Managing footrot in black pepper
FOOTROT CAUSED by the fungus, Phytophthora capscici, is a serious disease of black pepper.
The disease is characterised by quick wilting of vines and can assume devastating proportions in poorly attended gardens.
Disease symptoms
The fungus attacks almost all parts of the pepper plant. High humidity and low temperatures are highly favourable for the infection. Heavily infected leaves shed.
The disease usually appears on the stem at collar region near the soil surface as lesions exuding slimy ooze.
As the disease advances, the decay extends leading to the death of the vine.
Damage to roots occurs either as a result of primary infection on them or from the extension of decay from the diseased stem.
Damage to root systems
Yellowing and shedding of leaves that follow indicate considerable damage to the root system.
Vines in ill-drained soils are more prone to root infection.
Adoption of an integrated disease management approach has been proved to be successful. Pruning before the onset of south-west monsoon facilitates better penetration of sunlight which creates enhanced temperature and lower humidity conditions unfavourable for the causal organism.
— Provide proper drainage and adequate sunlight in the pepper garden.
— Minimize intercultural operations and preferably limit it to sickle weeding.
— Runner vines are to be pruned off or tied to vines before the onset of monsoon.
— Remove and burn affected plant parts and vines immediately on detection.
— Apply 1 kg lime and 2kg neem cake per year as pre-monsoon dose. The application of neem cake should be four weeks after lime application.
— Application of biocontrol agents such as Trichoderma around the base of the vine during pre-monsoon period is beneficial.
SUNNY K. OOMMEN
Associate Professor
College of Agriculture, Vellayani
Thiruvananthapuram
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