Diseases of chilies

As with all plants, diseases in chilies are quite extensive. The carriers are usually insects that pick up the virus when sucking and infect the next plant after the plants have been changed. Fungi also use insects as carriers. However, the wind carries the spores of the fungi to new hosts much faster.

The virus diseases cannot be controlled. Therefore, only a few are mentioned. The best known virus in chili plants is the potato Y virus. The symptoms of tobacco mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus or chili veinal mottle virus are very similar. The leaves become spotted, curl, turn yellow and fall off. The plants usually die. Disposal is recommended.

Fungal diseases are better to combat than viral diseases. It is up to you to decide which means to use. You should bear in mind that you yourself are at the end of the food chain and that the chemical agents are used in such a way that the fruit produced can be consumed without hesitation.

Powdery mildew fungi, whether true or downy mildew, are specialized on many garden plants. Many are faithful to their host plants while others change plants. True powdery mildew covers the entire plant with a white mealy-looking coating and absorbs its food. In the case of downy mildew, on the other hand, the white coating is only formed on the underside of the leaves, while yellow to brown-reddish spots appear on the upper side of the leaves.

Rust fungi, which can be recognized by their rusty brown or reddish brown spore deposits, are also very common. Warm, humid weather promotes the spread on the plant. The spores are spread by wind and rain.

The downy mildew disease can already be spread with the seeds. The initially healthy-looking emerging seedlings develop small round gray spots that turn black. Suddenly the seedlings fall over. The roots and stems are destroyed by the fungus. There is no defense yet.

The various wilt diseases are also caused by fungi. A defense is not possible. The appearance is a wilting of the plants despite sufficient water and food. Here, too, transmission by seeds or spores already present in the soil can be the cause.