Content
Growing bell peppers is not an easy process. But our gardeners are not afraid of anything. The culture is heat-loving, rather capricious, and requires adherence to agricultural technology. But, after spending a lot of effort, you will get a wonderful vegetable, which contains a lot of vitamins and beneficial microelements. Eating just 50 g of fruits will provide your daily requirement of vitamin C.
In most regions of Russia, pepper cultivation begins with seedlings. And here, at the initial stage, gardeners face various dangers. Various pepper seedlings are very popular pests, they are attracted to fresh young foliage. Even young peppers are threatened by various diseases. But while pests can and should be controlled, diseases are not always treatable. Therefore, it is best to prevent pepper seedlings from getting sick; this requires compliance with agricultural practices and preventive measures. Either recognize the threat in time and take measures to treat or remove infected plants.
Fungal diseases
Fungal plant diseases are rightly considered the most widespread, their share among all diseases is 80%.Fungal spores are carried by wind, raindrops, and insects. They are well preserved in soil and plant debris.
Blackleg
Blackleg threatens pepper seedlings from the moment shoots emerge to 2-3 true leaves. The main symptom: the plant’s root collar darkens, and a characteristic black constriction appears at the bottom of the stem. If pepper seedlings are surrounded by an environment with high humidity, then soon the stem at the site of the constriction will soften and break. The plants will die.
Blackleg fungi live in the upper layers of the soil, but when they come into contact with the roots of pepper seedlings, they spread to the plants under conditions of high humidity.
Violation of the growing conditions of seedlings, such as thickening of crops, frequent and abundant watering, lack of ventilation, sudden changes or jumps in temperature, as well as too high temperature conditions, all this leads to the appearance of black leg. How to deal with blackleg, watch the video:
Start fighting blackleg before you sow the seeds.
- Buying high-quality seeds that are disease-resistant will help;
- It is recommended to bake the soil for future pepper seedlings in the oven, treat it with steam or freeze it at the beginning of winter;
- Before planting seeds for seedlings, water the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Or with such drugs as “Baikal”, “Shine”, “Revival”;
- Soak the seeds themselves in a solution of potassium permanganate, then rinse and plant;
- Seeds can be treated with drugs that increase the immunity of future plants: “Epin-Extra”, “Immunocytophyte”, “Agat-25K”;
- Treat the seeds with a solution of any fungicide: “Maxim”, “Vitaros”, “Fitosporin-M”.Place the seeds in a linen bag and soak in the solution according to the instructions;
- A good result in protecting future pepper seedlings is achieved by introducing a biological preparation into the soil - Trichodermin. In addition to preventing blackleg from developing, the drug suppresses another 60 potential pathogens that cause root rot;
- Do not delay picking; thickening of plantings leads to the appearance of a black leg;
- Ventilate the room where you grow pepper seedlings, but do not open the windows immediately after watering;
- It is better to water often, little by little, and not once a week, for example, but abundantly, i.e. everything is good in moderation;
- After sowing the seeds or after picking, sprinkle the surface of the soil with river sand, which has been calcined in advance. It can be replaced with crushed activated carbon or ash;
- When the very first signs of the disease appear, remove the affected plants without regret; they cannot be saved. Plant healthy plants and water them with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or Bordeaux mixture. When subsequent watering, use a fungicide solution.
Gray rot
If wet brown spots appear on the stem in its lower part, which is in contact with the soil, which are then covered with a grayish coating, then your pepper seedlings have been attacked by gray rot. Spores can persist for a considerable time in various plant debris and are carried by insects, wind and water. In conditions of high humidity and high air temperature, spores germinate and infect plants.
The following methods of combating gray mold are used:
- Preventive measures: pick up pepper seedlings in time, do not thicken the plantings, ventilate the room;
- Remove diseased plants, transplant healthy ones into other containers;
- At the early stage of the disease, treat the pepper seedlings with crushed activated carbon tablets or chalk;
- Garlic tincture helps well: add 30 g of grated garlic to about 5 liters of water, then leave for two days, spray the plants;
- Treat pepper seedlings with Bordeaux mixture, copper sulfate or Kuproksat or potassium permanganate solution;
- Preparations that have not only protective, but also healing and anti-spore-forming properties work well: “Previkur”, “Ordan”, “Skor”, “Fundazol”, “Acrobat”.
Late blight
The initial stage of the disease is similar to the symptoms of blackleg. A constriction appears in the root zone of the stem, then a white silky coating appears on the affected tissue; this is where spores mature.
- Select varieties of peppers that are resistant to late blight disease;
- Carry out pre-sowing treatment of seeds by soaking them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
- Observe the conditions when growing pepper seedlings, do not allow high humidity;
- At the first signs of infection, spray the plants with iodine solution (about 5 ml per 1 liter of water);
- Use the preparations “Barrier” and “Barrier”, spray the pepper seedlings with them alternately;
- Feed pepper seedlings with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers, which dramatically increases the plants' resistance to common late blight;
- Preventive control measures include spraying pepper seedlings with whey, diluted half with water, with garlic infusion: 50 g of garlic per bucket (that is, 10 liters) of water, leave for 24 hours.Spraying every 10 days gives good results;
- If preventive measures do not help, move on to serious drugs: “Champion”, “Tattu”, “Quadris”, “Ridomil Gold”. Follow the instructions.
Fusarium and sclerocinia
The common name for the disease is wilt, when pepper seedlings, for no apparent reason, first shed their leaves and only then wither. If you make a cross section of the root collar of the affected plant, you can see the affected brown vessels. The disease causes blockage of blood vessels.
The disease begins with the appearance of root rot. The spores germinate and penetrate first into small roots, then, as the mycelium enlarges and grows, into much larger ones. Thus, the death of pepper seedlings occurs due to disruption of important life processes of the plant, which are a consequence of the ongoing blockage of blood vessels, the mycelium of the fungus that has entered them, as well as the subsequent release of extremely harmful and toxic substances.
The rapid spread of a dangerous disease is facilitated by changes in humidity, its high level, as well as temperature fluctuations from low to high or, conversely, lack of nutrition in pepper seedlings, the presence of weakened plants, and damage by insects. At the initial stage, it is difficult to determine the disease. If the plant is affected, then it has no chance of salvation. The task of gardeners is to save healthy plants.
- Remove diseased plants;
- Treat the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate or the drug “Planriz”;
- For prevention and treatment, use the same drugs as for late blight;
- Choose seeds from pepper varieties that are resistant to the disease.Before planting, treat the seeds with Fundazol;
- When preparing the soil for planting pepper seedlings, add Trichodermin.
The main source of spores is rotting plant debris. Keep your garden areas clean.
Bacterial diseases
The causative agents of bacterial diseases are bacteria. These diseases do not have clear symptoms and can be mixed with symptoms of other diseases, making it extremely difficult to make a correct diagnosis.
Bacterial infections cause enormous harm to garden plants; their damage can be either widespread, leading to the death of the plant, or local. For example, root rot, vascular lesions, the appearance of tumors or necrosis, which manifest themselves as spots or burns.
Infection of plants with bacteria usually occurs through various openings in the plant cover, which can be of natural origin or result from mechanical damage. Bacteria are carried by animals and insects. Under favorable conditions and the presence of food in the form of rotting plant debris, bacteria can survive in the soil for a long time.
Black bacterial spot
Pepper seedlings can be affected by black bacterial spot from the moment they emerge. Small dark spots appear on the stem and leaves and grow. The spots have a yellow border along the border. The plant dies.
- Buy seeds of pepper varieties and hybrids that are resistant to the bacteria;
- Be sure to carry out pre-planting seed treatment.Soak in a solution of potassium permanganate for about 10 minutes, then rinse the seeds and immediately begin planting. You can treat the seeds with the drug “Fitolavin – 300”;
- Destroy the affected pepper seedlings;
- Disinfect the soil before planting (calcination, steaming, freezing);
- Treat pepper seedlings for preventive purposes with Bordeaux mixture.
Fulminant bacterial wilt
Bacteria penetrate the plant and develop in its vascular system. They block the access of nutrients to all parts of the plant; in addition, bacteria release toxic products of their vital activity. If you cut the stem, a white liquid will flow out.
- Remove any infected plants;
- Treat the seeds before planting. To do this, you can use the traditional method: Crush 2 cloves of garlic, add a little water, immerse the pepper seeds in the solution for 30-40 minutes. After this, wash the seeds, dry them and sow them;
- In greenhouses and greenhouses, observe crop rotation. Do not plant pepper seedlings after nightshades or after peppers;
- If it is not possible to maintain crop rotation, then replace the soil annually or disinfect it;
- Observe the required temperature and humidity conditions;
- Plant pepper seedlings according to the recommended scheme;
- For preventive purposes, spray seedlings with copper-containing preparations;
- Feed your seedlings regularly to keep them healthy and strong and able to resist viral diseases. Most often, diseases attack weakened plants.
Soft bacterial rot
The disease affects the plant almost completely. In this case, bacteria enter the vascular system and disrupt its normal functioning.Parts of the plant are deprived of nutrition. They begin to die, the plant may die completely.
It manifests itself in the form of a change in the color of the stem, and it becomes hollow. Leaves become discolored and die. A humid, warm climate contributes to the activation of the disease.
- Dress the seeds;
- Disinfect the soil;
- Ventilate the room, water the pepper seedlings in the required amount, do not allow water to stagnate in the trays;
- Remove all plant debris, as this is the breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria.
Bacterial cancer of pepper
The development of the disease is facilitated by high air humidity, as well as high positive temperatures (+25+30 degrees) and unthinned seedlings. The bacteria can be introduced by insects - pests, as well as people with garden tools.
Any part of pepper seedlings can be affected by bacterial canker. The disease manifests itself in the form of characteristic dark brown spots, the color is lighter in the center. Further, the spots unite into one common one, it becomes covered with a crust.
- The first step is to spray all diseased plants with a preparation containing copper (this can be copper oxychloride or copper sulfate);
- Then all affected plants should be removed;
- Treat greenhouses and greenhouses containing plants infected with bacterial cancer in spring and autumn with methyl bromide. You can also completely change the entire soil.
Viral diseases
Viruses are carried by insects: aphids, thrips and nematodes. The sizes of viruses are so small that they can be seen with a fairly powerful electron microscope. Viral diseases are less common, but they are much more dangerous than bacterial infections of plants.
The peculiarity of viruses is that they cannot exist without a host cell. Only when it enters a cell does the virus begin to develop, which causes pathological changes in the plant. The plant slows down in growth, its stem and leaves become deformed.
Viruses overwinter in dead parts of plants, in the organisms of vectors, in seed and planting material. Pepper seedlings are most susceptible to viral diseases.
Tobacco mosaic
The tobacco mosaic virus enters cells and destroys chlorophyll. The leaves acquire a marble pattern with beige and emerald splashes. This pattern is called mosaic. Cells begin to die.
- Treat seeds before planting;
- Carefully pruning the pepper seedlings; viruses penetrate the plant cells through the damage;
- Destroy insect pests that carry the tobacco mosaic virus;
- Treat greenhouses thoroughly and replace the soil if possible;
- Spray pepper seedlings a week before planting with a solution of boric acid, and then repeat the procedure a week after planting, which will significantly increase the seedlings' resistance to the tobacco mosaic virus;
- Never leave plant debris in a greenhouse or greenhouse.
Stolbur
The disease starts from the top of pepper seedlings. Manifests itself in dwarfism, the plant stops growing. The leaves turn yellow and curl at the edges. The carriers of the disease are thrips, aphids, and spider mites. Among the pepper varieties and hybrids, there are no stolbur-resistant varieties.
- Remove diseased plants and burn them;
- Disinfect seeds and soil;
- When growing pepper seedlings in a greenhouse, observe crop rotation;
- Change the soil in the greenhouse.
Conclusion
Pepper seedlings are threatened by a great many different diseases. But don’t let this circumstance scare you. After all, most diseases arise as a result of non-compliance with the growing conditions of pepper seedlings. Be attentive to your pets. And they will delight you with a rich harvest.
