Measures to combat fusarium wilt of pepper and prevent the occurrence of the disease

Fusarium is a common infectious and fungal disease of plants. Like many other diseases of garden crops, fusarium wilting of pepper is difficult to fully treat. The main thing is to prevent its appearance.

In the article we will figure out what kind of disease it is and how to treat it, as well as what preventive measures should be taken to prevent its development.

What is fusarium pepper wilting

The causative agent of the disease is the fungus Fusarium spp. It infects plants at any stage of development. The fungus is able to stay in the soil for a long time before the onset of a favorable moment: suitable environmental conditions or planting new seedlings in place of the fungus mycelium.

Wilting begins a few days after infection. The course of the disease depends on varieties pepper, the general condition of the plant and climatic conditions. The wounds also contribute to infection.

The main problem is that this disease cannot be completely treated and the planting cannot be saved. You can only slow down the spread of the fungus or prevent its appearance with the help of preventive measures. Even if you managed to harvest some kind of crop, all infected plants must be burned.

External manifestations

The first external signs of Fusarium are slight yellowing of the upper leaves and a slight loss of moisture (cell turgor). The leaves then take on a darker, yellow-brown color that covers more and more areas. The stem of the plant becomes thinner and weaker. Often, with already ripe fruits, it simply bends in half.

On the damaged areas, pinkish spots can often be seen - this is the fungal mycelium of the causative agent of the disease.

The photo shows an infected plant.

Harm done

Since the pathogen is in the soil, infection begins at the roots. The fungus enters the plant through conducting vessels through the root system, gradually reaching the leaves. As a result, the vessels become clogged, which leads to a malnutrition of the plant and its poisoning with toxins. The photosynthetic function of the green part of the pepper is also impaired.

From fusarium, the overall vitality of the plant decreases, as a result of which additional diseases may arise.

Important!Pepper quickly fades and dies in the presence of all favorable factors for the life and reproduction of the fungus.

Control methods

Depending on the degree of planting damage, you can use one of the following disease control measures or a combination of them. It is worth remembering that not all chemicals and elements interact well with each other.

Chemical

Chemicals should be used only with severe damage. Of course, they will help quickly and accurately stop the development of the fungus. However, in addition to helping, they harm the plant itself and the soil.

These drugs include various types of fungicides: organic and inorganic. The former may contain quinones, benzimidazoles, and carbamic acid derivatives.

The latter may contain such an active substance as copper sulfate, colloidal sulfur or copper oxychloride. The most popular fungicides in our market are Abiga-Peak, Acrobat MC, Quadris, Thanos, Fundazol and Hom.

Methods for using chemical fungicides:

• seed dressing before planting;
• spraying soil and plants;
• fumigation of seeds and premises (treatment with poisonous steam).

Biological

Among the biological agents against fusarium wilt, the following stand out:

1. "Agat-25K" has a negative effect on the pathogen, promotes plant growth and productivity.
2. Fitosporin-M is intended for soil and seed treatment before planting, as well as for watering plants.
3. "Trichodermin" is used for pre-sowing seed treatment and is introduced into the soil to prevent the appearance of fungal infections.
4. "Maxim" - for etching planting material.
5. "Baktofit" creates a healthy microflora of the soil, prevents the development of harmful bacteria.
6. Potassium humate is an organic mineral fertilizer from lowland peat, which is applied to the soil.

Folk

Several popular ways to treat fusarium:

1. Spraying the soil and planting with a solution of potassium permanganate. It should be slightly pink in color so as not to burn the leaves.
2. Sprinkle the beds with a mixture of powdered sulfur and ash.
3. Liming the soil with dolomite flour.
4. Adding chalk powder to the soil.
5. Watering with a solution of boric acid and potassium permanganate.

Experienced gardeners warn that a measure is needed in everything. An excessive amount of fertilizers and treatment of plants with various solutions can only harm them.

Preventive measures

To prevent the appearance of fusarium wilting of pepper, follow these simple rules:

1. Use only healthy seeds for planting.
2. Planting varieties resistant to fusarium (Swallow, Arsenal, Rostov Jubilee, Darina, Golden Miracle, Gift of Moldova, Everest, Jeanne, Jack).
3. Root treatment before planting with fungicide.
4. Compliance crop rotation.
5. Removal of diseased plants along with a clod of earth.
6. Burning infected plants.
7. Washing shoes after handling infected landings.
8. Cleaning and disinfection of garden tools.
9. Soil disinfection (steaming or using fungicides).
10. Regular removal of weeds in rows and aisles.
11. Regular, but not over-watering.
12. Accuracy when working with plants: avoid mechanical damage.

Tips & Tricks

Cabbage and pumpkin crops are the best predecessors of peppers in the garden. It is important to add organic matter regularly when growing the preceding vegetables. If you don't plan on growing anything other than pepper, use an intermediate cereal: it can be oats, barley, rye or triticale.

The roots of cereals secrete special substances that kill the fungus. Cereal biomass should be crushed and plowed. Straw-decomposing microbes heal the soil and create a favorable microflora, but they need a lot of nitrogen. Therefore, so that microbes do not take nitrogen from new plantings of pepper, it is necessary to add this substance to the soil separately.

Attention!Experienced gardeners recommend mulch planting with black PVC film or silver plastic wrap. This is believed to prevent the growth of the fungus.

Let's sum up

Fusarium wilting is a serious plant disease. To avoid it, you should keep the beds clean and tidy, remove weeds on time, observe crop rotation and watering regime. Also, do not forget about regular disinfection of garden tools and soil.

Observing simple rules, you can avoid the appearance of not only fusarium, but also many other dangerous diseases pepper.