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Discolored Red and Yellow Peppers #860095
Asked February 28, 2024, 2:54 PM EST
Summit County Ohio
Expert Response
Hi Andrea: Peppers can be susceptible to a variety of pests but there's nothing that matches that brown/white web-like covering the fruit. Have you cut open the fruit to see if the inside looks normal? Do the brown/white areas become sunken -- like a rotted spot?
At first look, it appears to be caused by a virus which is spread by an insect called a thrip. One possibility is the tomato spotted wilt virus which also affects peppers and affects leaves as well as the fruit. Did you notice any wilting, yellow-spots on the pepper leaves? Below are a few articles that may help you identify if the problem is a pest.
Since you grew the peppers inside a grow tent, I'm thinking that it could be a humidity issue or even some contamination with the soil. It does not appear to be a nutrient deficiency.
If none of this is helpful you determine the problem, you can contact OSU's Plant & Pest Diagnostic clinic. https://ppdc.osu.edu/
https://ag.purdue.edu/department/btny/ppdl/potw-dept-folder/2022/anthracnose-of-pepper.html
https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/11884/funderburk_etal_2009_a.pdf
https://ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/peppers/tomato-spotted-wilt/
https://www.clemson.edu/public/regulatory/plant-problem/fact-sheets/tswv.html