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Black spots/streaks on plants #678128

Asked December 09, 2020, 2:12 PM EST

Hello! I have some pepper plants and I've noticed some get black spots/streaks. I can't remember if most happened after I brought my plants indoors for the fall/winter but if they showed up on the plants while outside they definitely got worse indoors. Plants were grown in Maplewood and brought indoors early October. I should note that the plants did have some aphids and the cut in one photo is from trimming back for overwintering.

Ramsey County Minnesota

Expert Response

We can't determine what's causing the spots and streaks by viewing the photos.  The many possibilities include bacterial canker, bacterial leaf spot, fungal diseases, virus, insect damage, reaction to fertilizer, insecticide or other garden chemicals, and environmental stress. More than one of the above might account for the spots and streaks.

Laboratory analysis might be needed to identify the cause.

Under the circumstances it's likely that what's causing the spots and streaks was present when the plants were outdoors and has progressed since then.

The following information may be of interest:

http://buckscountymastergardeners.blogspot.com/2016/10/overwintering-pepper-plants-by-master.html

https://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR549/welcome.html#C

https://santamariaseeds.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Pepper_Eggplant_Disease_Guide.pdf

An Ask Extension Expert Replied December 09, 2020, 4:30 PM EST

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