Disease of chili plants - Ask Extension
Hi...young leaves wither, wilt; some brown rot at stem. larger Fruits get brown rot at tip, moves upward, most fruits do not develop and their tip...
Knowledgebase
Disease of chili plants #708518
Asked August 02, 2020, 3:07 PM EDT
Hi...young leaves wither, wilt; some brown rot at stem. larger Fruits get brown rot at tip, moves upward, most fruits do not develop and their tips are brown as they emerge
Thank you!!
Boulder County Colorado
Expert Response
Dear Boulder County Gardener,
First an important caveat. We are able to provide only the most limited diagnostic modes from photos without context or supporting information.
The problem with your chile plants could be related to the temperature range at your garden (inhibiting good fruit set), or could be a fertilization issue, or soil moisture and mineral issue, or a plant virus. I placed these from most likely to least likely based on the limitations of your photos. You may need to provide us with more information later. Meanwhile, please read the following online references to assist understanding of symptoms and possible causes:https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/vegetables/1803-chile-peppers/
https://hgic.clemson.edu/?fs=1316
http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-1041/F-6030web.pdf
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/vegetables/pepper.html
https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/insects-diseases/1471-blossom-end-rot/
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/adv...
https://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR549/welcome.html#G
I certainly wish we could pinpoint a specific problem and convey a remedy. If you want to continue the discussion, please provide more information, such what type of soil you have in your Chile garden, other plants nearby, what part of the county, type and quantity of irrigation, type and quantity of fertilization, amount and timing of herbicide or pesticide use nearby, variety, history of growing chiles in previous years, micro-climate description, and so on.
Hi..thanks for your initial answer. Not sure we are there yet. I've grown chilies for many years on my deck, 8-10 varieties, and this is the first issue I've ever had...and its serious. Now spreading to other plants. The new growth withers, some of the larger leaves show brown 'splotching', existing flowers wither too, and the stem rots/breaks off . You can see the broken stem in each of the attached photos. The rot on the fruits does not appear to be blossom end rot, though I am not the expert! There just seems to be a host of other symptoms in addition to the fruit rotting as soon as it emerges, then dropping off. Temperatures have been hot, but no great fluctuations. Is this any more helpful?
Hello, thank you for contacting us about your chili plants.
Based on the photos you sent and the description of what's occurring, it appears to be vercillium wilt. It could also be the result of a nutrient deficiency or toxicity, which are more difficult to diagnose.
Here is a link to information about chili pepper diseases from New Mexico State University College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. It talks about vercillium wilt and other diseases.
https://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR549/welcome.html/
One point to consider for the next growing season is that if this is vercillium wilt,
you'll want to use brand new soil the next year. Often these diseases can overwinter and cause the same problems in the next growing season, so replacing the soil is very important, as well as disposing of the plant materials.
Please let us know if you have additional questions based on this information.
Thank you,
Based on the photos you sent and the description of what's occurring, it appears to be vercillium wilt. It could also be the result of a nutrient deficiency or toxicity, which are more difficult to diagnose.
Here is a link to information about chili pepper diseases from New Mexico State University College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. It talks about vercillium wilt and other diseases.
https://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR549/welcome.html/
One point to consider for the next growing season is that if this is vercillium wilt,
you'll want to use brand new soil the next year. Often these diseases can overwinter and cause the same problems in the next growing season, so replacing the soil is very important, as well as disposing of the plant materials.
Please let us know if you have additional questions based on this information.
Thank you,
Thank you very much! Helpful and considerate.
Vance
