Integrated management of Phytophthora capsici Leon in sweet pepper

Abstract

Phytophthora blight (Phytophthora capsici Leonian) is a devastating disease of sweet pepper in India and worldwide. An integrated management schedule was developed for its management comprising of interventions viz., seed treatment with Trichoderma harzianum Th-2 + Bacillus subtilis BS-2 at 10g/kg seed followed by application of neem cake and farmyard manure enriched with bioagents to planting bed, planting on raised bed, (90-100 cm wide and 15-22 cm height) with silver-black reflective mulch film (30-100 micron thick). Irrigation regulation and soil drainage management to prevent water logging during heavy rains, Removal of weed hosts, collection and destruction of infected leaves and fruits with fungicide treatment. Sequential fungicide application schedule starting with protective foliar sprays of chlorothalonil 75% WP (2g/L) and mancozeb 75% WP (2g/L) in rotation at 15 days interval up to standard meteorological week 40 under Bengaluru weather conditions or until first appearance of leaf lesion at fruit development
stage, need based curative sprays and drenching with tank mix of dimethomorph 50% WP(1g/L) + chlorothalonil 75% WP (2g/L) next rotational spray with tank mix of fungicide, dimethomorph 50% WP (1g/L) + mancozeb 75% WP (2g/L). The developed integrated management schedule can be used as an effective strategy to manage Phytophthora blight of sweet pepper in India.