves dry and fall off prematurely Management • Pick and destroy mined leaves • Plough/weed the field to expose the pupae to predators and desiccation • Natural control: introduce lacewigs, parasitic wasps and eulophidae • Spray pesticides with abamectic or spinosad

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8. Fruit borer (Helicoverpa spp., spodoptera spp.)

Moths of fruit borers feed mostly on plant flowers and fruits, while African bollworm feeds heavily on leaves. Moths usually feed at dusk and night.

Fruit borer in fruit

Fruit worm in fruit

Symptoms and damage • Caterpillars bore holes on fruit promoting fruit rot • Attacked flower buds fall off prematurely Management • Plough/weed the field to expose the pupae to predators and desiccation • Destroy damaged fruits, caterpillars and eggs • Natural control: introduce parasitic wasps, bugs and ants • Spray pesticides with indoxacarb, lambda cyhalothrin or spinosad.

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Pest summary table Pests

Active ingredient

example

Thrips

Imidacloprid, acephate, lamda cyhalothrin, Beauveria bassiana

Confidor, emerald,thun- Soil drenching of transder,orthene, Haloplants with imidacloprid thrin,jackpot,karate, before transplanting.

Kingcode elite,lambdex bio-power, botanigard,

Aphids

thiamethoxam, acetamiprid or imidacloprid

Actara, thunder, presento

Broad mites

Apply when first spider Sulphur, abamec- Dynamec, oberon, tin, spiromesifen abalone,agrimec, thiovit mites appear. Spray under jet, kumulus foliage; don’t spray sulphur during hot days.

whiteflies

Acetamiprid, imidacloprid

Thunder, twigace,

Add adjuvant/sticker non-ionic to improve penetration. Spray in the evening. Rotate group of insecticides to avoid pest develop resistance

Pepper maggot

indoxcarb, chlorantraniliprole

Avaunt, coragen, merit

Application on larva provide best control

cutworm

indoxacarb, lambda cyhalothrin

Avaunt, halothrin,

Application on larva provides best control.spray late evening at the base of the seedling.

Leaf miner

chlorantraniliprole

Coragen, voliam,

Spray late in the evening especially when plants are at flowering stage.

Fruit borer, fruit worm

Indoxacarb, chlorantraniliprole, Permethrin, methomyl

Avaunt, coragen,lannate

caterpillars

Indoxacarb, chlorantraniliprole, Spinosad, spinetoram

Avaunt, coragen,Tracer, Radiant,

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Remarks & precautions

Do not apply more than once every 7days, don’t exceed 4 application/season. Foliar spray either of the group 4 insecticides( thiamethoxam, acetamiprid or imidacloprid)

BACTERIAL DISEASES 1. Bacteria soft rot (Erwinia carotovora ssp.)

• It is a bacterium, which attacks fruits, leaves and stem. The bacterium survives in the crop debris and often spread by water.

Prevalence during very hot and humid condition Symptoms and damages • Leaves veinal tissue turns dark followed by leaf chlorosis and necrosis.

• The internal part of the stem may show dark brown discolouration.

• Dry dark brown cankers develop resulting in breakage of branches.

• Fruits become light to dark coloured, water soaked and sunken.

• Bacteria oozing may develop on the affected lesions.

Management • Avoid overhead irrigation • Remove all contaminated plants • Weed field on regular basis • Avoid using too much nitrogen fertilizer in the field.

• Avoid working on wet plants • Spray preventive bactericide; copper hydroxide Note: you can possibly confuse the disease with late blight 2. Bacterial spot (xanthomonas campestris pv. Vesicatoria) The bacterium is seed borne and can occur within the seed or on the seed surface.

The bacterium attacks leaves, stems and fruits.

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Symptoms and damages • Leaf spots initially appear as small, angular spots on the underside of the leaves, which later turn brown.

• Elongated and raised lesions appear on stems.

• Severe infestation results in defoliation of the plant.

• Flower infection results in blossom drop • Fruit lesions are circular, brown,with raised, coarse wart-like surface. Ripe fruits are rarely affected.

leaf lesions with angular brown spots

Management • Use resistant variety • Avoid overhead irrigation • Remove all crop residues • Practice crop rotation • Use treated seeds or transplants, drench seedlings with copper oxychloride before transplanting to the main field.Apply copper and maneb treatments as soon as the first sign is observed, and every 7-10days interval.

• Spray copper late evening, avoid during hot sunny days NOTE: avoid excessive use of copper since it can retard

plant growth Possible confusions • Early blight • Grey leaf spot

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3. Bacteria wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) The disease is due to soil bacterium living in humid and heavy soil. The disease penetrates through roots or injuries. The disease spreads by water, agricultural tools or disease plants transplanting.

To test for this condition: cut the lower stem of the infected plant, place the cuts in water. Milky stream of bacteria will be observed oozing from the cut ends.

Symptoms and damage • Leaves start to wilt then after a few days the entire plant wilt while leaves maintain their green • Wilting begins with youngest leaves especially during warm or hot weather conditions • Wilted leaves do not fall.

• Invaded roots may root from secondary bacteria • Discolouration of the internal vascular tissue of the stem.

Sudden wilting, no yellowing

Internal discolouration of vascular tissue

Management • Use varieties resistant to BW • Encourage proper soil drainage • Crop rotation with crops which are tolerant to BW e.g. cereals crops • Avoiding planting successive solanaceae crops like tomatoes, pepper, and eggplant.

• Control root knot nematodes and root feeding pests

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• Soil solarization • Drench the soil with carbendazim 1g/l to control BW. • No curative measures.

Possible confusion • Fusarium wilt FUNGAL & RELATED DISEASES 1.Damping off It is caused by several fungi that attack the roots and the stem of the plant. Usually attacks plants in the seedbeds. Seedlings can be affected before or after emergence.

Symptoms and damage • Before emergence: Germinated plants become soft, brown and decompose.

• After emergence: plants become water soaked lesions above the soil, stem softens thus collapses and dies • Root system rots and yellowing of leaves is evident • Irregular and retard growth of seedlings

Dieback of seedlings

Infected stem and root tissues

Management • Water early in the morning to allow drying to occur by late evening Page 22 | Capsicum Guide Book

• • • • •

Avoid over-crowding of plants Encourage good drainage and good soil aeration Practice crop rotation Use seeds treated with thiram or metalaxyl.

Drench the plants/seedlings with metalaxyl+ mancozeb or Beauveria bassiana

Possible confusion • Excessive fertilization • Stress due to excess water • Excess soluble salts • Pesticides residues • Excessive heat or cold • Note: symptoms arise from leaves before root damage occurs 2. Powdery mildew (Leveillula taurica) It is caused by fungus Leveillula taurica, which primarily affect the old leaves, usually under hot and humid condition (temperatures above 250C). It is spread majorly by wind and sometimes by rain.

Patchy, white lesions on the lower Yellow blotches on upper surface surface of the leaf of the leaf.

Symptoms and damage • This fungus induces yellow blotches on the upper leaves and a patchy white, powdery growth that enlarges to cover the underside of the leaves • Diseased leaves eventually fall off, exposing fruits to sun scald.

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Management • Remove weeds and plant residues from the previous crop • Avoid planting young pepper plants nearby old diseased pepper plants • Avoid excessive rate of nitrogenous fertilizer • Avoid over-crowding of plants; encourage good plant spacing • Apply preventive fungicides with sulphur or azoxystrobin+difenoconazole on the underside of the leaves.

• Rotate with fungicides with different mode of action

NOTE: avoid spraying sulphur fungicides during warm sunny conditions to prevent phytotoxicity.

3.Phytophthora blight (phytophthora capsici) phytophthora capsici is water borne fungus found in waterlogged fields. The fungus affects all parts of the plant leading to syndrome of leaf blight, root rot and fruit rot. Spores development under warm and humid condition.

Discolouration of the stem beginning at the Shrivel and darkened fork of branches, water soaked dull, wrinkled fruits fruit tissue

Symptoms and damage Crown/Root rot • Diseased plants often wilt and die quickly without yellowing of the leaves • Damping off of seedling at seedling stage Page 24 | Capsicum Guide Book

• Discolouration of the lower part of the stem • Roots become necrotic and decay due to severe infestation Leaves/foliar • Initially, starts at the forks in the branches, resulting in dark girdling cankers • Dark green concentric lesions on the leaves • Wilting of leaves and fruits Fruit rot • Fruit lesions appear water soaked, which shrivel and and darken.

• Seeds turn dark brown or black • Under wet condition, white to tan fungal growth may be evident on the fruit lesions Management • Avoid overhead irrigation • Transplanting in well-drained soil • Apply copper treatment before first rain and every 5 days.

• Spray fungicide with mancozeb+cymoxanil/chlorothanil/ copper Possible confusion • Bacteria wilt 4. Anthrocnose (Colletotrichum coccodes) The fungus mostly attacks ripening fruits, when fruits are in contact with the soil.

Symptoms and damage • Round, concave depression with light brown spots.

• presence of light brown concentric patterns on the cente r of the spot • Small gray-brown spots with dark-brown edges appear on leaves and stems.

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Round, concave depression with dark concentric rings on the center of the spot

Management • Avoid overhead irrigation • Rotation with non-host plants • Use pathogen-free planting stock • Avoid field operation when the foliage is wet • Remove diseased plants/ crop residues • Apply preventive fungicides with azoxytrobin + difenoconazole as soon as the first fruit is formed • 5. Gray leaf spot (Stemphyllum spp.)

It is fungus that induces spots on leaf and stems. The fungus spread quickly by rains or through irrigation. Warm and wet condition favours spores development. A foliar symptom is mostly prevalent during seedling stage.

Symptoms and damage • Leaves: several red to brown spots with angular shape.

• The spots later expand to lesions with white to gray centers and red to brown margins • Under severe infestation, the leaves turn yellow and can fall off.

• Stem: elongated lesions can appear on young stems Page 26 | Capsicum Guide Book

• Fruit: fruits are not affected Management • Avoid over-head irrigation/ watering • Avoid putting seedbed near to tomato or pepper production field.

• Treat seedlings with protective maneb to reduce losses Small red-brown spots appear, which • Apply fungicides with later develop to gray inner centers. mancozeb once first symptoms appear and after On the right - Stem lesions each rain or watering Possible confusions • Cercospora leaf spot • Bacteria leaf spot • Early blight 6. Gray mold (Botrytis) (Botrytis cinera) It is caused by fungus, botrytis cinerea, which invades weak and damaged plant tissues. Cool temperatures and high humidity favours the development of the fungus. Common in net-houses and greenhouses.

Symptoms and damage • Initial symptom is dark, water soaked, slimy lesions, which later turns brownish gray powdery.

• Sudden collapse of succulent tissues like young leaves, flowers and stems.

• Leaf lesions become water soaked with irregular gray spot, which turns brown, wither and collapse.

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Brownish gray powdery on Water soaked lesions of stem and leaves fruit which darken and collapse

Management • Avoid over-head irrigation/watering • Remove plant residues/debris • Make the fields weed free.

• Apply fungicides with chlorothalonil or boscalid once first symptoms appear.

• 7. Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora capsici) The fungus mostly develops symptoms on foliage and can extend to petiole and stems when the condition is highly favourable.

Symptoms and damage • Small circular spots with light grey centers and deep brown margin surrounded by a yellow ring • Under severe case, the leaves turn yellow and fall off • Elongated spots appear on the stems Management • Use healthy seeds/seedlings • Avoid overhead irrigation • Apply fungicides with chlorothalonil once first symptoms appear and after each rain or watering

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8. Verticilium wilt (Verticilium dahliae) This is mold of the soil that penetrates through roots. It can survive in the soil for long time. Its development is favoured by mild temperatures and can affect plants at all stages of development.

Symptoms are often severe at fruit set or during dry periods.

Symptoms and damage • Gradual wilting until the death of the plant • Softening and yellowing of old leaves (V-shape) • Dark brown discoloration of the vascular tissue of the stem.

• Surface root tissue looks healthy

Internal discoloration of the vascular tissue while surface roots appear healthy

Gradual wilting and yellowing of lower leaves

Management • Use resistant varieties • Crop rotation with non-host crops for 3-4years • Remove diseased plants and weed filed • No curative solution Possible confusions • Phytophthora blight • Fusarium wilt

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9. White Mold/ Sclerotinia Stem Rot Sclerotinia sclerotiorum fungus attacks the base of the stem and may cause death of plant at all stages. The fungus is common during hot and humid condition.

Symptoms and damages •Dark brown lesions with white hair like and surrounded with small round balls like at the base of the stem.

• Sudden wilting of plant.

White mold on the base of the pepper stem

Management • Deep ploughing • Remove diseased crops • Change planting date within a season.

• Practice crop rotation with non-host plants for 2-3years e.g. maize, sorghum, millet • Apply fungicides with chlorothalonil or azoxystrobin+difenoconazole once first symptoms appear.

Possible confusions • Gray mold • Damping off

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NEMETODE DISEASE 1. Root Knot Nematode This is microscopic soil worm living in hot, humid and airy soil that enters the plant through roots and cause disease and eventually plant death.

Symptoms and damage • Presence of a lot of galls on the root surface • Leaves yellowing and wilt from bottom to top • The plants become sensitive to drought Management • Use of resistant varieties • Crop rotation with non-host crops for 2-3years • Soil solarization • Soil PH management • Change planting date within a season • Soil application of bacillus subtilis e.g. Real bacillus • Fumigant with chloropicrin (restricted use for amateur) Possible confusions • Club root

Numerous galls on the root surface

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VIRAL DISEASES {Cucumber Mosaic Virus, Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Pepper Veinal Mottle Virus} 1. Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) It is virus (cucumovirus) transmitted by aphids, which can block the growth of the plant Symptoms and damages • Chlorosis of the young leaves that can occur on the basal or entire of the leaf.

• Oak leaf and ring spot patterns appear on pepper as leaf ages.

• Pepper fruit develops ring spotting and roughness.

A: Oak leaf and ring spot patterns on pepper.

B: Malformed, dull light green leaves on pepper.

C: Ring spotting and roughness of pepper fruit.

Management • Use preventive insecticides against aphids • Use resistant varieties of pepper • Weed field on regular basis • Protect nursery with insect proof nets • No effective chemical control Possible confusions • Tobacco mosaic virus(TMV) • Pepper veinal mottle virus(PVMV) Page 32 | Capsicum Guide Book

2. Pepper Veinal Mottle Virus (PVMV) Virus (potyvirus) transmitted by aphids, which can reduce plant development.

Symptoms and damage • Mottling of leaves and chlorotic vein banding and spreading later • Distortion of leaves structure • Diminution and distortion of some of the fruits Management • Management is the same as of cucumber mosaic virus.

• No effective chemical control Possible confusions • Tobacco mosaic virus • Cucumber mosaic virus Mottled and chlorotic leaves

3. Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) Virus (tobamovirus) transmitted by direct contact with the plant during cultural work and by wind.

Symptoms and damage • Mosaic and mottled leaves • Blended leaves, which can be frayed • Greenish rings and necrotic area on green or ripe fruits

Page 33 | Capsicum Guide Book

Management • Use healthy seeds and resistant capsicum varieties • Practice crop rotation • Disinfect gardening tools • No effective chemical control Possible confusions • Cucumber mosaic virus • Damages linked to herbicides PHYSIOLOGICAL/ABIOTIC DISORDERS: (Blossom end rot, sun scald / sun burn) 1.Blossom end rot The problem is due to imbalance calcium absorption by fruit cells and fluctuation in water supply. Thereafter, fungi or bacteria can colonize fruits Symptoms and damage • End of fruits become dark and rots Management • Have an adequate and regular water supply • Improve calcium supply by fertigating with calcium nitrate fertilizer/foliar at flowering stage.

• Raise the height of the ridges.

Possible confusions • Sun burn • Anthrocnose • Early blight Page 34 | Capsicum Guide Book

2. Sun scald/sun burn Occurs when fruit are exposed to sunlight or the plant has poor canopy Symptoms and damage • Sides of the fruit exposed to sun turns from light brown to white • It reduces fruit quality

Management • Plant capsicum varieties with good canopy • Adhere to right spacing • Control infestation by pests’ damage and foliage diseases • Encourage proper irrigation and good fertilization

Page 35 | Capsicum Guide Book

Diseases and abiotic disorders summary table Bacteria/fungi/virus

Active ingredient

Example

Bacteria spot

Copper oxychloride, copper hydroxide,

CupracaffaSpray late afternoon when ro, funguran, temperatures are low. isocop Spray not more than 3-4 times per season. Begin application as soon as after transplanting

Bacteria wilt

Precaution

No cure

Bacteria soft rot

Copper oxychloride, copper hydroxide,

CupracaffaSee bacteria spot precauro, funguran, tion isocop

Damping off

metalaxyl+ mancozeb,

Ridomil, tower,

Powdery mildew

Azostrobin+difenoconazole

Ortiva top, azoxy top, absolute

Grayleaf spot

mancozeb

Gray mold (botrytis)

Chlorothalonil, boscalid

Compliant, daconil, twigathalonil

Scleretonia stem rot

Chlorothalonil, azoxystrobin+difenoconazole

Compliant, ortiva, absolute

Cercospora leaf spot

Chlorothalonil

Comliant, daconil

Phytophthora blight

mancozeb

Ridomil, mistress, zetanil

Anthrocnose

azoxytrobin

Ortiva, azoxy top, absolute

Pepper veinal mottle

No cure

Check management

Cucumber mosaic

No cure

Check management

Tobacco mosaic

No cure

Check management

Don’t apply until 21days after transplanting. Don’t apply 6days before or after metribuzin.

verticilium

Blossom end rot

Calcium balance, adequate water

Sun scald

Correct spacing, plant variety with canopy

Page 36 | Capsicum Guide Book

NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY The illustration below shows nutrient deficiency symptoms in a plant

Page 37 | Capsicum Guide Book

CAPS ICUM GOL IATH F 1 GROS S MARGIN ANAL YS IS PE R ACRE ITEM

OUTPUT KG

PRICE Ksh/Kg

capsicum goliath F1 gross income

25,000kg

30

VARIABLE COST items procured

units

EXPENDITURE

750,000 750,000

price ksh/unit expenditure(Kshs)

cost of seeds Goliath F1 200grams primary tillage 1acre secondary tillage 1acre

35,000 3,000 2,500

25,000 3,000 2,500

10,000kg

2

20,000

70

3,500

1bag @3600

9,000

2,500

7,500 2,000

FYM

Sulphate of potash/MOP1bag of 50kg super phosphate

125kg

CAN foliar feeds pesticides

3bags of 50kg

7,000

fungicides herbicides* casual labour miscellenious FIXED VARIABLES

8months

6,000

2,000 48,000 3,000

Lease land

1acre/year

10,000

10,000

water electricity bill

4months

8,000

TOTAL COS T PROF IT

Gross Margin Analysis Per Acre Note: Prices may vary, above prices are only indicative.

Page 38 | Capsicum Guide Book

12,000 162,500 587,500

LAND PREPARATION

80

TRANSPLANTING

60

VEG. DEVELOPMENT

240

FRUITING STAGE

130

Foliar K (multi K)

100

85

60

0

NPK 19:19:19

CAN

profile

Ridomil gold Ridomil , cupracaffaro cupracaffaro

Galigan

Emerald, confidor

Thiovit jet Ortiva/azoxy top, Absolute Ridomil/Zetanil Thunder,profile, coragen/belt

NURSERY

Capsicum plan sheet template example INDICATIONS

DAYS FUNGICIDES INSECTICIDES /pesticides HERBICIDES NUTRIENTS/ FOLIAR

CAN

Pruning after every 10days.

TSP + MOP/ SOP+CAN

PRUNING

First weeding at 30th day.

BASAL FERTIL- FYM 6t IZER

WEEDING

Page 39 | Capsicum Guide Book

References 1. https://www.apsnet.org/publications/plantdisease/2011/August/ Pages/95_8_1026.2.aspx 2. http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/selectnewpest.peppers.html 3. http://www.chileplanet.eu/diseases.html 4. https://www.uaex.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/diseases/ pepper/ 5. http://www.chillilicious.co.uk/chilli-pests-and-problems.html 6. https://plantvillage.org/topics/pepper-bell/infos 7. https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/peppercapsicum-spp-gray-mold 8. http://www.infonet-biovision.org/PlantHealth/Crops/Peppers#27708 9. https://www.plantix.net 10. The World Vegetable Center

Page 40 | Capsicum Guide Book

PILIPILI HOHO FARMING PRACTICAL GUIDE

CONTACT Email: ochimoses91@gmail.com